John Arkinstall 1954 - 2007

Reproduced from the July-August 2007 NSWBA Newsletter

John was born 28/12/54, and spent all his life in Bondi. He attended Bondi Public School, and continued his secondary education at Cranbrook. He studied commerce/law at University of NSW and was admitted to the bar in 1982. He established his own law firm, "Arkinstalls" because his illness with cystic fibrosis made it very difficult to work normal hours.

John was a very strong chess player in his school and university days, and won the City of Sydney chess tournament. He than discovered bridge and was hooked. Not only did he play; but he became very involved with the administration of the game. He was on the NSWBA council from 1983-2004, serving as a Councillor, Secretary and for 11 years Chairman. His leadership of the bridge association was instrumental in placing it in the position it is today.

John and the late Bobby Evans worked tirelessly to purchase the current NSWBA premises, which all our members enjoy. John was a representative for NSW on the ABF from 1987-2007 as a Councillor, member of the Management Committee and Secretary. He was also a trustee of the James O'Sullivan Foundation. His ill health in his final years, forced him to step down from his role, and spend his time at home. He died in hospital on the 15/7/2007. All NSW bridge players owe him a great debt. 

Thanks to Judy Mott and David Currie for compiling this information.

John Arkinstall's team won the 1983 NSW State Teams Championships. John was non-playing captain for the NSW Youth Team in both 1988 and 1989. He was granted life membership of NSWBA in 1995.

Reprinted with permission of Australian Bridge Magazine.

By BOB SEBESFI, SYDNEY

On 15 July 2007, John Harold Arkinstall's all too short life concluded in Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital, a venue at which he had been spending an increasing portion of his time in recent years.

I lost a dear friend, a stoic patient, and an indefatigable legal counsel; the NSWBA and ABF a tireless and hardworking servant. John, an only child, was born on 28 December 1954, and educated at Cranbrook, where he was regarded as a chess prodigy and promising swimmer - prior to obtaining his legal qualifications and succumbing to the temptations of contract bridge at the nearby University of NSW.

It was during his adolescence that John was told that he had cystic fibrosis. In the 1960s this diagnosis was invariably associated with decreased life expectancy, and progressive deterioration in quality of life. Undaunted, John maintained his interest in high-level chess (serving as Hon. Secretary to NSW Chess Association in mid-1970s), went on to become a representative table-tennis player, competitive rifle-shooter and, as we remember him, bridge player (amongst his achievements he has won both the City of Sydney Teams, and the NSW State Teams Championship).

As a result of some excellent investment decisions and a Spartan lifestyle, John did not rely upon his legal practice for sustenance, instead performing many services for friends and bridge acquaintances pro bono, and conveyancing and some casework at a small margin above his own costs.

His generosity with his time extended firstly to the NSWBA, where he served as Councillor (1983-2007), Secretary, and President (1989-2000). It was largely through John's farsighted management that in 1992 amid a volatile real-estate market that the NSWBA obtained its current premises, and in 2007 enjoys its present equity. Then to the ABF, where he was a NSW delegate from 1989 to 2007. In March 1994 he was appointed Secretary of the ABF (a post he held for two years), Trustee of the James O'Sullivan Foundation, and Member of the ABF Management Committee. John, his overnight bag, and portable oxygen cylinder were a familiar sight at transit lounges around Australia.

The remorseless progression of his disease firstly saw him withdraw from regular competition at NSWBA, then, with lengthening episodes of hospitalisation, he was obliged to relinquish his remaining ABF offices in March 2004, and finally step down as NSW delegate early this year.

Bridge partners and opponents alike, and protagonists at the Appeals Committees on which he served, will remember his wry sense of irony, unimpeachable ethical standards and self-deprecating humour. John has no immediate family, but leaves a wide circle of friends to whom his benevolence in establishing a series of Trusts to distribute his wealth to the disadvantaged will come as no surprise.