History of our club

In 1940 a group of people in Wanganui known as the "Bridge Club" played from time to time in each others homes. In April of that year a special meeting was called, and with 24 members attending, the Wanganui Contract Bridge Club was formed. Dr F. C. Hutchinson was its first President and Mr W.J. Gardner was Secretary-Treasurer.  The following year, at the first AGM, Mrs Craig was elected President and Mr Gardner continued on as Secretary-Treasurer and membership had risen to 33.  At the end of the 10th year the Club's membership stood at 42. 

Venues

The Club's first home was the Victoria League Rooms. A variety of rooms were rented for use by the club for some years until, in 1967, a house on the corner of Wicksteed and Ingestre  Streets was bought. It became home to the club until it was sold in 1984 to make way for the new Wicksteed Terrace Complex. Council approval for the leasehold site in Parsons Street was obtained and on Saturday, 15 December 1984, the new clubrooms were officially opened by his Worship the Mayor, Mr. D.G. Turney

Membership

When the club opened in Parsons Street, membership had risen to 362 and players were divided into three groups of ability: Senior, Senior Reserve, and Junior. Today, the current membership of the Club varies from 200 to 250 year to year, with three graded evening sessions—Senior, Intermediate and Junior—and two ungraded daytime sessions. Special  tournaments and tutorial sessions are also held throughout the year.