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                     Remembering Pete.

The second session of the Young Cup Pairs took place at the Wellington Bridge Club on the evening of January 13^th. 21 tables, a good turn-out. The East-West winners were Carolyn Black and Pete Benham with 62.65%, a nice result. Later that evening, Pete passed away after suffering a massive heart-attack from which he could not be revived. Pete was 73.

Most bridge players in the Wellington area, and a fair number beyond, knew Pete. Well, you could not miss him. He was that tall! He has been around a long-time, too and played a lot of bridge. A computer-programmer, Pete started playing back in 1968 with two tables at work, where they played at lunch-time. Sometimes, they played after work for 20 cents a hundred. Also in that group was Brian Cleaver with whom Pete was to play for the next 52 years. Both Pete and Brian joined the Wellington Bridge Club in 1970.

Pete has been a member of an ever -shrinking list of those who have been to every New Zealand National Bridge Congress. That’s since 1986. Oh, Pete would claim to have been to the 2020 National Congress as well even though there was not one! With his life-partner, Anne Barr, and his bridge partner for the week, Anne-Marie Russell, he came up to the Bay of Plenty/Waikato area and played in some of the hastily arranged substitute events, with Pete and Anne-Marie winning the 5A Pairs at Tauranga.

                   
 Anne Marie and Pete celebrate their victory           Pete, where he loved to be:
at Tauranga                                                             at a bridge club

Pete could certainly play. He achieved the rank of Silver Grand Master in 2017 and had over 2,000 A Points to his name.

He also gave to the game he loved, frequently playing in recent years with inexperienced partners at the Wellington Bridge Club to give them help and encouragement. One such “inexperienced” partner some 20 years ago was Dean Sole. Dean was supposed to play with Anne Barr in the Centre Island Pairs in the late 1990’s. Anne could not make it but Pete turned up to play much to Dean’s amazement. Pete guided Dean to second place.

He was good on system, too. The late Gary Hanna suggested once they play symmetric relay in the Karori Open. Pete had never played relay before and had just three days in which to swat. He learned well and they won.

While Pete could play good bridge with anyone, he played most of his good bridge with Brian. At the National Congress, Brian and Pete frequently made the New Zealand Pairs final, their best finish being 4^th.

One place you could always find Pete during the National Congress was at the bar, talking bridge stories until well into the night. He had a fine sense of humour. Good bridge: good humour. The latter is reflected in the article which follows this one, “The Coat of Many Colours”, dedicated to Pete. It features what happened to Pete and his teammates during that year's New Zealand Teams.  

Another long-term friend and many time bridge partner was Dennis Apperley who posted this tribute to Pete.

"Sonya and I have been privileged to have been a friend of Pete, "the grump" for over 35 years. During that time, I have played bridge with and against Pete on many occasions, the most recent being the Zelda Morris Pairs in November 2020.

"The appellation "the grump", comes from his habit of being short with fools, including yours truly, at the bridge table from time to time. I recall playing with Pete at the Wellington Club some 25 years ago, when we recorded our scores on travelling score sheets. We had a mishap in our bidding, which led to Pete playing, successfully, in 6NT off 2 aces. At the next table, getting our boards, was Scott Smith. Sometime later, a similar mistake. Once again, 6NT off 2 aces, making. A few minutes later, an eraser hit me on the side of my head. Scott Smith, " Once is ok, twice is a bloody liberty".

"Some years ago, also at the Wellington Club, I was playing with Pete, I pulled off two of the finest end plays I have ever made. Unfortunately, Pete was the recipient! This is where the grump appeared. For several minutes, I heard about my sins.

"Pete also played golf for a number of years with a group, including myself, Brian Cleaver, Charlie Cahn, Anne Barr and a number of others. Pete lost his ball in the trees one day, found it, and hit it. A sound like broken glass, then a speech to the club from Pete. He then inquired if any of us had seen where his ball went. Brian said "no, but I can tell you where the club head went".

"I could tell you many other stories like this, but space precludes it. Suffice it to say, that over many 100's of pints of beer, a friendship developed with an intensely funny and private man.

"He was always the first to offer help where it was needed. Sonya and I will sadly miss one of the nicest blokes one could hope to meet."

Pete was a neat guy, a lover of our game, a gentleman, a very good player with a very big heart. Condolences from all bridge players go to Anne and their family (Pete himself did not have children) and to Brian and all Pete's bridge and other friends. I am sure there will be a pint waiting for Pete on the bar at Bay Park come September: if only. A National Congress, or indeed a session in a Wellington tournament or club session without Pete, will have something missing.

Richard Solomon

My thanks to Brian Cleaver, Dennis Apperley and Dean Sole, to Anna Kalma for the photos and for the next article, to Alan Taylor, in the compilation of this tribute.

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