Writing this report for the Association's AGM always creates difficulties. Strictly speaking, we are reviewing the calendar year, 2005 but, when the bridge "season" runs until about the end of April, and the AGM is held in July, one cannot avoid being more up-to-date.

In many ways. this has been rather a strange year. All counties have been affected to some degree by the problems the EBU has been experiencing and decisions they have taken. The former includes questions about Board member roles and responsibilities, the departure of the general manager (and his attempts to create a rival organisation), the ongoing saga of the concept of a national bridge centre and its potential location in Kettering and the continuing slow but steady decline in membership. The latter includes the decision to turn one-day green pointed events into licensed competitions rather than joint ventures, so transferring more work and all the financial risk to the county associations. As a result of this financial risk, exacerbated by the fact that the LMBA was allocated only a single Saturday event for 2006, we reluctantly decided to withdraw from running any one-day green pointed events in 2006, although we shall review things for 2007.

The Association's membership continued to decline, albeit seemingly at a rather lower rate than the national trend. However, the greatest decline, once again, was in the number of junior members, which is worrying. Bridge For All numbers also declined - but that may be misleading because of the way in which BFA membership is recorded by the EBU.

On a more positive note, we have a genuine achievement to report. Our team won the Tollemache Cup for the fourth successive year - a record - and fully deserve our congratulations. This is due in no small measure to the efforts of the Association's selector, Brian Callaghan. In addition, various London members, too numerous to name have achieved success in national events. Unfortunately, however, we lost the Committee Cup, losing to the Surrey Committee in the annual teams-of-twelve match for only the second time since it began in the mid 1990s.

People
Christine Duckworth has continued to shoulder the bulk of work for the Association and, in particular, has further developed the newsletter to ensure it has something of interest to all our members. Meanwhile, in addition to his operation of the Association's website, Roger Morton has taken over the role of membership secretary from Cecil Leighton and has been busy setting up a link to reconcile and integrate our records with those of the EBU. Simon Cocheme has continued to build the Lederer Memorial Trophy into an even greater event, something I should not have thought possible.

Finance
The underlying financial position remains stable and the Association continues, broadly, to break even. However, we remain exposed to any material change in the financing of or support for our events including, as mentioned above, changes in the EBU's policy on one-day green-pointed events. I should prefer to see a growth in our level of reserves to facilitate our ability to invest in the future of the game.

Sponsorship remains a critical part of the Association's finances. The Lederer could not take place without generous sponsorship from our President, Bernard Teltscher, and the Young Chelsea Bridge Club. Similarly, the London Trophy and the Della-Porta Plate continue to benefit from a venue for the finals being provided by Queen's Club. Our thanks are due to them all.

The Future
With the current turmoil at the EBU, everything is in a state of flux. It will be a while before the Board and the new general manager decide which, if any, of the initiatives I referred to last year are to be developed. Until then, we cannot plan our own contribution or assess the long-term implications for us. However, we shall continue to try to provide positive input at all levels.

Meanwhile, 2006 is the diamond jubilee of the Association. It is also the diamond jubilee of the Lederer Memorial Trophy and we are celebrating both by organising an "anniversary event" in the form of a pairs competition using hands from previous Lederer Memorial Trophy events. The main event will take place as a simultaneous pairs (team-scored with the original Lederer players!) on September 26th and will be open to all clubs in the Home Counties who can play that night. However, the hands will be made available for any club to use on any other evening of their choice, albeit without standing in the main event.

2006 is also notable for another milestone. It is no less than 50 years since one of our existing committee members, Cecil Leighton, first joined the London committee! We shall be recognizing this extraordinary event with a presentation at the Lederer Memorial Trophy in October. Over the years, Cecil has filled most of the committee roles at different times. Latterly he has been both membership secretary and organiser of the London Trophy and. whilst he has now handed over responsibility for the former, he will continue to run the London Trophy. It is perhaps fitting that his team (his old school association), which has competed in that event for many years, finally won it this year.

M. R. D. Hill
July, 2006.