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Maggie Pyner

8 tours from £365pp

Expert Overview

Born in Letchworth Hertfordshire, Maggie, or Maggs, moved to Coventry when her dad (a design engineer for Commer Trucks) moved when the company became Chrysler UK Ltd. She graduated at Swansea University, undertook a PGCE in Science and Maths and then taught for 4 years at Secondary Level before having her children.

After leaving secondary teaching in 1983 (hard work!), Maggie set up children’s nurseries in Coventry, employing over 40 staff. She studied for a Master’s Degree in Early Years Childcare then went on to lecture at tertiary level and also became an Ofsted Inspector for early years.

Maggie started learning bridge in 1980 but didn’t play much when her children were small. She played with her future husband, John Pyner, at Congress level for several years and reached the level of Life Master– and will hopefully become a Premier Life Master but now mostly playing only at club level.

Maggie's husband was a National Director for the EBU and she joined the EBU panel as a director to work, for the most part, alongside him. They worked for EBU running congresses and on cruises. They have worked for several holiday organisations – their favourite hotel and holiday was the 5-star hotel Barut GOIA in Side where they had up to 80 guests and no dealing machine: taking all morning to deal two sets of boards from the hand records that they took over with them!

Maggie and her husband trained on the EBU teaching weekend course but never started teaching beginners bridge as the EBU asked them to train and assess club directors, which they did for many years. They retired to Norfolk in 2018 and were asked to play for the county on many occasions

Maggie's husband’s health sadly declined and he passed away in 2022. Maggie has returned to live in the Midlands, moving to a lovely ‘Crumbly village’ close to her daughter.

Maggie is chief TD of her local club, Coventry, and helps to train the club’s directors in-house. She loves meeting new people and working for First for Bridge has been so enjoyable for her.

Her hobbies, apart from bridge, are gardening, ballroom dancing, keeping fit, walking her daughter’s dog and looking after her chickens. Maggie loves to be outside and can often be seen on her electric bike. She also owns an electric car so spends much of her time trying not to get range anxiety!

8 Holidays available from £365pp

Premier Bridge

This indulgent escape is based at the luxurious, adults-only La Quinta Menorca by Portblue Boutique, with its first-class facilities and service.

  • Services of an EBU-qualified director and friendly hosts
  • Varied bridge programme with Masterpoints and prizes awarded
  • 2 weekly seminars
  • Return transfers between Mahon Airport and the hotel
  • 7 or 14 nights half-board accommodation
  • Welcome drink and canapés
  • Spa
    Facilities
  • New
    Venue
  • Half
    Board

Availability:

  • 2025 26th September 3rd October
  • 2026 25th September 2nd October
Travel
  • By Air
  • Join Direct
Premier Bridge
New Tour

Enjoy a wonderful location just a few minutes from the beach and seafront of Bournemouth on this delightful bridge break.

  • Services of an EBU-qualified director and friendly hosts
  • Varied bridge sessions with Masterpoints and prizes awarded
  • 1 seminar
  • 4 nights half-board accommodation
  • Welcome drink
  • Complimentary car parking
  • Half
    Board

Availability:

  • 2025 6th October
Travel
  • Join Direct
Premier Bridge

Join us in the heart of Torquay and enjoy a fantastic location just five minutes away from the stunning seafront.

  • Services of an EBU-qualified director and friendly hosts
  • Varied bridge sessions with Masterpoints and prizes awarded
  • 1 seminar
  • 4 nights half-board accommodation
  • Devonshire cream tea
  • Welcome drink
  • Complimentary car parking
  • No Single
    Supplement
  • Half
    Board

Availability:

  • 2025 20th October
  • 2026 23rd March 4th May 19th October
Travel
  • Join Direct
Premier Bridge
Festive Bridge
New Tour

Join us at the beautiful Vila Gale Lagos resort hotel, ideally located on the seafront, for an overseas Christmas bridge holiday to remember!

  • Services of an EBU-qualified director and friendly hosts
  • Varied bridge programme with Masterpoints and prizes awarded
  • Return transfers between Faro Airport and the hotel
  • 10 nights half-board accommodation
  • A Christmas Day buffet lunch
  • Welcome drink
  • Excursion with lunch and coach travel as described in the itinerary

Availability:

  • 2025 18th December
Travel
  • By Air
  • Join Direct
Premier Bridge
New Tour

Join us on this early spring bridge holiday, staying at the Hotel Carlton in Bournemouth, set in an excellent location with views across the bay.

  • Services of an EBU-qualified director and friendly hosts
  • Varied bridge sessions with Masterpoints and prizes awarded
  • 1 seminar
  • 4 nights half-board accommodation
  • Welcome drink
  • Complimentary car parking at the hotel
  • New
    Venue
  • Half
    Board

Availability:

  • 2026 16th March
Travel
  • Join Direct
Premier Bridge
New Tour

At the 5-star Rodostamo Hotel & Spa, enjoy superb facilities, excellent service and delicious dining, as well as a varied programme of bridge.

