Charlotte Bruce (Director)

Two memories of one of our most flamboyant and popular Directors with thanks to Judy Crooke and Derek Pocock.

Charlotte Bruce was a remarkable woman who loved everything exotic. She was one of the early graduates of UWA who worked in one teacher schools in remote farming areas, before marrying a local surveyor. They travelled to Malaya in 1927 where he worked for the British Colonial Office in Trengannu

 There she revelled in the glamorous life of the tropics – vivid colours, lush gardens, rich silks and golden threaded saris. She was a beautiful woman who loved the parties with sultans and important colonial figures, spiced by the occasional princely dalliance. 

The fall of Singapore in 1941 saw her leave on one of the last ships, only to be offloaded at the first port of Batavia without clothes or money. Some weeks later she reached Perth. Her first need was to find a school that would give her a job and accommodation for herself and her daughter who had been living with relatives here. Boarding schools often proved disappointing and her struggles were not helped when her husband returned broken in health after Changi and the Burma Railway. Social services did not exist for the families of the British Civil Service living overseas. Indeed, unless he returned to Malaya within six months his pension rights were threatened. He died soon afterwards.

 Times were hard and bridge became the focus of her life. She reigned over the Waratah Avenue club dressed in wild colours of purple, emerald and gold. Newcomers to bridge were welcomed and encouraged. She also had many memorable nights at her house in Loch Street. Large ceramic elephants and full-sized Chinese scrolls greeted the visitor, while the house filled with the aroma of Charlotte's occasional black Sobranies. These were the days before computer scoring. There were always wads of travelling scoresheets sitting around to be toiled over in the evenings, after days spent teaching art or English at various schools up to her 70th year.

Charlotte was a very competent director and responsible for two new initiatives. Friday nights became the popular social night at the club, with supper, wine and prizes for the winners. These were often irreplaceable trinkets gleaned by her daughter from the markets of Kashmir and Kathmandu. She also started matches with Mundaring, Melville and other bridge clubs which were the precursors to the interclub matches of today.

When Charlotte died in 1986 at the age of 83, WA bridge acknowledged her years the many years of generous and capable contribution that she had made.

 Judy Crooke

Friday night in the early 70s was a special evening's bridge. That was the session run by Charlotte Bruce who was one of the great characters of WABC.

The session was always well attended even for an evening. After the more serious bridge nights, a core of between 8 - 13 tables was left to play a social game run by Charlotte. The evening had its regulars many of whom like Charlotte are no longer with us

- no doubt enjoying a similar game somewhere else!

 Those were the days of spoken bidding, thick cigarette smoke and manual scoring. The rules were often loosely applied for the "normal" sort of infringements, and it was not uncommon to hear rulings such as, "Oh, take it back and play what you meant"

"it's not your bid - wait for North to bid". After the session the players settled down to the serious business of the evening of regular wine and cakes whilst man stories of both bridge and non-bridge experiences were told with the socializing often lasting ‘til midnight.

Charlotte Bruce was a widow with a strong Indian background. She wore long flowing dresses and lived in a colonial furnished house in Loch Street guarded at the entrance by two large glazed lions. She would have games at her house which were very informal using at least one elephant's foot converted to a side table.

Charlotte was a very competent Director, but she also liked to play and often played if someone's partner was not coming or even arranged for a game herself with friends like Jill Millhouse.

Sadly the Friday night session ceased when Charlotte died as no one felt that they could really achieve the same cheerful atmosphere she had created for her "Friday Regulars”

Derek Pocock

 Published December 2008 Edition Trumps Plus