Rowland was an accomplished bridge player. Although these photographs were taken in 1997, he actually learned the game in 1980. His partner was always May Chipulina and their adversaries invariably Alan Pow and me.
Over a period of about 15 years we played almost every friday night keeping a meticulous record of all our rubber scores including slams, Yarboroughs and other oddities.
At the end of each year we added it all up and proclaimed a winner. The first photo shows a jubilant Rowland rubbing it in.
The second shows a 31 point hand, the best hand ever dealt to any of us. It took a while for Rowland, always the cautious player, to finally bid a vulnerable seven diamonds which he duly made with great ease.
I really miss those games.