Dear Ben, we have never met.

Our sincere condolences to you, your father was special to so many people.

We are just ordinary bridge players from Stratford on Avon,  and knew Max well before he  reached his giddy bridge heights in the UK and internationally. He encouraged us.

We love the game, and it was because of your dad's decision to "instruct" a few players he regarded as promising - but in need of help- that we developed. He went around Stratford Bridge Club in the early 80s saying, " x x  and  x you all need some help!

He offered a 6 week course at the Falcon Hotel. We still have the notes! A very fast track course that started with a simple quiz! We got 4/20 !!

This was pretty average... all aspiring players. Riot! How can we al be so bad?  

Max said... "how many answers are the same as your partmer?"

I forget, probably 16-19.

" Ok, you understand each other but are you differentiating these hands? "

Scribble of many hands on board, "what do you bid with this... and this ... and this ?" we gave the same answer to all..  

"Ok so how is partner to know which hand you hold?"

Class now impresed and ready to learn.

As a qualified school teacher I was in awe of his teaching technique for this group.

One of our group, Sharleen,  went on to have a trial for England.

Rob and I decided to try to incorporate his teaching into our game. Result? Our ranking in club sesions got worse.

Bemoaning this with Doris Haydon she responded "have you altered much in your game?"

Yes we said , everything, since Max's lessons.

"OK " she said, "stick with it, this is because you have temporarily lost your confidence and parthership understanding, but you should persevere, there is no better teacher"

Then... Things got better. "Wow, you and Rob are having a purple session"..

We realise how lucky we were to have had this phenomenal guidance and encouragement.

Thanks to Max we developed a lifelong passiion and joy in playing this game.

I, Chris,try and teach,      remembering his wonderful example.

What an inspiring man at so many levels.  He developed so many others as TDs and as players.

We shall never forget him.

Rob and Chris Evans,

Stratford on Avon