Bev Purvis

I was born and brought up in Retford, Nottinghamshire attending the County High School for Girls followed by Oakham School for the sixth form. I then spent 3 blissful years at Downing College, Cambridge, supposedly studying natural sciences and law, but spending most of my time rowing up and down the river in a boat or cycling along the river bank encouraging others to do the same. Following a gap year in Asia and Australia, I moved to London and qualified as a solicitor specialising in patents and trade marks. I met my husband, Iain, a barrister, whilst working on a case about radiator valves and we lived in Highbury within earshot of the (old) football ground for 10 years. We moved out to Little Chalfont 15 years ago for more space, and then to our present home in Chesham Bois. We have three children, two now at University and one still at school. Jonty is reading Geography, Iona is studying Music and Drama and we have hopes that Archie will take a useful subject when he leaves home. When I had enough of commuting into London, I gave up the soliciting and kept busy in the community as a school governor and as a panel member for Bucks County Council sitting on School and Exclusion Appeals. My hobbies include sailing, beekeeping and of course, bridge. I’m a volunteer for the Rona Sailing Project which gives young people the opportunity to sail big boats across the channel. In the Summer I can often be found in full bee-suit with smoker, inspecting my 3 hives or chasing swarms around the village. Holidays are often spent in our much loved 1973 VW Campervan, or attending the Edinburgh Fringe with the family. A good friend introduced me to bridge maybe 30 years ago and I remember attending a couple of lessons but never making much of it. I was surprised to find out how much I enjoyed it when starting playing around the kitchen table 4 years ago. Of course I’m still a beginner in bridge terms but am now hooked and regularly play duplicate at various local clubs. I saw the vacancy for Club Liaison Officer when checking my recent scores on the website and am now excited to be joining the EBU team.