Eckington (From Cotswold Journal)
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Eckington
2:00pm Friday 4th May 2012 in D-F
Myrtle Gill, aged 91, and Tyke Jeynes, 90, who have been playing whist together in Eckington for some 80 years. The weekly Eckington whist drive needs new players.
THE game of whist has been a popular pastime for at least 500 years.
In days gone by, highly detailed reports of whist drives often filled the pages of this papers.
In Eckington two regular attendees of a village whist drive have been dealing the cards for more than 80 years.
Tyke Jeynes, aged 90, and Myrtle Gill, aged 91, have known each other since they went to the village school.
Mrs Gill said: “I have been playing whist for 82 years. That was all you had to do back then.”
Mr Jeynes said: “We had to play whist because there was nothing else to play – so we have been playing all our lives.”
Now the card school could be nearing an end as the game is not being picked up by younger players.
Tom Newman, who also attends the drive said: “The drives have been held every week since at least the 1920s at the village hall.
“We are looking for new players.
“Everyone will be made welcome and anyone who hasn’t played before will be shown by their new friends.”
Players need not have a partner to come along to the events which are held from 7pm every Thursday night at Eckington Village Hall on School Lane.
Entry is £3 including a raffle and refreshments.
Proceeds go to the air ambulance. About £100,000 has been raised for them to date.
