50 years remembered the 1970s way

On 4 July 2026, we recognised Cambridge Bridge club’s 50th anniversary in golden style.  The rooms were decorated beautifully ready to welcome everyone.

Club members, life members and past club presidents arrived looking resplendent donning gold and quickly got into the celebratory spirit of the event armed with a glass of bubbles or punch.  Lunch was a 1970s array of sandwiches, asparagus rolls, cheerios, sausage rolls and cheese and pineapple presented on cocktail sticks stuck in an orange. 

This feast along with the decorations and organising was all done by Karen Payne, Robyn Pell, Kathy King and Mikayla Vink - helped along the way by Diane Emms, Kim Grounds, Anne Tankard and Bob McQueen. I am immensely grateful to them all for taking on the responsibility and making the day so special.

The five founding members were our guests of honour: Estelle Cashmore, Eileen Roberts, Laura Somerville, Marie Wilson and Sue Wrigley

Estelle, Sue and Marie all stood and spoke about different aspects of the club’s history.  The club room’s initial funding was primarily from members, who were extremely generous.  Sue talked about the first club session that attracted 100 players of various abilities; it was quite something directing 25 tables! 

After lunch, we enjoyed some bridge as would have been played 50 years ago.  The boards made by Henry Davys were used, we hand dealt the card, scored with no computer in sight and even cigarettes were allowed! Hopefully Mike will get some score out but please be mindful we only played a part round!

We used the new baize bridge table covers, which show off the restored bridge tables beautifully.

A beautiful sponge cake was decorated with the clever logo that was designed for the event, “A little club with a heart of gold”. This was cut by Estelle and enjoyed by members at afternoon tea when they also completed the 1970s quiz compiled by Karen and Robyn Pell.  Three teams scored 12+ /18 but well done to Bev, Alex, Alison and Anne who won after securing 14 correct answers.

Kevin Whyte, our treasurer of many years, had collated the club’s financial history of the last 50 years. Table money had risen from less than $1000 in the club’s inaugural year to nearly $30,000 last year - and our $4 table money is not nearly as much as many other clubs charge! I encourage you to take a look at the information on the white board. 

Also still available is the book Bob McQueen has collated and published to record the club’s first 50 years. All the stories shared by our life members after lunch plus more can be read here.

Lots of photos were taken to record the event and we will load these onto the photo gallery on this website.