Dr James Bentley M.B., Ch.B. (Edin.) (Past President)

First President of WABC (1939)

 Dr James Bentley graduated from the faculty of medicine at Edinburgh University in 1904. and in August of that year was appointed house surgeon in a Lancashire hospital. He had many interesting appointments, among them medical officer on the Royal mail steamer,

"Oronsa" (perhaps an early bridge cruise?).   He was then offered an appointment by the Government Western Australia under Dr Montgomery at the Claremont Mental Hospital in 1908, later becoming Superintendent there. His official biography lists his interest in the 'manly game of football’ but there is no doubt that in his later years he became a passionate advocate of the new game, contract bridge. In 1939 the three bridge clubs operating in Perth through the 1930s amalgamated to form the West Australian Bridge Association. Dr Bentley became its first president.

 (August 2008 Edition of Trumps Plus)

 Further Memory of Dr J Bentley

Many of us remember Jim Bentley who was written up in the August issue of Trumps Plus. His shout of "Double! " could be heard throughout the room. He once shouted at his partner Sheila Rickard a tiny redhead. "When you were doubled in 6 hearts why couldn't you convert to 6 no trumps?". Since they were seated at the next table I called the director who said “use anv advantage in a cut-throat game and don’t call me again”.  | learnt two lessons at the same time.

Ailsa Smith

 (December 2008 Edition of Trumps Plus)