Frances Hinden is the youngest member of the Laws & Ethics Committee.
She started playing bridge seriously at Cambridge University where she won the Portland Bowl three times, the Junior Camrose once and gained a silver medal in the first European Universities Championship. Far more importantly she also met Jeffrey Allerton, who first convinced her to play a strong NT, then to play attitude leads, and finally – a few years later – to marry him.
Since then she has won various titles, including the Camrose and Gold Cup twice each and the Spring Foursomes. She played with Graham in the Open team for the Mind Sports games in Wroclaw in 2016.
Frances also chairs Appeals Committees regularly and is a valued contributor to various internet bridge fora, as well as a BBO Vugraph commentator and occasional writer for English Bridge.
When not playing bridge, Frances works in corporate treasury for one of the UK’s largest companies.
She and Jeffrey also enjoy walking and skiing as often as work allows and if you meet them on a chairlift they are equally likely to be discussing bidding theory, the Blue Book or recent changes to accounting standards.
Last updated: January 2018 since when Sarah Bell has become the youngest member of the Committee.
Read Top Table interview, English Bridge, April 2012.
Bronze Award 2022
Major International Appearances
World Olympiad: 2016
World Bridge Teams Championships: 2019
European Mixed Teams Championships: 2019 and 2022
European Champions’ Cup: 2013
Camrose Trophy Selections: 2012 2013 2014(EBU Team) 2017 and 2018
Junior Camrose Selections: 1992
Gold Cup Winner: 2003 and 2011
Premier League Winner: 2012
Spring Foursomes Winner: 2015
Brighton Pairs, Harold Poster Cup Winner: 2003
Brighton Four Stars Teams Winner: 2007 and 2015
National Point-a-Board Teams: 2017
The Hubert Phillips Bowl Winner: 1995 2006 2010 and 2022
Player of the Year Championship: 2014/15 - 7th=; 2016/17 - 17th=