History of Taradale Bridge Club: 1975 - 2010

          In January 1975 a group of enthusiastic Bridge players decided that there was enough interest

          to form a Bridge Club for Taradale. A meeting was called and presided over by Mavis Murphy.

          The Taradale Bridge Club was formed and met to play Bridge at the Bowling Club, access

           being up rickety old stairs. During their time there the committee searched for more suitable

           premises.

           A building at 5 Devonshire Place became available for sale and was purchased with the financial

           assistance of many of the founding members. They also assisted with the furnishings.

           Over the years the building saw many changes and additions, thanks to the dedication

           and hard work by members with a vision. In 1990 part of the room was turned into a small

           office to accommodate a computer and later electronic scoring pads and a card dealing machine.

           Arthur Bennett designed the fantail logo, which is still enjoyed and used by the Club today.

           In 1997 Taradale became a smoke-free Club.

          As the club grew, there was an awareness that more suitable rooms would be needed to

          accommodate the growing number of players. Over a period of years various committees

          explored a number of different options. These were all unsuccessful, until 2009 when an

          opportunity to use a very suitable room at the Taradale Club in Wharerangi Road became

          available.

          A special meeting was called for club members to discuss the move. It was attended by

         100 members. There was a unanimous decision that the Taradale Bridge Club relocate

          to the room at the Taradale Club. After negotiations with the Taradale Club Board of

          Management and the Committee an agreement was reached that the Taradale Bridge

          Club have exclusive use of the room for a period of not less than ten years. Conditions of

          the lease were drawn up in a legal document.

         After several weeks of hard work by all of the committee, the once shabby and uninteresting

         room turned into a very fine bridge room, which would hold up to thirty tables. A fine office

         was built and a suitable kitchen area. The view outside was most pleasant, as was the

         garden area which members built outside. One member, John Sowerby took over the role

         as project manager and with his knowledge of the building trade led the team of willing workers.

         The room was officially opened on 29 November 2009 and was blessed by Bishop Murray Mills -

         one of our Bridge players - and the Rev. Marie McDonald. This was followed by afternoon tea.

         The benefits of belonging to the Taradale Club include an excellent parking area, access to the

         Restaurant, catering facilities for tournaments and other activities within the Club.

         Our old room in Devonshire Place has been leased out and the profits returned to the

         Bridge Club.

         At present the Club membership stands at 250, a considerable increase on the last year.

         There are six sessions of Bridge played each week and eight tournaments held each year.

         The Arthur Willoughby Tray is a match held between Havelock North and Taradale on

         alternate years.

         Since the move the Club has grown from strength to strength. It is a vibrant and active club

         where visitors are always welcome.          

        Foundation Members: 

        Ethel Adams, Les Adams, Evelyn Ashenden, Noel Ashenden,Dora Birchall,Margery Boake, Iris Buckley,Wilf  Buckley  Kath  Butler, George     Blunsdon, Kathleen Blunsdon, Gladys Bartle, Wynn Boyd, Cicely Boyd, Mahine Creagh, Christina Cameron,  RaeCampbell, Frances Cashen, Margaret Columb, Enid DeNorville, Joe Dell, Lois Dolbel, Joan Fullerton, Elsie Fielding, Anne Gillies, Laura Gates, Phil Grimes, Neil Hannah, Anne Hannah, Rosemary James, Ada Kelley, D Knell, Molly Lister, Ennis Mason, Lorna MacDonald, Mavis Murphy, Vivienne Nelson, Marjorie Nilson, Ada Painter, Irene Pirie, Eric Parkinson, Lorna Parkinson, Marjorie Read, Ronald Read, Jessie Richards, Gladys Sorenson, Margaret Shaw, Norman Shaw, Margaret Swailes, Pauline Tierney, Norman Turnbull, Kath Turnbull, Gwen Wilson, Helen White.

       Life Members:

      1985 Mrs. Ennis Mason    Mrs. Mavis Murphy    Mrs. Lois Dolbel

      1986 Mrs. Jessie Richards   Mrs Carol Herbert

      1987 Mrs. Marjorie Nilson    Mrs. Margaret McKinley

      1993 Mr Arthur Willoughby

      1996 Mr Bernie Carr    Mrs. Joan Carr

      1997 Mrs. Lillian Chittenden    Mrs. Bobbie Melling    Mrs. Marjorie Page

      2004 Mrs. Maureen Underhill

      2009 Mrs Shirley Carrington  Mrs Trish Patterson

      Past Presidents

      1975-76 Mrs. Ennis Mason

      1977-78 Mr Wilf Buckley

      1979-80 Mrs Carol Herbert

      1981-82 Mrs. Ennis Mason

      1983-84 Mrs. Carol Herbert

      1985-86 Mrs. Marjorie Nilson

      1987-88 Mrs. Lillian Chittenden

      1989-90 Mrs. Sue Smith

      1991-92 Mrs. Carol Herbert

      1993-94 Mr Arthur Bennett

      1995 Mrs. Bobbie Melling

      1996 Mrs. Sue Smith

      1997-98 Mr Michael Mountcastle

      1999-00 Mr Ted Weaver

      2001-02 Mrs Trish Patterson

      2003-04 Mrs Therese Van den Ende

      2005-06 Mrs Shirley Carrington

      2007-08 Mrs Trish Patterson

      2009-11 Mrs Joy Moroney

      Honorary Members

      Mrs Iris Buckley,  Mr Lawry Spackman,

      Mrs. Margery Boake    Mrs. Gwen Wilson

      Mr Frank Nicholls