I first met Susanna in 1987 when Ed Victor, the late literary agent, invited both of us for lunch at the recently opened River Café. It was love at first sight as she chatted hilariously about her up-and-coming blind date with a rather well-known politician and people we knew, all of whom had something in common: they played bridge.
Ed and his wife Carol had been taking lessons and were properly hooked. It was typical of Susanna’s generosity that she frequently played with them, not minding at all that they were newbies and she was already a very good player. She asked me if I played and I told her I didn’t. ‘Well you must learn,’ she said: ‘the sooner the better.’
It was to be another ten years before I started taking lessons, and of course when I did the first person I told was Susanna. She was delighted and advised me to take a few more lessons to find out if I took to it – and if every-thing went well, she would organise some ‘kitchen bridge’ evenings with her vast circle of friends.
She did so regularly, until she thought I was ready for the big bad world of competition bridge, which was the most exciting thing I could imagine. We started playing charity events (not always together) and local evening duplicates that weren’t too scary. I played on occasion with a couple of her friends and found myself counting the hours until the next time. Seeing my addiction matched her own, Susanna suggested we go to the club her then boyfriend ran, because he would make sure I was playing with people he could trust not to go nuts at every mistake I made. Little did they know nothing would or could have put me off!
Then came this column. Susanna asked me to take over while she was on maternity leave, and when she came back she wanted us to do alternate weeks, which suited me perfectly. We have stuck to that arrangement for the past 17 years.
Susanna regularly organised ‘kitchen bridge’ evenings with friends
She had one more ambition, and that was to become professional – meaning she partnered ‘clients’ who paid her to play with them in club duplicates or online. She became much in demand.
But now she’s gone and I haven’t got the will or the incentive to do the column without her. With great sadness I will be stepping down, and someone else can have a go. It’s the best bridge column in the world. Have fun. Susanna and I did.
Godspeed, dearest friend. You are missed.
Comments