Born in London in 1944, Chris was educated at Dulwich College in London, and then studied law – he was introduced to bridge as an articled clerk.
While forging a career as a bridge teacher and club manager from 1968-85, he established himself as one of the UK’s most prominent players, winning the British Open Championships (the Gold Cup) three times as well as many other national titles.
The seventies were eventful, literally. In 1971, he married Italian bridge player Maria Luce Faina (with whom he had three children) and won a silver medal for Great Britain in the European Championships. A year later he finished sixth in the World Olympic Championships; and as trainer and captain of the British Women’s team from1976-79, he led them to attain gold medals in the Common Market and European Championships. Not least, between 1974-86 Chris owned and managed the world-famous Acol Bridge Club in north London, representing England on several occasions in the Home International Series, in which he has the distinction of remaining unbeaten! And in 1981 he again represented Great Britain in the Common Market Championships, again winning a gold medal.
In 1986, however, Chris left the Acol to start a computer software company which relocated to Bath. Although the pressures of his new career initially made it impossible for him to compete himself at an international level, Chris was prominent as the Captain of international teams in the Open Series, Women’s Series and Seniors. He also became a member of the English Bridge Union (EBU) Selection Committee and, ultimately, Chairman, after the millennium when England (rather than Great Britain) became a National Bridge Authority. He was also elected to the board of the EBU with a special responsibility for training and coaching the England Under 25 team, which he captained for three consecutive European Championships in 2004, 2005 and 2007.
After retiring from his business in 2003, Chris became active as a player again, playing in the Camrose (Home International Series). He has qualified to represent England in the European Championships in 2008 in Pau, France, as part of the Seniors Team, followed by the World Mind Sports Games in Beijing in October 2008.
Amazingly, Chris still has time for other interests too, including theatre, classical music (he’s a keen amateur double bass player) and travelling. He has a special love for the world’s wildest and coldest places and has visited (and played bridge at!) both the South and North poles.
He is now married to Karen, who does not play bridge but is (thankfully) tolerant of Chris’s great love for this compelling and competitive sport. Which is just as well, as he’s now determined to transfer his passion to a new generation of great bridge players. Could you be one of them?