"Hi, I am Simon Kelly, owner and Managing Director of Guaranteed Events and Bridge Overseas Ltd. I have been with the company since 2010 and took over full control of the business from my father Edward back in August 2019. Good timing as the pandemic hit us just a few months later, but thankfully that is now old news. Although I don’t currently play bridge, I wish I had the time, my father did teach me many years ago so at some point I will be joining you in the bridge room. Until then all my efforts are focused on making us one of the best group holiday companies around. My spare time is currently spent on restoring my old farm house in Southern Spain or out riding with my son Connor, on our trials or road motorbikes."

"Experienced and adaptable professional with a strong background spanning event coordination, compliance, customer service, and office management. For the past three years, I’ve been part of the team at Guaranteed Events, where I’ve brought my organizational skills and client-focused mindset to life in a fast-paced environment. My earlier roles include working in compliance, managing customer service in the retail sector, and overseeing office operations in the recruitment industry—each contributing to my ability to manage people, processes, and priorities with confidence and professionalism. Outside of work, I’m passionate about travel and enjoy spending quality time with family and friends. I actively support my partner in Ironman events across the globe, which has deepened my appreciation for endurance, discipline, and teamwork. Fun fact: I trained as a Level 1 TIG welder seven years ago—proof that I’m always open to learning something new!"

"Cassie joined the company in 2012 having moved back to the UK after a long time overseas. With family still based in the US, Cassie likes to visit when she can. Cassie lives in South Wales with her two Fox Red labrador puppies, Millie and Beau. Cassie says : “I love working with Simon and the team. We are a close knit bunch and work really well together. No two days are the same and there is always something different and interesting to learn. Our customers are lovely and I enjoy chatting with them when I get the opportunity” "

"With over 20 years in the finance industry, Anna has worked her way up through all areas of accounting, gaining in-depth expertise across a variety of sectors, including a chocolate manufacturing company, exhibition manufacturer, construction company and 2 recruitment agencies. This wide-ranging experience has equipped her with a versatile skill set in financial management, reporting, budgeting, and analysis, enabling her to drive financial strategy and growth in any business environment. A qualified CIMA professional, Anna is committed to delivering strategic insights that optimise financial performance. She believes that the people make the workplace, and that a successful organisation thrives on teamwork—where everyone is part of the same team, and there is no hierarchy. This philosophy shapes her approach to leadership and collaboration, fostering an environment of mutual respect and shared success. Outside of work, Anna enjoys mountain biking and playing netball, where her team has won the league title three times in a row. She values staying active through sports and workouts, maintaining a healthy balance between personal and professional life."

"Malcolm & Madeleine hold the distinction of being our longest serving directors, in fact they were guests on our very first English bridge holiday in Harrogate. They live in the seaside town of Southport and have been married for over 40 years and have three grown up children and six grandchildren. When Malcolm retired from running a successful textile manufacturing company, the opportunity arose to take over the part time management of Southport bridge club, the 10th largest club in the country with 300 members. Malcolm is a qualified EBU director and a members of the English bridge union teachers association, and runs classes for beginners and improvers, helping to increase the membership. Malcolm & Madeleine have been playing duplicate bridge for over 30 years and have the honour of representing their county Lancashire. Madeleine retired from running Britain's only lawnmower museum in Southport, and acts as a host with her calming manner being much appreciated by the many guests who have played with her over the past 15 years. They are often asked which is their favourite UK Venue and the answer is Tedford in Shropshire, where they direct on bank holidays and new year, meeting up with regular guests who have become friends over the years. Malcolm's bridge seminars are well known for their humour and informative bridge tips and are not to be missed! He is also a lifelong suffering supporter of Everton football club, and helps run a fish and chip shop in his spare time! Malcolm's favourite saying in the bridge room, is to remind players that the opposition is sat to the left and right, not opposite! Something we should all try to remember."

"Ian has been a director for more than 20 years becoming the SBU chief national director before recently retiring from that position. During that time he has organised many local, national and international events in Scotland. Liz and Ian started running bridge holidays over 15 years ago. Their aim is to provide the best possible overall holiday experience where the bridge is well organised but with an emphasis on a relaxed, friendly atmosphere so that all players, regardless of ability or experience, can have an enjoyable game."

"Sue has been playing bridge for over 40 years and has been a td since 2012. Phil learned to play more recently and they play regularly at their local club in rugby. When they retired 2 years ago they were looking for a new challenge and hosting for bridge overseas fits the bill, taking them to places they haven't visited before whilst meeting new people and getting the occasional game of bridge. Their other interests include musical theatre and attempting to learn ballroom dancing. They like to keep active and sue goes to zumba classes while Phil goes cycling. Phil loves any sort of music and everything stops in their house for the daily popmaster quiz on radio 2."

