Whist Drives

The last of the Monday evening Whist Drives held in Christ Church Parish Hall, Frome, was dedicated to the memory of John Rhymer who had been running them for over 12 years.
The group report, “Players came from a wide area, farthest being Highbridge, donating prizes to be able to give a donation in his name. His widow asked that the £101 be given to Christ Church where John was a Server, also a Parish Hall manager and had helped to raise funds himself over many years. Even though John’s health hadn’t been good during the last year, if he was asked to do anything, or saw what was needed, he did it. He is sorely missed!
“There is a history of Christ Church Whist on Mondays, mentioned in parish magazines back to at least 1900, when Keyford Elms was the vicarage and had a small hall in the grounds. Then a hut was built on land in Park Road between the school (now flats) and Victoria Hospital (now Steiner School). It had been hoped to build a vicarage on that land too, but there was never enough money. However, funds were raised so that the excellent present hall replaced the rotting hut.
“Now, with numbers of players dwindling and nobody to run the Whist, sadly there will be no more in Frome. The nearest will now be in Trudoxhill on the second Thursday of each month.”