The captain of the British Open team is more than happy with the form being displayed by the legendary John Collings, once the 'enfant terrible' of British Bridge.

About 38 years ago, I got myself a part time job hosting and teaching in a small bridge club and school in North London. Here I met, for the first time, the co-proprietor, John Collings. He was a larger than life character with a charismatic personality and a keen eye for an attractive female student. I soon learnt of his reputation at the rubber table - a feared, unpredictable tiger with an uncanny flair for producing the most remarkable coups.

Here is an example from a late night game from those days. The stakes were not enormous, but most of us used to play for just a bit higher than we could afford. John was the dealer at game all, opponents having 40 part score.

Rubber Bridge NS game, EW game and 40, Dealer South ª 9 4 © A 7 ¨ 9 8 § K Q J 10 9 5 2 ª A K 5 ª Q J 10 7 6 2 © 8 3 © 5 4 ¨ A K J 10 6 5 2 ¨ ? 3 § 7 § 8 4 3 ª 8 3 © K Q J 10 9 6 2 ¨ ? 4 § A 6

John opened 1NT. In those days, we used to play that an opening 1NT showed 12-14 cards. This is how the bidding went:

It was all explained to be afterwards. Joe knew that John would know what he had when he bid 3NT. John knew that Joe would know that he would know what Joe had, but knew that Joe would not have the nerve to pass the redouble.

Oops.

The opening lead from West was (wait for it), the fourth best of his longest and strongest - the diamond ten. Was the position of a queen ever so significant?

In the early '60s, John formed a tournament partnership with another British player of formidable talent - Jonathan Cansino. They played in the 1965 European Championships in Ostend. Here they had many successes, and were acclaimed as one of the most formidable and talented pairs in Europe. However, there is one hand for which John is remembered from those far off days:

Board 16. Dealer South. EW Game ª Q 9 4 © 10 2 ¨ 10 6 5 4 3 § 6 3 2 ª A K 8 2 ª J 10 6 5 © A K 9 8 3 © Q J 7 6 5 ¨ A Q 8 2 ¨ K J 9 § — § 5 ª 7 3 © 5 ¨ 7 § A K Q J 10 9 8 7 4

West opened 2§ and East responded 2© (natural, positive). John now bid 4ª! and West cue bid. Jonathan now produced his master bid - 7ª!!!. When this was doubled by East John had nowhere to go.

The lead was the A© followed by a cunning low trump. John won with the Queen, ruffed a heart and led the §4. West was caught napping and dummy's §6 won. This produced a penalty of -1900 (old style scoring) and a loss of just 10 IMPs on the board.

A double tragedy prevented this pair from fulfilling their potential destiny. Jonathan contracted a malignant brain tumour early in the '70s. Surgery was partially successful but he lost the sight of one eye and it was the end of his bridge career. John had a heart attack in 1969 (he was only 33 years old). The drugs prescribed for his heart condition had devastating side effects from which he has suffered ever since.

John lived abroad, mostly in Switzerland, for most of the next decade but after his return he formed a partnership with Paul Hackett. They competed in the 1981 European Championships (Birmingham), playing a forcing pass system (with mixed success).

John has the unusual distinction of having represented England in the British Home International Series (Camrose) in each of the last 5 decades, with different partners.

1950s Ronnie Crown 1960s Jonathan Cansino 1970s Joe Amsbury 1980s Paul Hackett 1990s Martin Jones

He recently formed a partnership with Martin Jones, a British Junior international. John is a stern tutor and the manner of his criticisms is well known at home.

"I can accept the occasional error, but cannot stand stupidities!" said John. Well, the two are sometimes hard to distinguish. Anyway, however harsh his criticisms are, there is no malice in John. He is lavishly generous both with money and praise - he would give you his last pound (and in the old days, he was often down to his last pound), and his honesty and ethics and unquestioned.

John has been married three times, but long-term relationships are not for him. He now lives with his disabled sister, Barbara, who is with him here in Malta. He suffers, as he has done for many years now, from asthma and angina and from the lasting ill effects of the drugs taken after his heart attack.

Now in his 67th year, he has been a tower of strength in the British team here - both at and away from the table. His eyes and ears may have been affected by the ravages of time - but his wits are as lightening sharp as they ever were.

What of the future? I asked John if he would consider playing in the Seniors.

'Only when I am dead!' was the immediate response. 'And even then, I'd expect to be above average!'