Summer Spotlight
Card games that keep mind and friendships thriving
In today’s edition of Summer Spotlight, we’re focusing on our popular card-playing groups: Cribbage, Canasta and Bridge
Card games are much more than an enjoyable way to spend a morning or an evening They provide an excellent workout for the brain, challenging memory, concentration, logical thinking and strategic planning, while helping to keep the mind active. Better still, they bring people together, offering companionship, laughter and a healthy dose of friendly competition.
Welcome to the Canasta Group
Played in partnerships with two full decks of cards, canasta develops strategic thinking, teamwork and communication, while strengthening memory and problem-solving skills.
Whether you are a seasoned player who knows every strategy or someone who has never picked up a hand of Canasta in your life, you are very welcome to join us.
Our group is all about having fun, keeping our minds sharp, and enjoying great company in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Canasta is a wonderfully engaging, tactical card game that is easy to pick up but offers plenty of depth—and we always make sure there is plenty of chatter and laughter around the tables.
Meeting Details:
- When: The 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month.
- Where: The Wesley Centre (Wesley Avenue).
- Group Leader: Linda Bilsborrow
Come along, deal yourself in, and make some new friends. Linda and the rest of the group look forward to welcoming you to the table!
How to join
Visit the Canasta Group page here
Welcome to the Cribbage Group
Whether you’re an experienced player or completely new to the game, you’ll receive a warm welcome at our friendly Cribbage Group.
Cribbage is a fast-paced and enjoyable card game that keeps the mind active by exercising mental arithmetic, memory and decision-making. Every hand presents new challenges, encouraging players to think ahead, balance risk and reward, and make the most of the cards they’re dealt.
One of the great attractions of Cribbage is its blend of luck and skill. Good cards certainly help but knowing how to play them is what makes the difference. It’s easy to learn, rewarding to master, and above all, great fun.
Meeting Details
- When: First and third Wednesday of every month
- Where: Marriott House (Vets Pavilion)
- Group Leader: David Muncaster
If you’d like to learn a new game, keep your mind sharp and enjoy good company, why not come along and give Cribbage a try? New members are always welcome.
How to join
Visit The Cribbage Group page here
Welcome to the Bridge Groups
Bridge is widely regarded as one of the most intellectually demanding card games we engage in – and it shows. Played in partnerships using a single deck, it calls on memory, logic, communication and careful strategic planning in equal measure. It has a reputation as the more serious of the three games we are highlighting but it is more about the quiet satisfaction of a well-played hand. At its heart, it’s a real workout for the brain, which is what many players find so absorbing.”
That’s not to say it isn’t enjoyable. Our sessions have a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and we are happy to welcome lapsed players and those with just a little knowledge of the game.
If you don’t have a partner, get in touch and we’ll do our best to pair you with one. The group plays duplicate bridge all year round, and the Monday evening session is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours if you’d otherwise be at a loose end.
Meeting Details:
- When: Mondays, 7pm–9pm, and Fridays, 10am–12 noon
- Where: Union Street Community Centre
- Group Leader: Gina Rowe
Come along and give it a try — it may take a little more concentration than Canasta or Cribbage but the sense of achievement and the company more than make up for it.
How to join
Visit the