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Within the space of six months, New Zealand Bridge has lost four of its Life Members. In November 2022, we said farewell to Shirley Waymouth and in March 2023 to both Alan Turner and John Wignall. Last week, it was to Tony Thomson.

Tony, a Wellingtonian, was Chairman of New Zealand Bridge Association for two spells, played international bridge at Open and Seniors levels and was a npc of several overseas international teams. Above all, he will be remembered as a most efficient administrator and a thoroughly decent and nice person with the best interests of our game always at heart.

For Tony, as for many in the late 1960’s, bridge started as an activity in a university common room, in his case Victoria University. It was there that he met his bridge playing wife, Helen. Tony and Helen soon got involved in the Blades Bridge Club, the Wellington version of Auckland’s Akarana young person’s club. The two clubs had annual matches against each other, alternating venues. Also at Blades in those early days were the likes of Dave Riseborough, Brian Patterson, Gary O’Donovan and Tony Lenart.

In 1976, Canterbury and Wellington tied the Open Inter-Provincial Championships. Tony was in the Wellington team playing with Brian Patterson with John Cordwell, Vil Gravis, Peter Benham and John Britton.

Tony and Brian also won the Centre Island Teams in 1974 and were members of the New Zealand Open Team which came 5^th in the Far Eastern Bridge Championships in Manila in the same year. Partnering John Cormack, Tony played in the NZ Seniors team in the Pacific Asia Bridge Federation Championships in 2008 and in the 2012 World Mind Sport Games. He also was npc for several New Zealand Open teams back in the late 1970’s and for NZ Seniors teams from 2005 through to 2011.

Here is Tony in grand slam in Manila in 1974:

 

To quote Bruce Bell: “Tony found the right approach. He won the trump lead in dummy with A, played A and ruffed a heart. Then A and club ruff with 6 before drawing trumps. K,AK and 4 took the last four tricks. While the Australian declarer also made his contract because of the friendly distribution, he took the inferior line of cashing the red suit AKs before embarking on a cross-ruff.” High praise, indeed.

It was Les Schneideman who first got Tony into bridge administration. Tony was Chairman of the Wellington Centre before moving on to the NZCBA. His two spells as Chairman were because of a period of being posted to London by his employer, Shell Oil.

In total, Tony was President of NZBA for 6 years, Chairman for 7 years and was a member of the Management Committee for a further 4 years. More recently, he has served as a Trustee of NZ Bridge Foundation and on the panel which conducted a constitutional review.

             
a youthful Tony at score up                        Tony presenting  prizes at the 1990 National Congress to 
                                                                    Mixed Pairs winners, Chris Marshall and Jan Abel

Tony’s style of management was quiet but very effective. Tony Lenart remembers his namesake as always being one who saw the best side of people. He promoted the game wherever he could at national or club level. He always wanted to help, to try to make the game better for everyone.  

Robyn Green, President of the Victoria Bridge Club, commented that “Tony had an encyclopaedia-like knowledge of all aspects of this Club and bridge in general, and was always so very willing to share his knowledge.

 He was calm, polite and non-judgemental. As John Cormack said, “He never criticized anyone’s play”.

Tony will be hugely missed for his wisdom and guidance. Victoria Bridge Club owes him a great debt.”

 

At club, regional and national level, Tony was a great contributor, most worthy of Life Membership of New Zealand Bridge. Condolences of all bridge players go to Helen, their daughters, Tanya and Rebecca and to the rest of their family and friends. Tony was 76.

Richard Solomon

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