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The Warkworth Bridge Club will celebrate its first half-century with social bridge and a party at the Warkworth Town Hall on Saturday, June 16.
Guests of honour will include two foundation members, Brian and Jean Rees, who are still club members. The club started in the basement of the Rees home in Victoria Street, with four regular tables and 16 members. By 1975, membership growth forced a move from club members’ homes to the Warkworth Men’s Bowling Club and, in 1992, to Totara Park.
It was recognised that the club needed a more stable base and in August 1993, the committee including John Turner, Mildred Hooper and Peter Wreaks, sent a letter to the local council asking about the then recently-retired library as a Bridge Club facility.
After a three-year fight, council finally agreed to a short-term occupancy lease in 1996. Today, there are around 130 members who play in dedicated rooms in Alnwick Street on Monday and Wednesday nights, and Tuesday afternoons. Club members also play in tournaments in Auckland and Northland.
Club president Jenny Robinson says the club is in good shape and looking forward to the completion of its current clubroom renovations. The $150,000 project has been funded from club finances, grants and a donation from the Senior Citizens Club, with “lots of support from the community”.
