Bernard Louis Teltscher was born in Vienna
on February 18, 1923 but grew up in
Nikolsburg (today's Mikulov) a Czech town on
the border with Austria before moving to
London with the whole family to escape Nazi
persecution. There, his brother Felix was
able to restart the family winery which
Bernard also later took care of.
Taking a first degree in
engineering from
University College of London when she moved
to Swansea during the war, she took a second
in economics and business from Trinity
College in Cambridge where in 1946 she was
the architect of the rebirth of the local
Bridge Club.
Slightly claudicating for a childhood
illness, he wanted to become an electrical
engineer but life led him to take care of
the wine importing company founded by his
grandfather in 1875.
Married to Jill, he had two children with her: Mark and Natalie. Remarrying with Kitty in 1998 he separated in 2006 while remaining a good friend of his second wife all his life.
Bernard started playing Bridge as a child in 1931 when he was being treated in a sanatorium in Switzerland and although the game was played by many of his family members, it was not immediately great love.
Later he had the opportunity to play with the greatest English champions of his time and collected several national titles.
In 2000 he took his most prestigious title: the Olympic silver medal won in couple with his wife in Mixed Pairs.
In 1990 he was elected to the presidency of the London Metropolitan Bridge Association office which he held until his death in March 2020.