Brian Lever Memorial
Charity tournament in honour of renowned backgammon player
Nicky Lever, CFC Receptionist, tells us about her husband Brian and the annual tournament she has setup in his honour.
My husband Harold Brian Lever, known as Brian, loved backgammon and was successful, well known and popular on the backgammon circuit in the UK and internationally.
His other loves were Manchester United, doing the Times crossword, films, table tennis, holidays and his family especially me, and our children David and Amy.
Brian suffered with many health issues for years and in particular, he suffered from serious lung conditions asthma sarcoidosis and bronchiectasis of which he never complained. He was still working as a solicitor when he had a fall in January 2023 and died following complications due to his chest condition at the age of 69.
Brian’s friend Danny Cohen launched the tournament last November in Brian’s memory. This year was the second and again sold out event.
The second tournament kicked off on Friday 22 November though to Sunday 24 November at the Bridge Hotel Prestbury. It sold out with 64 entrants, culminating in the awarding of six trophies lovingly designed by the organiser Danny Cohen and me. The winner is shown in the photo with me holding the trophy.
There was a great atmosphere with good play and meals and drinks in the evening. We arranged a tombola with a mixed array of gifts donated by friends and family. This was great fun and sold out with all proceeds going to charity including CFC, which received sufficient to fund an entire course of counselling for one person comprising an initial assessment and eight sessions of counselling.
CFC is an organisation close to my heart and for me it is a privilege to be a volunteer receptionist at the centre in Altrincham. I see clients sometimes from their first assessment for many weeks and build a rapport to greet them each week hoping they are getting stronger. I see the improvement as they progress especially in children who would not come up to the desk at the start, would but put their head through the hatch to shout hello, as they get better over time.
It is our intention to run this tournament to five i.e. for another three years.
Anyone interested in playing in the tournament can get in touch. In addition, we would welcome tombola/ auction gifts for 2025!
Nicky Stratton Lever
Further details on the
Brian Lever Memorial Trophy website >
