The History Y R O T S of the EBU I H

by Richard Fleet

THIS article has been written to comme - associations (the three present at Liver - morate the EBU’s 75th anniversary. I am pool, & Home Counties and four grateful to Karen Durrell at the Aylesbury representing the East, the South-West, the office for the assistance provided in North Midlands and West Midlands). facilitating access to the archive records.

Early Days

The EBU came into existence at a meeting held in Liverpool on 23 May 1936. Sadly, the minutes of that meeting have not been preserved, but we know something about it from an article written in 1948 by one of the participants, Teddy Bruce Parker. Three regional bridge associations were already in existence in England, the North-East, the North-West and York - the three Northern associations, several shire. However there was no representative leading London players and Phillips. national association in existence, whereas Significantly, there was no-one present Richard Lederer the other home countries had set up such from the BBL: this is not really bodies. The Liverpool meeting was surprising since Manning-Foster never organised ‘to try to work out some form of referred to the NBA or its events in his The constitution provided that the democratic set-up which should cover the magazine. Council’s first duty was to ratify ‘the provi- British Isles’. The emphasis here is on Parker wrote that there were wide sional representation on the Dupli cate Bridge democracy, since there were already two discussions, that the three Northern asso - Control Board’. This body, now long national organisations, both backed by ciations were prepared to join together but forgotten, had been set up at Phillips’ playing card companies. that the Scottish and Irish representatives initiative to take control of tournament The had existed would only deal with a national demo - bridge, which was then experiencing great since 1931 and was democratic in form, cratic organisation. Consequently, the growth in popularity, including inter - but not in substance, being controlled by EBU came into being. This account is national matches. Little time was lost and its founder Alfred Edye Manning-Foster, supported by an Edinburgh Evening News the first Camrose matches took place early the editor of Bridge Magazine. In addition, item: ‘Our representatives quite rightly in 1937. there was the National Bridge Association, refused to treat with them [i.e. the existing set up two years later under the control of English organisations] in discussions as to Selection Shenanigans Hubert Phillips, the editor of the rival duplicate control, international representa - British Bridge World. Each had its own tion and the like.’ The minutes show that the young EBU was programme of events, including some The fledgling EBU Council met less much concerned with selection matters. familiar names: open teams for the Gold than three weeks later, with Phillips as In January 1937, an extraordinary Council Cup (BBL) and Tollemache Cup (NBA) Chairman and Richard Lederer, perhaps meeting appointed the first Selection Com - and, correspondingly for women, the the leading tournament player at the time, mittee, with a brief to select a team ‘likely Whitelaw and Lady Milne Cups. appointed to the position of Honorary to win – not necessarily the best available’. Those present at Liverpool included Secretary. The draft constitution was Five weeks later, the Council changed some representatives of the other home countries, approved, there being eight constituent of the members and instructed it to ‘Select

