Gibby Reid

Gilbert (Gibby) Reid passed away on Thursday 16th of September.  Gibby and his wife Sally, who died three years ago, were a devoted couple with a strong faith in God.  They had a daughter and three sons and many grandchildren and great grandchildren who live worldwide in Greece, Canada, the United States and Aberdeen.
It is hard to think of one without mentioning the other.  They were the “Father and Mother” of bridge in the North of Scotland.

Gibby came to bridge through Sally as she decided to go to evening classes to learn the game.  Gibby was soon hooked and having great organisational skills he became a stalwart at keeping the game alive.  Gibby loved to organise bridge events and holidays and he and Sally took part in and enjoyed many congresses travelling far and wide.  
When Gibby retired he became even more active at national as well as at district level and he was a member of Aberdeen Bridge Club helping to save the club from closure during the 1980s.  He was also an active member of the Phoenix bridge club.

He and Sally began teaching children following the EBU minibridge course and introduced the game to thousands of youngsters from primary 6 upwards visiting many schools in the process.  It is their initiative which began the methodology of how we teach bridge to youngsters in Scotland today.

Gibby and Sally also taught adult beginners and improvers at Aberdeen Bridge Club, leaving a wide range of resources for future teachers to use.

His memory lives on with a North District trophy for bronze teams and the annual national Norvite tournament held each January. Gibby would spend many months planning for this latter event choosing awesome hands from worldwide bridge magazines and articles.

Everyone who knew and loved and admired them both will have very special personal and bridge related memories of Gibby and Sally.

Gibby is very sadly missed by all of us in his clubs and in the district.  Arrangements for his funeral will be announced soon.