  • Services of an EBU-qualified director and friendly hosts
  • Varied bridge programme with Masterpoints and prizes awarded
  • 2 weekly bridge seminars
  • Return transfers between Corfu Airport and the hotel
  • 10 nights half-board accommodation
  • Welcome drink
  • Excursion and visits as described in the itinerary

Availability:

  • 2026 1st May
Travel
  • By Air
  • Join Direct
Premier Bridge

At the entrance of Boka Bay where the Adriatic Sea meets the mountains of Montenegro, the Carine Hotel Kumbor boasts a truly stunning location.

  • Services of an EBU-qualified director and friendly hosts
  • Varied bridge sessions with Masterpoints and prizes awarded
  • 3 seminars
  • 11 nights all-inclusive accommodation
  • Welcome drink
  • Excursions, visits and coach travel as described in the itinerary
  • All
    Inclusive
  • Excursions
    Included
  • Spa
    Facilities
  • New
    Venue

Availability:

  • 2026 17th May
Travel
  • By Air
  • Join Direct
Play Bridge & Explore

Within the heart of the Rhine Valley, relax, explore and play bridge in the delightful winemaking town of Boppard.

  • Services of our friendly hosts
  • Relaxed bridge sessions and interactive seminars
  • Masterpoints and prizes awarded
  • 7 nights half-board accommodation
  • Welcome drink
  • Free use of local public transport
  • Entrance to Boppard Castle and Museum
  • Excursions and visits as described in the itinerary
  • Excursions
    Included
  • Half
    Board

Availability:

  • 2026 21st June
Travel
  • By Air
  • Join Direct

Meet the
Team

We’ve assembled a fantastic team of directors, hosts and teachers, all dedicated to providing an engaging and supportive bridge-playing environment.

Meet the Team
Hilary and David Powell

Hilary and David Powell

Married for over 50 years, Hilary and David are bridge duo with a shared love for the game and a passion for creating memorable holidays. Welcoming, approachable, and always ready with a smile, the couple are dedicated to making your bridge holiday as enjoyable and memorable as possible.
Maggie Pyner

Maggie Pyner

Maggie started learning bridge in 1980. She played with my future husband, John Pyner, at Congress level for several years and reached the level of Life Master – and will hopefully become a Premier Life Master.
Gary and Lesley Conrad

Gary and Lesley Conrad

Gary is a Senior EBU Panel Director and Chief Tournament Director for Hertfordshire. He’s also a trainer for EBED, having helped over 200 players gain the skills to direct bridge in their own clubs. Lesley is the team’s social expert, always on hand to support solo travellers, keep the bridge room beautifully prepared, and handle all scoring and hand preparation.
Mark Hooper

Mark Hooper

Mark learned the basics of bridge in his early teens from his father, and later played informally at school. It wasn’t until university that he began playing regularly in clubs. Remarkably, Mark is entirely self-taught, having never taken formal lessons – instead learning through books and conversations with fellow enthusiasts. With over 50 years of experience at the bridge table, he has played continuously since university, including at EBU congress level and as part of his county team.
Ilona Buttinger

Ilona Buttinger

Ilona learnt to play bridge as a child round the kitchen table, but really started to adopt conventions during lockdown. She went on her first bridge holiday in March 2024, which was the Majorcan Congress.
Christine and Stewart MacFarlane

Christine and Stewart MacFarlane

Christine and Stewart MacFarlane started their own Bridge School and Club in Bath. Together, they have taught and introduced many people to this wonderful game and started running weekends away for their students in 2009. This progressed to running bridge holidays and working on cruise ships as the bridge instructors.
James and Jane Tullett

James and Jane Tullett

Jane brings her organisational and interpersonal skills to the forefront to make an excellent hosting team with her husband James. James has been playing bridge for over 30 years and is regularly picked for his county. Jane and James have travelled extensively in recent years to explore exotic parts of the world, such as Peru, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Anne Wright

Anne Wright

Anne is a host who works alongside our directors with the aim of ensuring that everyone enjoys their bridge holiday. She is friendly and approachable and enjoys her bridge, playing in several competitions near her home in Leicestershire. Anne is a qualified bridge director, and she looks forward to welcoming players of all standards.
Gary Conrad

Gary Conrad

Gary is a Senior EBU Panel Director, Chief Tournament Director for Hertfordshire, and a dedicated trainer for EBED.
Chris and Linda Benneworth

Chris and Linda Benneworth

Chris learned bridge from his mother at the age of nine, first playing Nottingham Club before moving to Acol at university and has been directing at his club since the mid-1980s. Linda started playing bridge at college, after growing up with family card games, and went on to become a county-qualified tournament director and bridge host in the mid-1990s.
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