Author: Pat Haslam

Please see attached the information on the above.

 Sleaford Golf Club

Ladies’ Section Bridge Day

Wednesday 18th November 2026

Coffee and biscuits from 09.30, play starts 10.30

Two course buffet lunch with a glass of juice

 Tickets £25.00 per person

Raffle in aid of our on-course bird-box project.

Our golf course provides an amazing habitat for all sorts of wildlife and many of our nesting boxes are wearing out! We, as a section, are aiming to fund some replacements this year.

In the past 9 years more than 1000 baby birds have fledged from our boxes, including blue tits, great tits and robins. We have over 40 different bird species on the course including kestrels, long-eared owls, wrens, woodpeckers, thrushes and many others. 

To purchase tickets by post, please send your cheque made out to Sleaford Golf Club Ladies Section, to:

Mrs Carol Brinkworth, Sleaford Golf Club, Willoughby Road, Greylees, Sleaford, NG34 8PL. Tel: 07730 626248  Please include a stamped address envelope if you wish your tickets to be sent to you or give an e-mail so that we can confirm they have been reserved and you can then collect them on the day. 

Or alternately you can e-mail Carol carolbrinky@hotmail.co.uk and make a BACS payment to Sleaford Golf Club ladies Section. Sort code; 30-97-70. Account number 00192428. Using the reference Bridge Day

Closing date for ticket purchase: 1^st November 2026

Thursday 18th June

This Thursday is our annual Strawberry Bridge evening. Members enjoy their usual duplicate bridge but there is a break for strawberries, cream and shortbread biscuits.

Tuesday 19th May at 6.30 pm
Venue: Oscar’s of Newark
Please come and support your Club at your Presentation Night. It is where we celebrate the winners of all the competitions that have taken place throughout the year. It is £25 for the full 3 course menu including first drink and coffee or tea afterward. Names and menu choices please to Fred please.

The final audited accounts for Bassingham Bridge Club for the 2025/26 financial year are attached to this report. I am pleased to report that the Club’s finances are looking very healthy.

Thanks to Barry’s careful stewardship of our accounts in 2024/25, we started this year with a balance of £4,683.92. This has increased by £2,600.43 to £7,284.35 by the end of the year. Good attendances on Thursday evenings and Tuesday afternoons have generated a high level of table money receipts. The Club’s income has been particularly boosted this year by the fees charged for the beginners and improvers lessons that Pat & Nigel and Pat Lucas have been running on Wednesday evenings. We have also welcomed 24 new members, each paying the joining fee of £5.

The Annual Dinner made a small surplus. We did not hold a Curry Bridge this year. The bridge breaks that Fred organised were run on a break-even, self-funding basis, so do not show in the Bridge Club accounts.

The accounts show the Christmas collection and donation to the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

Expenditure has been broadly in line with previous years.

The Club’s bank accounts have been moved to Virgin Money in order to avoid bank charges and to earn a higher interest rate on the Club’s reserves.

The Club accounts show a high cash balance of £677.62 at the year end. This included the March table money, which was banked on 1 April.

With a year end balance of £7,284.35 the Club is in a very positive financial position. It is important that we maintain and continue to increase our reserves, as at some point the Club will need to replace the dealing machine.

Roger Baker has again audited the Club’s accounts for us. I am very grateful to him for continuing to do this for the Club.

I hope that the Club accounts are clear and self- explanatory. I am happy to answer any questions at the AGM.

Andrew Keeling

Treasurer

BASSINGHAM BRIDGE CLUB

ACCOUNTS 1 APRIL – 31 MARCH 2026

Opening Balances 1 April 2025	£	£
Lloyds Bank Community Account	3055.41
Lloyds Bank Commercial Instant Access Account	1.14
Santander Business Account	1617.88
Cash in Hand	9.49
		4683.92
Income
Table Money	7742.00
Joining Fees	120.00
Bridge Lesson Fees	1240.00
Annual Dinner Surplus	9.20
Heighington Bridge Club Contribution to Insurance	38.90
Christmas Charity Collection	200.60
Bank Interest	67.88
Bank Charges Credited	4.25
Misc Cash Receipts	30.00
		9452.83
Expenditure
Hammond Hall Hire	5307.92
Trophies & Engraving	123.00
Score Bridge Licence	45.00
Bridgewebs Licence	48.00
Insurance	77.80
Tea, Coffee, Milk, Sugar	172.25
Bridge Lessons Expenses	179.26
Event Refreshments	358.10
Christmas Charity Donation	200.60
Misc Expenses	241.71
Bank Charges	86.49
Postage	12.27
		6852.40
Balances 31 March 2026		7284.35
Virgin Money Current Account	563.04
Virgin Money Savings Account (Instant Access)	2000.36
Virgin Money Savings Account (Notice)	4043.33
Cash in Hand	677.62
		7284.35

Thursday 23rd April at 6.30 pm

It is a St George themed evening. Come dressed for the occasion. Cup cakes (St George themed) available when you make your tea or coffee.

