SCOTTISH BRIDGE UNION
General Secretary
Vacant
Secretary
Juliet Vivers
Congress
Anne Perkins
I originally joined Council as I was Secretary of the East District. About 10 or so years ago the then SBU President asked me to take over as Chair of the International Committee as I was not involved in playing in trials but had useful organisational skills to be able to arrange trials for the selection of our teams and training opportunities for players wanting to progress to that level.
For the past few years I’ve also been Chair of the East District.
Away from the bridge table (or computer screen) I enjoy reading, knitting, walking and working through my bucket list of holiday destinations. The latter has not been shortened in the last 2 years.
Anne PerkinsTournament Directors
Angus Macdonald
I was brought up playing various whist type games and on becoming a teacher I joined in staffroom bridge games learning the rudiments in the usual manner (usually 4 down doubled). I progressed to a club in a church hall and onward to the Glasgow Bridge Centre.
Over many years I joined the committee and eventually took over running tournaments. That led me to directing and ending in the current position.
Education & Club Support
Marina Evans
Hi I’m Marina, and I have been the SBU Education Convenor since August 2021.
I was a European Equity portfolio manager and member of the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts in my professional life, having studied European Management Science at University.
Whilst a keen ‘kitchen bridge’ player, work and then 4 children hindered progress until 2016, when I joined the New Melville Bridge Club in Edinburgh and became a member of a lower division team in the SBU East District League. Several of the Melville’s more experienced players showed great interest in helping the team to progress, and this encouragement and support, coupled with some excellent tuition, was instrumental in developing my passion for this great game. In fact I was so keen to play at every opportunity that I joined my other local club, the Carlton, a few years later.
Now retired, I am determined to do my bit to support the SBU’s principle to encourage more people to take up Bridge or to develop their game.
Playing Bridge is a great way of bringing people together, and provides a social lifeline for many. I want to ensure that we reach out to as many people as we can all over Scotland and develop teaching initiatives for all ages and stages.
International
Mike Ash
Mike Ash is currently retired. He has a background of management in a range of public sector organisations. Most recently he has been a non-executive director of NHS Lothian for 9 years.
He has played bridge since university days and he has represented Scotland at various international events over the last 20 years. He was president of the SBU from 2012 to 2014 and Chairman of Melville Bridge Club 2016-2018.
Mike chairs the SBU Disciplinary Panel, having previously been Chair of the International Committee. He is currently studying part-time for a Masters degree researching governance in the NHS.
Member Services
Ann Binder
I grew up in St Andrews and trained in the hotel industry, specialising in finance. After 22 years in Bermuda, I moved to Switzerland and then the UK, where I worked as the Administrator in the IT department for a borough council in Surrey. My husband and I have now retired and moved back to Fife. I first learnt bridge in Bermuda, but not particularly seriously until moving to Surrey. I feel strongly that bridge is a great benefit to keeping minds and brains healthy and active so am glad to do my bit to help the SBU with their goals.
IT & Masterpoints
Marc Shearer
I played Bridge at university, but on moving to England and starting work in Software Development, I gave up as I couldn’t find a partner or the time to play. After 34 years in industry, I retired, moved back to Scotland, and started playing Bridge again. I now wonder how I lived without it for so long!
As well as playing bridge and helping the SBU in IT, I am a keen runner, golfer, computer programmer, crossword solver, reader, and walker. I also enjoy frequent holidays in the UK, France and further afield.