www.ebu.co.uk June 2011 English Bridge 13 as far as possible: (a) different personnel for clue as to why this may have been the case gates purported to represent had not been each match; (b) include two players from is provided in Terence Reese’s auto bio - set up. The Bye-laws were not yet approved the provinces for each match.’ The reference graphical work Bridge at the Top: Reese, and would not be for over five years since to provincial players is a reminder that who was an associate of Phillips in the the EBU now went into abeyance. those from London were then regarded as latter half of the 1930s, and the effective a cut above the rest, not least in their own editor of the British Bridge World for much Post-war Revival, opinion. of this time, wrote that the EBU and Crisis and Recovery Later that year, the Council overturned London & Home Counties Association the Selection Committee decisions for two were both established as ‘makeweights’. The EBU Council did not meet again until forthcoming matches, leading to the That is, Phillips’ motivation in setting up June 1945. Meanwhile, Reese had taken resignation of its Chairman, Norman de the EBU was to facilitate international advantage of the EBU’s inactivity to set up Villiers Hart (now best remembered for bridge amongst the home countries, and the Tournament Bridge Asso ciation, and his co-authorship of Right Through the he would not have expected it to compete ran a programme of events commencing Pack ). Lederer also resigned, though the with the established programme of events in the latter half of 1944. This included reason is not stated: he had written a letter being run by his NBA. some which are now major EBU tour - of resignation which was discussed at naments, including Crockfords Cup and great length, with a vote of thanks for his Constitutional Change the Two Stars Pairs Champion ship. The services only being passed by seven votes TBA continued to run its own events until to five. It is reasonable to conclude that In early 1939, it was reported to the 1950 when it was taken over by the EBU. this letter was possibly expressed in less Council that negotiations were in hand for than diplomatic terms. the ‘fusion’ of the EBU and the BBL. Manning-Foster had resigned as BBL President in 1938 and his successor, Noel Mobbs, was more conciliatory in his attitude, being quoted in Bridge Magazine as undertaking to work towards amalga - mation. Although it is not specifically recorded, it is a reasonable inference that it was intended that the NBA would be included in the process; indeed, it is possible that, given Phillips’s involvement with both bodies, the EBU and NBA were regarded as synonymous for this purpose (although he had stood down as Chair - Terence Reese man, Phillips was still active within the EBU). The impetus for this move was very likely financial, since a minute of December The June meeting revived the EBU on the 1938 opined that the ‘Question of future 1940 model, though with the appoint ment Maurice Harrison-Gray finance of the EBU required very serious of a full-time secretary, Mr H.D. King, at an consideration.’ annual salary of £300 together with an In July 1939, the new EBU memo - expense allowance of up to £50 per quarter. In the autumn of 1937, four captains were randum and articles of association were This may not sound like very much, but an appointed to select the teams for the approved and also a draft constitution for MP’s salary in 1945 was only £600. At the Camrose matches, subject to ratification a democratic BBL. In early September the same meeting, the first Tournament Com - by the Council. These captains comprised old Council held its last meeting; unfor - mittee was appointed and a programme of Phillips and three of the acknowledged tunately, and perhaps unsurprisingly given events inaugurated using the trophies from leading players of the time, Maurice that war had just broken out, the record of pre-war days, although the BBL retained Harrison-Gray, Lederer and Edward this meeting is absent from the minute responsibility for the . Mayer. Following this, the North-East book. It is recorded that, at the start of 1946, association withdrew from the EBU in The new structure took the form of a there were 44 clubs plus 829 individual protest at the selection mechanics and, a limited company operating by means of members. However, this total is under - little later, the Council ventured to select an unincorporated association. Some six stated since membership of the North- teams for two matches without the months later, the first meeting of the new West and Yorkshire associations was by assistance of a committee: this mechanism EBU Council was held and Kathleen clubs at the time. By the end of the year, turned out not to be beyond criticism, the Salmons, the BBL Secretary, was appoint - there had been a great improvement, with Council proving adept at selecting its own ed to the same position for the EBU. The over 2,000 individual members plus those members (of the thirteen people present, Council was now composed of delegates in Yorkshire. four were selected). from counties in recognisably the same Selection remained a controversial issue Aside from selecting international teams, form as endured for almost sixty-five years . in 1946, with a proposal being put that one is struck by how little the EBU actually In some cases, however, the appear ance of only British born players should be eligible did in those early days. In particular, there democracy was more theoretical than real for selection. Almost immediately after - were no EBU competitions of any sort. A since the county associations that the dele - wards, in response to a letter from a David

