LAST Monday, Charles Vaucrosson (1931-2005) was laid to rest at a ceremony where the Bridge Club was well represented. Charles will be hugely missed by those who really knew him and I remember well how supportive he was when I first came to the island and when I first set up IAS, when he was always ready to help.

Charles and Margaret were one-time fixtures at the club and at other times Randy also became a regular when he was bitten by the bridge bug. Norma, Andrew and Melanie stayed clear of the bridge scene but, along with their brother, were part of the ‘Vaucrossons’ who were such a presence at the club.

Charles was a very solid player in all areas of the game, bidding, declarer play and defence though on a relative basis I think defence is where he was the strongest. His partnership with Alan Douglas was one of the strongest and most enduring at the Bridge Club and we had a great time travelling together to Valkenburg, Miami, Seattle, Biarritz and a host of other cities to represent Bermuda in international competition.

Charles played his part in the administration of the Bridge Club and ACBL, where he was president of the local unit from 1979-1985 and both he and Margaret were strong supporters of the Regional. Charles was always very giving of his time on behalf of the club and played a big part in making it what it is today.

Charles was one of the most prolific winners at the Bridge Club and on Monday night I took a look at the Championship boards to note down his various wins.

He actually won the Junior Player of the Year in 1975! He then won his first Open event in 1977 and here is a listing of his various wins, most of them in partnership with Alan Douglas.

Open Pairs: 1979, ‘82, ‘83, ‘89.

Teams:<$> 1977, ‘79, ‘80, ‘85, ‘86, ‘88, ‘89, ‘93.

Men’s Pairs:<$> 1981, ‘92, ‘93, ‘98.

Bermuda National Teams: 1992, ‘93, ‘94, ‘99.

In preparing for this week’s column I dug out some old columns and ended up going for a real ride down memory lane with Millington, Wakefield, Owen, Thomas and others and came across this hand when Charles, Alan, Colin, Ernie and I won the Open Teams to qualify for the Olympiad in 1980.North (Alan)

[spade]5 3 2

[heart]A 8 6 4

[diamond]A Q 7

[club]A K J

West East

[spade]J 10 7 [spade]A K Q 9 8 4

[heart]10 9 3 [heart]Q J 7

[diamond]10 9 3 [diamond]J 6 4 2

[club]Q 7 5 2 [club]None

South (Charles)

[spade]6

[heart]K 5 2

[diamond]K 8 5

[club]10 9 8 6 4 3The bidding was good:East South West North

1[spade] Pass Pass Dbl

Pass 2[club] Pass 2[spade]

Pass 3[spade] Pass 5[club]

Pass Pass PassAlan’s two spade bid was trying to coax up a no-trump bid out of Charles. Charles in turn decided to up value his hand on the bidding and make the aggressive three spade bid showing spade shortness and some values.

Alan now shot for the vulnerable club game.

West led a spade and Charles ruffed the second round. A club to the ace now brought the bad news and the contract looked doomed.

However, you don’t win by giving up. A heart to the king was followed by the club finesse. Now three rounds of diamonds, a spade ruff and Ace and another heart put East into the lead in this position.

North

[spade]None

[heart]4

[diamond]None

[club]K

West East

[spade]None [spade]K

[heart]None [heart]None

[diamond]None [diamond]J

[club]Q 7 [club]None

South

[spade]None

[heart]None

[diamond]None

[club]10 9

Any return by East now guarantees the contract!

Well bid and played.

Do you see where the defence slipped? East should throw his queen and jack of hearts under the ace and king. Now West will be on lead in the above position and a low club defeats the contract.

Again, Charles will be sorely missed by many and his family can take comfort in the fact that he made a positive contribution in many spheres of life in Bermuda.

LATEST RESULTS

Bermuda Bridge Club

Monday afternoon, November 7, N/S: 1. Magda Farag-Aida Bostelman, 2. Gwen Christensen-Joan Sims, 3. Dolly Winwick-Lisa Burland. E/W: 1. Alice Palmer-Jeanette Shaw, 2 jt. Tommie Ryan-Joan Ross and Dorry Lusher-Peggy Sinclair.

Monday evening, N/S:<$> 1. David Pereira-Barry Rahman, 2. Richard Gray-Wendy Gray, 3. Anthony Saunders-Charles Gambrill. E/W: 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Rachael Gosling-Elizabeth McKee, 3. Gertrude Barker-Jane Smith.

Wednesday afternoon, N/S: 1. Marilyn Simmons-Jean Bath, 2. Dorry Lusher-Louise Rodger, 3. Gillian Gray-Anne Edwards. E/W: 1. Greta Marshall-Lynanne Bolton, 2. Pat Siddle-Vivian Siddle, 3. Peggy Thompson-Dorothy Moir.

Wednesday evening, N/S: 1. Alice Palmer-Peggy Thompson, 2. Patricia Colmet-Annabella Fraser, 3. Gillian Gray-Gwen Christensen. E/W: 1. Dee Griffiths-Laura Patriciu, 2. Don McLeary-Jane McLeary, 3. John Evans-Trish Moody.

Friday, N/S:<$> 1. Michael Bickley-Audrey Smith, 2. Charles Hall-Janice Trott, 3. John Glynn-Bill Pare. E/W:<$> 1. Vera Petty-Roman Smolski, 2. Stephen Ball-Jane Smith, 3. Annabella Fraser-Patricia Riding.