David Burn has had a long and varied bridge career, playing and coaching internationally and professionally, teaching, writing and commentating on bridge events both live and on-line. After leaving Cambridge he became a firm fixture at the Young Chelsea, and after taking early retirement from BT (so early, in fact, he’d barely started) he now divides his time between TGR and professional engagements. He is the current coach to the English Women’s team and has recently received an EBU Diamond Award for his international achievements. See David’s EBU profile.
Heather Dhondy has been a regular member of the British/English women’s team since 1995, winning three World titles and six Europeans in that time. Most recently, Heather was on the team who won silver in the 2013 and bronze in 2015 Venice Cups, and gold in the Women’s European Championships in 2016 playing with Nevena Senior. In addition she has won a record thirteen Lady Milne trophies. Playing with Abbey Smith, Heather won the 2018 Lady Milne trials so she could be on track for a fourteenth victory! She was on the London team that won the Tollemache in 2016 and 2017. Now a full time bridge professional, Heather used to work as an accountant. Her hobbies include playing tennis and playing the piano. See Heather’s EBU profile.
Gillian Fawcett was born in Devon in 1961 and started playing bridge at school, to relieve the boredom of A level “study time”. She first represented England in the Lady Milne in 1989, playing with Kay Preddy, and they represented Great Britain in the Common Market Championships around the same time. She has subsequently played many more times in the Lady Milne with Anne Rosen and with Jane Moore. Her most recent appearance in the event was 2015. Gillian is married to Joe Fawcett and they have 2 children, Sephi and Xavier. The family now lives in Exeter. See Gillian’s EBU profile.
Joe Fawcett divides his time between Exeter and London. After working at Green Street Bridge Club and the London School of Bridge he took early retirement and has since enjoyed a successful career as a software developer, publishing many books on programming. He has represented England at Junior level and in the Open team. He’s waiting for the Seniors to roll round. See Joe’s EBU profile.
Richard Granville was born in 1954 and learned to play bridge when he was 10 and from 1973 to 1978 he represented the country at junior level with a number of partners including Tony Forrester, with whom he also played for England at open level in 1978. Soon after this Richard decided to concentrate on Go playing for the country in the 1985 European Championship.
His interest in bridge was rekindled while working away from home in 2009. He started to play more seriously and in 2014 was in the runner-up team in the London Super League. He joined the Young Chelsea Bridge Club the following year and was a member of the team that won the 2016 YCKO (club knockout) championship. He also won the EBU Two Stars pairs tournament later that year.
Richard followed a career as a software engineer but changed direction in 2010 to become part-time bridge consultant for the successful https://www.nofearbridge.co.uk/ website, for which he has supplied much of the technical material. He has produced more than 1500 declarer and defence problems for the “Hand of the Day” feature, mostly adapted from real-life deals.
Frank To started playing bridge in 1968. He has won the Tollemache five times representing London, including the 2016 victory. He was part of the team that came second in the Premier League in 2015. He has been a Crockfords finalist four times and has won the London Teams of Four at least five times. It might be six – he’s not sure!)
Lederer Trophy 