We have just been notified that Marion died last Sunday - December 9th.

Marion was the 51^st President of the Scottish Bridge Union in 1989-90. She was only the fourth woman to fill the role.

Born in Motherwell, she graduated from Glasgow University and Jordanhill Teacher Training College. She taught in Glasgow High School for Girls, then Duncanrig Secondary School in East Kilbride where she came to live. She married Bob Hill (always referred to as ‘Bennie’ in 1959.

She was introduced to bridge by Pam Martyn (later Kissen). She represented Scotland in 5 Lady Milnes, enjoying success in even-numbered years in the 80s with Jennifer Monachan – they won the Trophy in 1980, 1984 and 1986. She played in the Common Market Women’s Pairs in 1983 with Jennifer, and again in 1989 with Morag Malcolm – on this occasion finishing as leading British pair in 5^th place.

She won the Scottish Women’s Cup three times, with her three different partners, Pam, Jennifer and Morag.

Marion took early retirement in 1987, when she expanded her bridge teaching and became involved with the Scottish Schools Championship. She started a bridge travel business with considerable success.

The funeral service is at 11.00

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13 December

We are sorry to report that Ayrshire's Jim Wilcox passed away today after a long illness.  Jim was an accountant, who started to play bridge regularly in 1972, when he and his wife Pat were founder members of the Ayr Caledonian Club. He was a natural organiser, and was quickly attracted into bridge administration. He was appointed Treasurer of the SBU in 1993. When the then Secretary, Tom Workman, took on the Presidency in 1996 Jim combined the two jobs, handing back the secretaryship to Tom in 1997. He was elected President of the Union in 2000-01.  After his year as Past President he took on the post of Secretary, a job he fulfilled with his customary efficiency and good humour. He retired from Council in 2003, but did not lose interest.

He attended the European Bridge League Tournament Director Course in 1996, and was the second Scottish Director, after Russell McClymont, to achieve a pass mark. He was a poplar director at many national events and congresses, and ran the Scottish Hilton Breaks for many years.

Jim served on the Laws and Ethics Committee for many years, the ideal member of a disciplinary panel because of his natural sympathy and ability to listen.

He

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The International Committee is pleased to announce that the Lady Milne team for 2019 in Dublin will be Liz McGowan & Fiona McQuaker, Sam Punch & Paula Leslie and Anne Symons & Helen Kane - NPC Alex Adamson.  Sheila Adamson & Abi Milne will be the reserve pair.

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Venice Cup November Update

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Following the play-off match today in Stirling, the team of Sam Punch, Stephen Peterkin, Anne Symons & Brian Short will be representing Scotland in the 1st European National Mixed Teams event in Lisbon at the end of February.

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The Scotland team for the first Camrose weekend on January 4th - 6th 2019 in Wales will be Alex Adamson & Derek Sanders, Irving Gordon & Danny Kane and John Faben & Phil Morrison - NPC Jim Hay.

Congratulations and best wishes for a successful weekend to the team.

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Together with the Turkish Bridge Federation, the EBL is pleased to confirm that the venue for the 9th European Open Championships will be the Green Park Pendik Hotel and Convention Center, on the outskirts of Istanbul, Turkey.

Visit http://thegreenparkpendik.com/en/

Situated just 8 kilometres from the Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) airport, which has many low cost carrier connections across Europe, the 4 star Green Park Pendik Hotel has excellent playing areas, more than 500 bedrooms and the largest Spa and wellness center in Istanbul, right on the seafront.

The Turkish Bridge Federation is preparing a comprehensive list of further suitable accommodations in the locality which will be published shortly, in conjunction with the opening of the Microsite for the Championships

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The Venice Cup is the bridge equivalent of the Women’s World Cup in Football – and Scotland has qualified for both!

The venue has been moved to Wuhan in Central China: sometime in September / October 2019.

Which means we have a year to raise about £16,000 for travel and hotel bills.

So far we have raised £200 from donations and Coaching Fees. Not quite there yet!

October should see us raise another £200 from Coaching fees, plus the proceeds from a raffle at the October Congress…..

How can you help?

1. Persuade your club to enter the Simultaneous Valentine’s Pairs on 11-15 February 2019.  You can play on any afternoon/evening.   Enter to Anna Gudge: 
2. Liz McGowan/Fiona McQuaker are visiting Pentland BC on 18th October.  Plenty more dates in the diary if your group would like a coaching session
3. Give us your ideas for how to raise money, or just make a donation!  (Maybe your club could run a raffle or two….)
4. Ideas for sponsorship: do you know anyone we could approach for a small contribution?  We do not expect enormous sponsorship, but help with printing costs, or uniforms, or raffle prizes would be much appreciated.  Perhaps you know of a

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Scotland’s Women’s Team has qualified to play at the World Championships in China in 2019! They finished 7th out of 23 Teams at the European Championships in Ostend.

Now they need your help to raise funds for their world trip.

How can you help?

1. We shall run a one-off Simultaneous Valentine’s Pairs on the week 11-15 February 2019. It would be nice if your club would run a heat – you can play on any afternoon/evening. Enter via Anna Gudge.
   If you cannot play on that week, there will be a copy of the hands with information about the hands and tips from the players for sale, which you can purchase for £1 per copy.
2. The East District Simultaneous Pairs on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 November 2018 will be thrown open to all comers. All profits will go to the Team fund. You can compare your results with those achieved by the team, but it will be scored normally by match points. To enter, or if you can’t manage on these days but would like to participate, please contact Liz McGowan.
3. Liz McGowan will happily come along to your Club/District to give a coaching session, donating her fees to the fund. If you would like a visit from other team members – please ask!
4. Give us your ideas for how to

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Due to retirement of Ann Wickens, the SBU are seeking a new Education Convener who can continue and expand bridge education in Scotland.

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The International Committee is pleased to announce that the Women's Team who finished in a qualifying position of 7th in the European Championships in Ostend will be our team for the Venice Cup in Sanya, China in October 2019.  The team will therefore be Liz McGowan & Fiona McQuaker, Sam Punch & Paula Leslie, Anne Symons & Helen Kane with Alex Adamson as NPC.  

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