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A tribute to the late Lindsay Adams who “passed peacefully away” on May 19^th stated “Just a warm, gentle, very kind man, a privilege to have known Lindsay.” That too is my memory of Lindsay, coupled with a lovely little wry smile and twinkle in his eye. Lindsay was 101.

One bridge player with memories of Lindsay is Graham Wakefield. Graham’s father and Lindsay shared a tent during World War 2 in the Pacific, where they were both junior officers on the HQ staff of the commanding officer of the New Zealand division, General Barrowclough. After the war, they both continued their education at Auckland University. Graham once asked his father who he most admired and respected. The answer was Lindsay, whom in those days, Graham did not know. He was later to understand his father’s choice.

After World War 2, he taught Accounting at night school and went on to be a teacher. Lindsay had a long teaching career at Kings College, Auckland Grammar, Seddon Memorial Technical College and Mt Roskill Grammar before founding Glendowie College, being its principal from 1961 until 1972. He was a firm believer in the state school system and that parents “need to support, not abandon, their local school.”

He was a keen sportsman, in particular tennis, jogging and swimming, and learnt bridge from his mother-in-law who lived across the road from his Herne Bay home.

In 1974, he took over as Editor of New Zealand Bridge Magazine. A modest man, he saw his role as that of reproducing the “talented articles” of others but made a major contribution to the Magazine itself until he retired in April 1984 after exactly 10 years in the role. One regular feature titled “Optimist” which he wrote gives an insight to his approach to the game.

His wife, Helen, and twin sister, Lesley, were like Lindsay good Open players. Lindsay was too keen on developing and changing systems for Helen, with his regular partner being the long suffering Dick Douglas.

Lindsay wrote serious articles in the Magazine as well but countered some more in depth articles with the lighter side of the game. As a tribute to Lindsay, here is one those “Optimist” articles. If Lindsay was indeed involved in the hand, I am sure despite the title of the feature, he would, with that little twinkle, have forgiven his partner. He claims to be South with North described as " a friend".

“The End of a Beautiful Friendship”

 

The 7, 6, the 5 and the 3

They all seemed much the same to me.

But there in those cards of minimal size

One of life’s lesser tragedies lies.

 

2 No Trumps our opponents reach

And I’m on lead. So what do they teach?

Look for my longest, strongest suit.

Why! Clubs beats spades and my fourth I shoot.

 

But just as my 3 the table hits

I say to myself “Of all the twits.

Top of a sequence is the rule

Not fourth in this case, you blithering fool!”

 

And then I reflect they’re all too small

To make any difference at all.

But the ugly result of a careless play

Will haunt me until my dying day.

 

East played his ace then four spades took

Plus the queen of hearts to complete his “book”.

Another heart put my partner in

And his queen of clubs saw the “fun” begin.

 

With the A9 gone dropping jack and ten

The eight was high, then my seven when

I looked at my partner’s face and saw

That he knew what I knew and even more!

 

As I lamely led from my red AQ,

End-played by myself, as can be seen

He tapped with his finger once or twice

Enough to suggest something wasn’t nice.

 

I entered the score for 2 No Trump

I felt no end of a ……y chump.

In time, I look up to start again

But the 2 of clubs face up is plain.

 

Saying to all what is said to me

What a fool of a lead was my 3.

“Even the 5 would have done” he said

“Or any old card picked out instead.”

 

Where I’d felt bad, I now felt mad

Or had to hit back or thought I had.

It’s the thing to do when your partner’s tough

And his earlier glare had been rough enough.

 

So, I mentioned his 8 after taking the queen

“Why not the 2 as the 8’s the thing

To keep for my 6 so you make your 4”

He opened his mouth and worked his jaw…

 

And gulped three times and hissed “Of course!

But fools should be left to their own resource.

Why should you need my brilliancies

To cover your crass stupidities?”

 

And that’s where a beautiful friendship ends

In spite of what either of us pretends.

Oh what a turn-up for the book.

The 3 or the 5 was all that it took.

Lindsay was of course far too polite to remind partner that a diamond switch after that 8 won would have defeated the contract.

On behalf of all those to whom you gave so much pleasure, thank you, Lindsay.

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

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