" Married in Seaford, east Sussex in 1971, joy and Colin joined Silvermere golf and country club having moved to Weybridge in surrey in 1977. It was there that they started to play golf and bridge. They moved around surrey with their jobs and played both golf and bridge at Kingswood golf club from 1981 to 1986 and then west Byfleet golf club from 1986 to 2001. In 1991, (with a lot of help from Chris stableford – well known to surrey bridge players) joy and Colin formed the west Byfleet golf club bridge section which they ran for 10 years on Monday nights. On average, there were nine tables playing duplicate bridge and four tables receiving tuition. A large number of players new to the game received instruction and many became very competent indeed. In 2001, they moved back “home” to Seaford and joy in particular was able to spend a lot of time redesigning and working on what is now a lovely garden. Joy is a particularly good gardener – Colin is often told “don’t step on that”! They joined one of the local bridge clubs (Southdown bridge club) and in 2008 Colin was asked to become chairman - a post he held for eight years. Joy and Colin still teach bridge to many players in and around the Seaford area which is very popular. In September 2005, they started directing holidays for bridge overseas and since that date they have directed for over 100 weeks (over two years!). They say “we do not regard directing for bridge overseas as work because it really is such fun” and they believe this is the key to their success – bridge should be fun and enjoyed as much as the holiday you are on. They run excellent workshops on all of their holidays looking at hands from the previous evening and these are very popular."

"After a recent sabbatical, I am now in my 10th year of directing for Bridge Overseas, starting from scratch I have now done 171 holidays, mostly in the UK but occasionally doing some overseas. I moved to Dolgellau 9 years ago, where Julie has lived for over 30 years. Prior to that I was a competitive bridge player, representing Wales on over 50 occasions and achieving a target of winning the home international series in 2011, it had taken Wales 73 years to do this Like all our regular director’s I seem to have built up a number of “regulars” and in fact on a recent holiday in Llandudno I had met 38 of the 40 people on the holiday before, most more than once. Being a LIST type of person I have so far met over 2600 different customers which is still only about a quarter of those on Bridge Overseas database, I believe With so much time spent indoors away from bridge although we both enjoy walking, whereas Julie is keen on doing a short walk daily I tend to set myself challenges and my current one is to climb all the Wainwright’s, of which there are 214, in the Lake District. So far I have done just over half of them. I have previously completed the South West coastal path which goes from Minehead to Poole- it did take me 10 years. It is obviously a family thing as my sister is now doing the same, all in stages. I also am trying to do as many Sustran’s cycle routes as I can find the time for, and last one to complete was Way of Roses and then back from Whitby to Barrow on Furness, an 8 day project of about 350 miles. Julie tends to lean towards more creative pastimes , involved in a local writing group, singing and music groups and using time I am away to keep in touch with her long standing friends in the area. I also completed Land’s End to John O’ Groats cycle challenge in my 60th year. I often get asked which is my favourite venue and I am always hard pushed to think of a reply because what is important to me is different to what is important to a customer. I like the hotels which give continuity of staff and good service and funnily enough these tend to be those with low stars, eg Llandudno. My wife would give different favourites. We do both agree on the venues abroad we have been to – Montecatini and Slovenia "

"Mike and Jeanne have been playing regular club bridge for over 20 years and during this time mike has qualified as a bridge director, cruise director and teacher. Since retiring in 2014 Mike has been teaching bridge to small groups of beginners and improvers in south Somerset and is delighted to see many of his trainees make the transition to playing at local clubs. Mike and Jeanne took over running an annual bridge break in bournemouth 5 years ago and are encouraged to see the event grow from 8 tables to 16. They have also organised numerous bridge themed fund raising events for charities in Somerset. Away from the bridge table, mike is an amateur football referee now in his 40th season whilst Jeanne enjoys gardening, live music gigs and yoga. They both love travel and adding bridge into the mix seems destined to be an ideal combination."

"Gayle and Colin’s bridge career began in the mid 70’s, when as a newly married couple they attended their first bridge lesson. Within 6 weeks they played in the prestigious Palace Hotel Congress in Torquay where they finished bottom in their first three sessions and then in the fourth they came second to bottom. They were delighted to have “beaten someone” – and at that moment they got the bug! Over the next 40 or so years they played more and more bridge and both got involved in their club and county committees. In 2021 Gayle joined the Board of the EBU with her remit being to represent the grassroots bridge players who form the vast majority of the EBU members. In 2019 they both finally won their 600th green point enabling them to claim the title of Grandmasters. However, they were the first to admit that this title is in recognition of the fact that they had been playing for over 40 years, had played in a lot of tournaments and spent a lot of money on their addiction to the game! When Covid closed down almost all face to face bridge, they turned to online bridge and spent much of their time helping those less IT literate how to keep in touch by playing “virtual” bridge. Mid December 2021 they received a call from Simon Kelly asking if they would run a bridge holiday over the forthcoming Christmas period. They had occasionally helped out on some holidays and on cruise ships, but this would be their first time on their own. They bit the bullet and said yes – all went well – they survived the few days and discovered they had got a new passion! Since then they have run over 30 holidays for Guaranteed Events both in the UK and overseas – and love waiting to see where Simon is going to send them next! They both strive to make sure everyone enjoys their holidays. Colin looks after the bridge – whilst Gayle tries to ensure that everyone feels welcome and that the single players are matched with suitable partners. "