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NORTH
v SOUTH 1946
"I
must captain the North
team, paying special attention
to
the psychological angle." Ewart Kempson.
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(The first
person in this country to broadcast on Contract Bridge, way back
in the 'twenties, was Ewart Kempson. In the two years preceding
the war he gave a fortnightly series of Bridge Half Hours on
National and Regional programmes. As he represents the views of a
great number of listeners, he is eminently fitted to submit this
critical survey of the current series of bridge broadcasts.-ED.)
BRIDGE went on the air in a big way on Monday, 29th October, 1945.
Starting with a listening audience of a few thousand, this weekly
feature has grown steadily in popularity and is at present
attracting an audience of more than one million ; throughout the
country, bridge players (and many who have never played bridge in
their lives) make a point of listening to "Bridge on the Air
" at 11.3 every Monday night ; it is hardly an exaggeration
to say that it has become part of their lives, and many a rubber
is interrupted to listen to the experts, chief of whom are M.
Harrison Gray and Terence Reese, who take it in turn to be master
of ceremonies.
Before the war the B.B.C. gave occasional running commentaries on
important bridge matches, and, more often than not, the
commentator was a nationally known B.B.C. personality who, despite
his charm of manner and excellent style of delivery, completely
failed to convince listeners that he knew much about
the game.
Adverse comment was heard in bridge circles and only a handful of
people bothered to listen.
In future bridge commentaries, it is probable that the
commentators will be experts, and features of this kind will then
attract the vast majority of bridge players.
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The
contest, an English Bridge Union event, was run under the auspices
of the North Eastern Contract Bridge Association, whose president.
Mr. V. Ewart Berry, has done much for bridge and bridge players in
the North East.
South won by 2680 imps
"It
is only on short loan, Walshie!" Ewart Kempson
Kempson writes about the North v South Match 1946
After weeks of planning, the morning of the match arrives.
There
is a last minute rush for tickets; will I leave three for Mrs.
Jones with the hall porter, two far Mr. Brown at the "
Chronicle " Office? Will I please change these first session
tickets to fourth session?
There
Is the Cup to collect, newly polished, from the jewellers. There
are the positions of the players to post an the special boards;
there are detailed instructions to the recorders.
The
match begins and I must keep my eye an the score, see that tea is
served to players and recorders, play a bit myself, dash off to
write an article for the "North Mail and Journal,"
telephone a story to other Kemaley newspapers, telephone a short
story for the " Daily Telegraph." Collect the South
players and give them dinner. Give a little thought to the 20
minutes broadcast. |