Come and vote for your committee and have your say.

Bassingham Bridge Club has continued its ethos of a friendly and welcoming Club and membership has risen during 2025/26.

Our usual competitions and events have taken place. My congratulations to everyone for taking part and well done those who won the various competitions.  Please make every effort to attend our Presentation Evening, which this year is at Oscar’s in Newark on 19th May. Many thanks to our team of Directors who lead our Thursday evenings.  For 2026/27 there will be a change to the Individual Competition which takes place on every 4th Thursday of the month.  It will have a new name ‘The Random Partners Competition’ and we will revert back to arrow switches in an attempt to have fairer results.  All members are encouraged to take part in this competition which is an opportunity to play with a different partner once a month.  A one off Individual Competition will take place on a Sunday afternoon with an afternoon tea.

Further thanks go to the committee who work together to run our Club.  There are numerous tasks that need to be done and they are our unsung heroes.  I thank you, our membership, who also help with tasks and support our various events with a cheerful and friendly outlook.

In November we organised our usual Random Seeded Competition but trialled a refreshment interlude with just cake.  The committee received positive and negative comments to this but decided to try a more buffet style for our next event.  A date could not be found for February so our next event is likely to be November.  

We held held our usual Christmas Bridge but tried playing normal duplicate rather than Chicago.  We enjoyed the usual excellent sausage rolls from HIcksons with our grateful thanks to Derek for this kind donation.  Mince pies and mulled wine were also enjoyed.  This was a free evening but donations enabled us to give a cheque of £200 to Lincolnshire Air Ambulance.

Bassingham Bridge took part once again in the Village Show and their stall encouraged visitors to try out ‘Play Your Cards Right’ which was organised by Mike and Pat Lucas.  Information on our Club was provided including details of how to join and/or learn bridge.  This, together with advertising, led to 18 new beginners starting to learn the game in September.  Pat Lucas continues to lead the Improvers course.  Programmes for both appear on our website.

Fred Myers continues to organise 2 bridge breaks a year.  They are always in interesting venues and provide a really enjoyable break with a varied programme of bridge.  These breaks are enjoyed by a large section of our Club.

I thank our committee and all members for their support throughout the year.  You have always given generously of your time and skills. 

Tuesday, 19th May 2025 at Oscar’s of Newark at 6.30 pm for 7 pm

This year our presentation evening will be held at Oscar’s of Newark with thanks to Jackie for her hospitality, help and suggestions for the evening. As is our custom our Club will provide a welcome drink. The cost is £22 for a 2-course meal or £25 for 3-courses.
The Menu:
TO START
Spiced Tomato & Red Pepper Soup
served with warm, house-baked bread
Feta & Watermelon Salad
Finished with a kick of sriracha aioli and tangy pickled fennel
Prawn & Crayfish Cocktail
Crisp baby gem lettuce topped with their signature spicy Bloody Mary sauce.
THE MAIN EVENT
Pan-Fried Sea Bream
Crispy potatoes and crushed peas, served with rich tartar butter sauce
Braised Blade of Beef
Slow-cooked to perfection with garlic and herb mash, savoury bourguignon sauce, and tender stem Broccoli
Butternut Squash & Spinach Pithivier
Golden puff pastry served with creamed potato, confit carrots, and vibrant romesco sauce
SOMETHING SWEET
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Drenched in deep muscovado sauce and served with vanilla ice cream
Lemon & Lime Posset
A zesty citrus cream paired with refreshing raspberry sorbet and crunch candied pistachios.
Warm Chocolate Brownie
Decadent and gooey, topped with salted caramel and vanilla ice cream
Fresh Fruit Salad
A simple, healthy mix of natural fruits
TEA OR COFFEE
Provided for members to help themselves

Please let Fred have your payment and menu choices as soon as possible.. There is a restriction of 40 on numbers so an early response would be appreciated. If you are a trophy winner please make every effort to attend to receive your presentation.

Fred’s bank account details:

Mr F W Myers Sort Code: 30-97-95 Account No: 00232850

If you have any dietary requirements Oscar’s are happy to ensure they can be accommodated..

Tuesday, 19th May at 6.30 pm

Venue: Oscar’s of Newark

Please put the date, time and venue in your diaries and make an effort to join your bridge friends for a social evening. If you have been successful in our competitions please make an extra effort to attend to collect your award and the Club’s congratulations.

Has anyone borrowed any bridge table cloths from Bassingham and inadvertently kept them at home? We are rather short at the moment and had to borrow from Heighington. Please have a look around and if you have any please return them at the next bridge evening.
Many thanks

Tuesday 31st March 2026 at 1 pm (Bridge begins 1.30 pm)

In aid of Buddies Dementia Cafe and St Barnabas Hospice

Members are invited to the above event to be held at Welton Village Hall

Tickets £25 pp

If interested please contact Geraldine Johnson via email: annportik@icloud.com (mobile: 07495725490)