The University of the Third Age movement is a unique and exciting organisation which provides, through its local area U3As, life-enhancing and life-changing opportunities. Retired and semi-retired people come together and learn together, not for qualifications but for its own reward: the sheer joy of discovery! Members share their skills and life experiences: the learners teach and the teachers learn, and there is no distinction between them. The U3A movement is supported by its national organisation, the Third Age Trust.
Amongst many other things the Droitwich Spa U3A runs several Bridge groups, whose form changes each year according to the demand from members and the availability of group leaders. The new 2023/24 membership year started in April 2023, and the following Bridge groups are available:
“Beginner’s Bridge – 2023”
– This course runs from October to the following March, and the 2-hour meetings are normally weekly on a day to be agreed between the participants.
This course is suitable for members who are complete novices to the game of Bridge or who may have played some time ago and forgotten almost everything of what they once knew. Bridge is a “whist-like” card game for 4 players operating as two teams/pairs, who sit opposite each other. The game consists of two main parts. Firstly the bidding – where players compete to decide on a contact where one pair aim to take a specified number of tricks, with a specified suit as trumps (or with no trumps). Secondly the play – where the pair that won the contract then try to make at least the specified number of tricks. Starting from the absolute basics the course will cover the main features of Acol (the most commonly used bidding system), and some techniques of card play. Familiarity with “whist-like” card games would be an advantage, but is not essential.
Please contact Les Hazlewood on 01905 796201 or email to leshazlewoodu3a@btinternet.com if you would like to take part in this course.
“Revision Bridge”
– Weekly on Wednesday mornings from 10.00 am – 12.00 noon, with David Stewart
– at Droitwich Working Men’s Club, 107 Friar St, Droitwich Spa, WR9 8EG
Suitable for members who know the essentials of the game of Bridge, and have at one time or another have played either Rubber or Duplicate Bridge, but have become rusty through not playing recently and need their knowledge refreshing. The group will be mostly based upon supervised Bridge bidding and play using the examples encountered to discuss related bidding and playing techniques. You do not need a partner to attend these sessions.
There are no regular charges for attending this group. However, the arrangement we have with the Working Men’s Club, is that as we don’t pay for the use of their room, they would like everyone to buy a drink – and possibly more than one!!! Soft drinks, teas and coffees are available.
Please contact David Stewart on 01905 938165 or email to davidstewart55@sky.com for more details.
“Rubber Bridge”
– Weekly on Tuesday afternoons from 2.00 – 4.00 pm, with Aileen Baker
– at The Castle public house, 73 Worcester Road, Droitwich Spa, WR9 8AQ
Suitable for members who know the essentials of the game of Bridge, ie following-on from successful completion of a beginners course.
Members will have the opportunity to play Rubber Bridge in a social, friendly and supportive environment. In addition, tuition in Bridge bidding and play, appropriate to an “improvers level”, will be provided by David. You do not need a partner to attend these sessions.
There are no regular charges for attending this group. However, the arrangement we have with The Castle, is that as we don’t pay for the use of their room, they would like everyone to buy a drink – and possibly more than one!!! Soft drinks, teas and coffees are available.
Please contact Aileen Baker on 01905 775264 for more details.
“Duplicate Bridge Club”
– Weekly on Wednesday afternoons from 1.30 – 4.00 pm, with Les Hazlewood
– at Amphlett House, 114 Worcester Road, Droitwich Spa, WR9 8AW
Suitable for members who are familiar with the game of Bridge and who would like the opportunity to play and practice their bidding and card playing skills in a friendly and informal but competitive environment.
These sessions will be run as a typical Duplicate Bridge club, with scoring and declared “winners” each week, but run in an informal and friendly manner where strict Bridge Club rules are not applied, and anyone can ask for help with the bidding and/or the play at any time. If you have never played “Duplicate Bridge” before there is nothing to fear – it’s really just like playing “Rubber Bridge” but with slightly different scoring arrangements, and part of the purpose of the sessions will be for you to become familiar with the way Bridge is usually played competitively. You may in the future become more interested in Bridge and sufficiently confident to want to extend your opportunities by playing in a local Bridge club. Alternatively, if you don’t feel so committed, you could just enjoy playing on Wednesday afternoons at these sessions. In addition, part of the session may involve a review of a few of the hands played (usually ones where members had problems with the bidding or the play) for discussion and analysis, and occasionally there may be some wider discussion of bidding systems and/or playing techniques. You do not need a partner to attend these sessions, as the group leader acts as “host” so you will always be found a partner to play with.
There is a £3 charge per person per week on a “no pay, no play” and “no play, no pay” basis to cover the cost of the room hire. Excess funds are returned to members (in proportion to their number of attendancies) at the end of the financial year in March.
Please contact Les Hazlewood on 01905 796201 or email to leshazlewoodu3a@btinternet.com for more details.
Droitwich Spa U3A Bridge 