A group in Barrow is getting ready to celebrate 80 years of socialising through card games.
The Barrow Bridge Club, formerly known as Barrow Contract Bridge Club, was first formed under the shadow of war on November 5, 1944.
From the humble origins of meeting up weekly and renting a room from the local conservative club, the group now has roughly 70 members and comes together seven days a week.
When September rolls around, the club will be hosting a celebratory meal and raffle to mark the occasion, going hand in hand with a wider fundraiser for Cancer Research UK.
Always on the lookout for new members, Barrow Bridge Club's oldest member is currently 96, with novices and experts alike invited to get involved.
The group's story actually begins in the late 1930s when a number of draughtsmen from the London Drawing Offices of Vickers Armstrong Ltd. were transferred to Barrow.
In their lunch break, several of them would play a quick rubber of bridge, a tradition that continued throughout the war years until this pastime became an official club.
By 1953, membership had increased to 72, who met at Furness Cricket Club, though a desire for a permanent location started to grow in 1974.
As one member recalled: "Table money was doubled, coffee mornings, jumble sales and raffles were held, some members agreed to give interest free loans and, in due course a mortgage was obtained from Furness Building Society."
They would eventually come across 1A Drake Street, a former doctor's surgery, that was bought for £4,500, with £7,000 spent on necessary renovations.
They have called it home ever since and have continued to evolve with the times, incorporating modern technology to allow for speedier scoring and for online games to take place.
In the wake of the pandemic, the club now offers three virtual sessions and four face-to-face meet-ups.
Besides taking part in a nationwide fundraiser later this year, a taster day will be held on Wednesday, September 11 to celebrate the anniversary and ensure that the club can continue to grow for several more decades to come.
If interested, you can contact Clare Parker at 07773326571 or clarej60@gmail.com.
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