Michelle Brunner (1953 - 2011) was one of England and Manchester’s best known bridge players, a former World and European Ladies Champion and many capped international as well as winner of many national and local events.

Posterity will doubtless remember Michelle for her many achievements playing bridge; however all those who had the pleasure to know her will remember her for her warmth, humor, beauty and friendliness.

Michelle was born on New Year’s Eve 1953, the middle daughter of three from a North London Jewish family.  She learned bridge at home at the age of 14 and played at school in the sixth form.  In 1971 she arrived at Manchester University ostensibly to study Italian.  At that time the University had a strong and thriving bridge club which she joined, and her standard rapidly improved.  The Italian was rather neglected and she left University to work for Thomas Cook.  In the mid seventies she and John Holland became life and bridge partners, they married quietly in 2008.

Michelle was a true bridge addict; she played all over the world with great distinction and since 1995 worked as a bridge professional, teaching in the Manchester area and writing books and articles about the game.

It would be impossible to list in an obituary all Michelle’s honours at the game*.  She represented her country 40 times in international events, most often with her great friend Rhona Goldenfield.  In Women’s events she won a World Championship in 1985 with Gill Scott-Jones and European Championships in 1979 with Rosie Hudson and in 2001 with Rhona Goldenfield.  The 2001 European was possibly the pinnacle of her achievements, when she and Rhona were the best pair from any country and played the last eight matches in the event without a break.  She played in the Lady Milne Trophy many times and represented Britain in mixed teams events.  She also competed at the top level in open events, winning four Camrose caps in partnership with John.

At the domestic level she won many national titles with John, most notably the Hubert Phillips six times, the Portland Pairs three times (a record) and Crockfords once.  The Gold Cup eluded her, but she came very close, losing by two IMPs in the 2006 final.

In the Manchester area she won everything, including the strong Manchester league with 16 wins in the last 32 years.

As a player her strengths were great concentration and a will to win, excellent dummy play and defence and good bidding judgement.

Michelle was bright, beautiful and bubbly.  Everyone who met her will remember her friendly manner and humour.  Along with her meticulous preparation these qualities made her an outstanding teacher.  Her classes and seminars were hugely popular.  She also wrote two textbooks on Acol for beginners and improvers and an excellent column for Bridge Plus for many years.

In 2000 she was treated for breast cancer and recovered.  She was ill before the 2007 Venice Cup in Shanghai and her doctor suggested that she didn’t go.  Of course Michelle wanted to play and went.  She was possibly the best player on the English team and produced a brilliant defence that was written up in English Bridge in December 2007.

On her return a diagnosis of terminal cancer was made.  She decided that she was going to live life to the full while she could.  She gave up work, went on holidays to Europe and Australia and had many trips to the theatre and musicals.  She also continued playing bridge at the highest level, winning selection with John for England twice in the Camrose Trophy.  She won two defence of the year awards given by the IBPA for the best reported defence in the world.  She was immensely proud of John’s achievement in winning two World Seniors Championships, although disappointed that she was unable to travel with him.  In early 2011 she undertook the arduous trip to Australia to play in the Gold Coast Congress and have a holiday.  Despite being in considerable pain from back problems her team reached the finals of this strong event.