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Congratulations Arch
“100 Archway”
A street address? No way! A way to introduce a special celebration at the Mt Albert Bridge Club on 11th August. Most definitely.
Arch Jelley is a special person. In bridge terms that is especially to the Mt Albert Bridge Club. To the New Zealand sporting public, indeed far wider, that is as a top athletics coach, the coach of one of our greatest athletes ever, John Walker, but also the coach of many many others.
He served in World War 2. He was for many years a school principal. On 13th August this year, he turned 100 and there have been several celebrations of this extraordinary man including one at his favourite bridge club just two days before the big day. He apologized to the 70+ players who attended that he was nowhere near 100, at least two days to go! Everyone there was ready to celebrate and his bridge life was remembered by club President, Ann Hackett, by prominent club members Gerald Norman and KC Lee and of course a few well-chosen words from Arch himself. When Arch talks, you listen!
His career as an athletics coach has been well documented, especially in terms of coaching John Walker. John was an extrovert: Arch much softer spoken but the combination worked a treat. He coached for much of his life, including returning to coaching when Arch was well into his 90’s.
However, let’s remember Arch in our world of bridge.
He came into our bridge world in 1990 egged on by his first wife, Rachel and has had a strong influence on the Mt Albert Club. He was President for 10 years. He organized the building of the club’s fabulous new club-rooms in the early 90’s. He took beginners’ lessons for 20+ years. Indeed, he only stopped taking them earlier this year. That’s right at the age of 99.
Whether it’s taking lessons or playing at the club, or acting on the committee, he commanded the respect of all. He described bridge as the best game ever and he is a wonderful role model for our game. With Arch at his side firstly his bridge partner and for the last 20 years as his wife has been Jean. Rachel died in 2002.
So, to Arch the bridge player…and he could play. He loved playing especially the unofficial system which carries his name, “Arch Way”. It’s a strong club based system though 1
is limited in the 16-19 hcp range. There is a problem for those who attempt to play it with him… and that is he keeps changing and refining it. It’s hard to keep up with the modifications. Ask Jean. Ask KC. Arch is still modifying it. Maybe many of our older players like a simple constant system. Not Arch and his partners just have to try and keep up!
Jean and Arch. They could be discussing system changes!
In case you wonder, “Arch Way” is not for the new players but for those at the club who want to play it. The beginners were taught Acol straight from the NZ Bridge Beginners’ notes.
Successful clubs usually have a person to drive them a hard worker, a doer, one who motivates others. At Mt Albert that is Arch. Only a few years ago (he was in his 90’s), Gerald Norman came into the club to find Arch being the only one there. Yet, he was laying on the floor. Why? He was putting in the marks onto the carpet that indicated where the tables went. Surely there was someone else to do that? Maybe there was but Arch was there and the job had to be done..and it was not the first time he had done this.
This club is a successful club, a nice place to be. You can just feel it. It transmits into numbers too. Currently, most of our clubs are struggling, the effects of Covid. Not Mt Albert, a club that is growing. That’s a great tribute to the likes of Arch. Both Arch and Jean were awarded Life Membership of Mt Albert Bridge Club in 2009.
His other awards include:
OBE for services to athletics - 1982
Inducted in the NZ Athletics Coaches Hall of Fame in 1987.
International Amateur Athletics Diploma
Companion NZ Order of Merit for work as a coach and administrator for athletics and Bridge. 2021
a most beautiful and rich chocolate cake to help celebrate the occasion
What then is the secret of Arch’s longevity, not just in number of years but in the superb condition he is in? He actually had a knee replacement at the age of 98. He is intending to be around for a good bit longer! The director on this day, Mary Chamberlain (yes, there had to be a session of bridge after a lovely lunch put on by club members) offered an insight, well maybe.
She said there could be 3 explanations:
1. Exercise and brain power.
2. He was dropped here from outer-space!
3. He was not born in 1922 but in 1942!
Somehow, I do not think the latter two are true! Mary said she called in recently to see Arch only to be told he had walked to the opticians. Mary was puzzled because she knew there was no optician close to where he lived. It transpired that the optician was a 5km walk each way!
That’s Arch. He has lived a great life as an athletics coach. He has been a huge influence on the Mt Albert Bridge Club. He loves both roles.
Here’s hoping Arch continues to enjoy playing, modifying his system and enthusing lots of players into the joys of playing bridge. Enjoy your birthday, Arch. You thoroughly deserve to do so.
Richard Solomon
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