Albert Benjamin (Benjamin Twos)

The Lion Of the North

A memoir by Ursula Harper

When I arrived in Australia some three years ago, I was both pleased and astonished to see how many players played “Benji Twos”. One of the greatest privileges in my life was to know Albert Benjamin and playing with him. I eventually forced him to play his Benji twos. He used to say that he “invented them for the opposition”.

 Albert was a delightful and most charming man with an interesting history. He was the son of Russian immigrants and was brought up in Glasgow. I think his parents thought they were going to land in America! – as was often the case.

Albert told the story that when living in the “Gorbals”, one of the poorest areas in Glasgow, plagued not only by poverty but also gang warfare – mostly Protestants against Catholics – an endemic enmity, he was walking home from school one day when he was accosted by a gang of youths who menacingly asked him if he was a “Proddy” or a Catholic. Albert disarmingly lifted his hand and said that he was a Jew. “We do not care about that” said the leader – “are you a Protestant Jew or a Catholic Jew?” Albert, however, escaped.

 He was a bright man and studied medicine at Glasgow University – but he suffered from the “bridge bite”. That is to say that he gave up medicine to play bridge and became world famous. He owned a bridge club in Glasgow as well as an electrical business. And what a club! A breakaway from the stuffy other bridge club in Glasgow which, unaccountably, would not accept Jews or Catholics. Albert’s club soon topped the league. His club was a home to all – more like someone’s drawing room, with a kitchen and a dining room and you could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner there seven days a week, and always followed by bridge and more bridge.

 Albert was the most patient of men, always listening to the many who thrust bidding problems in his face, and he always had a playing problem secreted in a waistcoat pocket. He was a charismatic man, tall, burly with a shock of gray hair and the loveliest of smiles.

 After his time at University, he soon became an international player. Two of his pupils were Barnett Shenkin and Michael Rosenberg. His talents did not end at the bridge table. He was one of the finest after dinner speakers. The stories about him became legend. In his later years he was playing against the English and, while defending against a slow dummy player, actually fell asleep. His partner woke him and he quickly pulled the wrong card, allowing the contract to make. He was very apologetic to his team mates who told him not to worry since they had actually gained on the board.

Not long after we joined his club, Albert and his wife Judy adopted me. I won my first trophy playing with him, despite going down in a cold slam!

 I gave up playing bridge for about 10 years when the family were young but, refreshed, returned to the refreshing care of Albert. He was never short of a story and travelled down to London for my 60th birthday party, where he regaled and astonished the other guests.

One of my best memories is playing with him at the Isle of Man congress where we won the teams. In the final the local club champion announced that they were playing “Benji Twos”. Little did he know that he was playing against the founder and I did not disclose. In fact, to add fuel to the fire, I said “Oh, that was named after Benjamin – is he still alive?” Albert was inscrutable. In the course of defending a slam Albert held J953 of the trump suit and dropped the 9 on the first round. An old dog with an old trick. It worked! The club champion did not recover and, despite the fact that my husband was playing in the next room, we won. After the drop of the 9 and the slam going off, I smiled sweetly at the declarer and said:” by the way, have you met Albert Benjamin?” Collapse of the stout party.

 Albert and I played together for many years. I was the luckiest person in the world. I adored him. He may no longer be with us but his memory will last forever

Ursula Harper

Published in September 2013 Edition of Trumps Plus