14 English Bridge June 2011 www.ebu.co.uk Brown of Sheffield, it was recorded that table. The secretary, who had sacri ficed a when Anne took over Master Points), the there was ‘no question of ante- semitism secure job with the civil service to take on EBU had been transformed into a pro - [sic], nor anything personal’. The ultimate the role, was made redundant, the office was fessional organisation. decision was that players had to be British closed and honorary officials working from born or naturalised, and this was taken home were appointed instead, a basic NBO Status and After seriously: the selection of so emi nent a structure which lasted for a quarter of a player as was conditional century. These drastic measures proved It had long been an aspiration for England on his confirming that he had been natu- successful, a financial report for the eleven to have its own representatives in inter - ralised, and ’s selection was months to 28 February 1951 showing a national events but, ever since the first delayed for the same reason. surplus of virtually £300. European Championship in 1932, there After the excitement of its first fifteen had been one team for the whole of Great years, the EBU embarked upon a quieter Britain (Northern Ireland was, and still is, period of steady growth, though one included in an all-Ireland team). From time notable development was the inauguration to time, moves had been made for the of the Master Point scheme in the second home countries to be recognised in their half of 1956. With the passage of time, it is own right as National Bridge Orga ni sa - difficult to appreciate the excitement tions, but such overtures had always been engendered by this, and there was a rejected, most recently in 1998. Not long significant – and permanent – increase in afterwards, the BBL delegate to the Euro- the level of tournament entries. pean Bridge League (Bill Pencharz), again pressed the case, this time with suc cess. A Professional Organisation Formal agreement was given in 1999 and most of the functions of the BBL were In 1971, the Tournament Secretary devolved to the home unions from January (Geoffrey Fell) died. Fell had many other 2000, with Bridge Great Britain coming into Kathleen Salmons calls upon his time, and had still managed existence to handle com petitions (home to perform this role for over twenty years. internationals, simul taneous pairs and the He was a man of boundless energy, noted Gold Cup). The EBU was at last an NBO. A major step was the launch in Sept em ber for his hearty laugh and loud voice, and it It is not overstating the case to say that 1946 of Journal, under the was futile to expect to be able to replace this came as a surprise, and no prepa rations editorship of Harrison-Gray. It was an him on an honorary basis. had been made for the eventuality. A immediate success, though not in financial particular issue was the Selection Com- terms (almost three years passed before a mittee, since its sphere of responsi bility had regular monthly profit was made). In fact, been massively ex pand ed. It was an interes- it was too successful for its own good, and ting time but not an unsuccess ful one: the the office of the Controller of Paper banned England open team (David Burn, Brian the January and February 1947 issues on Callaghan, Joe Fawcett, Gunnar Hallberg, the grounds that the paper allocation had Glyn Liggins, Colin Simpson, David been exceeded. For some time afterwards, Bakhshi coach, John Williams N.P.C.) the magazine was published on paper of competed strongly in the 2000 Bridge poorer quality with some contents printed Olympiad, losing to ultimate champions in very small type. Italy in the semi-final, the best perfor mance In 1947, the Rules & Ethics Committee since the bronze medal win by Great came into being, but the major issue in Britain in 1976. Subsequently, there have this year lay outside the EBU’s control. been several international successes, most Out of the blue, the petrol rationing Geoffrey Fell notably the triumphs by our women’s team regulations were changed and the ‘basic in the 2008 World Bridge Games and by ration’ (i.e. that which could be used for our senior team in the 2009 Senior Bowl. social and pleasure purposes) withdrawn. A solution was found in the appoint ment Since then, there have been two signif - This had a drastic effect on tournaments, of Stuart Staveley, the husband of Anne icant developments. In 2005, the Council with the EBU section of the Gold Cup who had been the Master Points Secretary voted to dissolve the unincor porated declining from 77 entries to 49. As Reese since 1965. The Staveley residence, 81 High association, and in the process terminated commented in a letter to the CBJ, time, Street, Thame, became the EBU HQ, with its own existence, all sub sequent oper - money and travelling were all easier in the the ground floor given over to bridge, and ations being carried on by the limited years prior to the war. for a few years the Staveleys were synony - company. As a practical matter, this has In the months that followed, it became mous with the EBU. In 1974, a permanent made little difference to the way that the obvious that the EBU was living beyond office was found at 15B High Street, with EBU has been administered, though the its means: the BBL owed it £450, but with the move to the current – and far more regular meetings are now of shareholders little prospect of recovery, and, in mid- suitable – premises at Aylesbury following rather than Council members. 1948, the books showed income of £950 but later, several years after the Staveleys had Finally, Pay to Play was instituted in April expenditure of £1,292. The situation was retired. From a cottage industry (literally: last year. This is covered by Sally Bugden untenable and a major overhaul was inevi - the Staveley address was Maytree Cottage in her article on pages 17-18. r

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