Peter Edwards - Obituary

It was a great loss to lovers of bridge in Worcestershire with the recent passing, away after a long illness, of Peter Edwards at the age of 75.

Peter had two brothers John and Frank and was a doting and loving grandfather. He was born in Stourbridge and spent his early life in Kingswinford, both in the West Midlands.

Peter loved to organise and was equally happy arranging a long weekend for friends in Barcelona or a day trip for a dozen or so to London for a meal and a Shakespearean play at the Rose Theatre.

Peter was a keen sportsman and was a county squash player and remembered his "needle" matches against Dieter Baer also a Worcestershire bridge player. He played and then supported Stourbridge Rugby Club.

Peter loved crossword puzzles and was an avid fan of Countdown. I was never sure if this was due to the show's crossword link or his all-time favourite pin up girl Carol Vorderman.

Peter was fun at the bridge table with his cheeky wit and always had a bag of sweets to "bribe" the "girlies".

I played for many years with Peter at County level, Corwen, Green pointed events and qualified as a county director on the same course. Peter in keeping with his organiser mode always was trying out new systems, which he either got wrong in practice or a "confused" me did likewise. The remarkable thing was that every time they went wrong we finished getting a top score. Two examples come to mind - one where agreeing to play South African Texas, a system where a 4 level minor bid shows a strong hand in a major (clubs for hearts and diamonds for spades) Peter with a long spade suit opened 4 clubs !! Sitting there with 6 clubs and a void in hearts I dutifully bid 4 hearts with a void in the suit and played it in a 2-0 fit going 6 off vulnerable minus 600 surely a bottom - no a total top all other NS played in 5 clubs doubled minus 800. The other was having agreed to show a short suit over a weak bid, I forgot this was only up to the three level and showed my short heart suit at the four level over a pre-emptive spade bid, not doubled by the opponent with a 7 card heart suit in case we escaped. A better fit this time 3-1 and down 7 vulnerable for -700 - surely, surely a bottom this time - no another top as other EW's were in 4 hearts doubled for 790.

I will finish with Peter's favourite story. We both had "the pleasure" of partnering Agnes Cavenaile, a charming and interesting French lady away from the table but like many transformed into a demon at the table. Peter and I were playing at Harrogate with lady partners and mine was Agnes. It was Swiss Pairs and Agnes and I had won only one of six matches and were losing the last. Agnes was spitting spiders and the lady opponent sitting to my left was gloating over our demise. So to amuse myself I psyched jumping with a five card diamond suit and a Yarborough. Our gloating lady sniggered that this made her bid easy and called 3 no trumps, sitting behind me with A,Q,10 of diamonds and finessing me for every point I didn't have and going one down in a lay down 11 trick contract and resulting in us winning the 7 board match 11-9.

Yes Peter I treasure some great memories and I will always miss playing with you and miss you as a true friend and I know I speak for the many you taught and guided in bridge throughout the years.

Alan Reid