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This will be held in the Strathaven Golf Clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon 12^th November. As last year’s this is a fun bridge (not board bridge) event and caters for bridge players who find our Cafe Bridge Days too challenging. It starts with a light lunch served at 12.00 noon  and will finish about 4.00 pm. To reserve tickets (£15 per person) or take a table of four please phone or text Iain on 07771720388. All monies raised are on behalf of HHI. Raffle prizes will be gratefully accepted.

This year’s RS50,  held on Sunday 18^th August, was the 22^nd since the first one in 2002

Another record number of cyclists had entered and though there was the usual fairly large number who did not turn up over 700 took part in the two events, the 50 and the 15 miles routes. There was an encouraging increase in the number of families and young cyclists taking part in the 15 miles event.

The weather was good and almost everyone completed their routes. There were as usual many favourable comments from the cyclists about the organisation of the event and especially about the usual excellent refreshments at the various locations.

A record sum of £17,000 was raised and once again Health Help International received a very generous donation of £6000 which is being used to provide the beds and bedding in the new Choongo dormitory. This brings the total amount received by HHI from the RS50 events since 2002 to just over £66,000 

Alex and Maria of the BPCF Company which produced the excellent films of HHIs work in India and Zambia attended the event and filmed throughout the day from both ground level and using their drone for aerial footage. We look forward to seeing the completed film of the 2024 RS50 towards the end of the year. 

Cafe Bridge Days are relatively new in the UK but such events have been enjoyed on the Continent for a number of years. At these, players move between a number of prearranged venues and play several hands of bridge in each.

SFHHI hosted its first Cafe Bridge Day in June 2023. Following its success the second Strathaven Cafe Bridge Day was held on Wednesday 12th June this year. Supported by the members of the Strathaven and Hamilton Bridge Clubs and with visitors from around the country including a party from London a total of 56 players took part. Avondale Church again generously allowed us the use of its premises for registration and for the control of the event throughout the day. From there the players headed out to the first of their playing venues. Six local cafes and restaurants had kindly allowed us the used of their facilities and after the first session the players moved around the town playing a number of hands in each of them, enjoying lunch half way round and returning to the church for prize-giving. The winning pair were Moyra Forrest and Kathy Whaler from Edinburgh. 

A very successful musical evening in the church provided an enjoyable finish to the day.  Contributing to this were a number of Strathaven’s talented musicians and singers including Heather Ewart and Ailesh McInnes, the Strathaven Strummers, Eric and Jackie Rice and Ellen Templeton. They provided an excellent and wide ranging musical treat much appreciated by the forty strong audience. 

As a result of the day’s activities the excellent total of £2000 was raised on behalf of Health Help International helping it towards its target of raising £25,000 this year to build a new dormitory for disabled children at Choongo School in Zambia.

Jute Williams returned to Zambia for her annual visit in September. She was accompanied this time by the BPFC film crew who were to carry a full programme of filming the various projects and individuals supported by HHI as they had already done earlier in the year in India when they accompanied HHI’s Chair Edmund Plummer on his annual visit to that country. The results of their efforts can be viewed by using the links below.

There were many moving and memorableitems inthe reports which Jute sent back each day during her annual visit to Zambia. Have a look at these in Jute’s Travelogue under the News item in the HHI website.

The films from India can also be viewed on the Films section of the website

Cafe Bridge Days are relatively new in the UK but such events have been enjoyed on the Continent for a number of years. At these, players move between a number of prearranged venues and play several hands of bridge in each.

SFHHI hosted its first Cafe Bridge Day on Wednesday 7^th June. Six local cafes and restaurants participated each hosting one or two tables and providing lunches half way through the proceedings. Play took place also in Avondale Church which generously allowed us the use of its facilities for the registration of the players and their return at the end of the day for results to be announce and prizes to be awarded. 

Sixty players took part coming from around the country and including a party of twelve  from London. An evening meal at the Drawing Room was arranged for the London party, followed by a programme of Scottish music provided by local singers and musicians.The excellent sum of £2000 was raised for HHI

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This year’s RS50 event, held on Sunday 21^st August, was the 21^st since the first one in 2002

The numbers taking part continue to increase each year and a record 800 cyclists had entered beforehand. On the day 610 took part in the 50 mile route and 207 over the 15 miles.

The weather was favourable and everyone completed their routes. There were many favourable comments from the cyclists about the organisation of the event and especially about the usual excellent refreshments at the various locations.

A record sum of over £15,000 was raised and once again Health Help International received a very generous donation of £6000. This brings the total amount received by HHI from the RS50 events since 2002 to just over £60,000  

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