The MSO's Gossip Columnist

Mark Horton
(b1950)

Editor of Bridge Magazine since 1995.

Chief Editor to the World Bridge Federation & the European Bridge League. Works free-lance on all aspects of bridge. One of the founders of Five Aces Books, the UK's newest bridge book publishers. His latest book, The Mammoth Book of Bridge, is already a best seller on both sides of the Atlantic, and he is currently working on five new titles, three of which will be published this year.

Winner of many UK National Championships including Crockford's Cup, The Spring Foursomes, the Grandmasters Pairs & the Life Masters Pairs. Mark has won major events all around the world, including the Hoechst and the Dunhill Cup. He has represented England and Great Britain on several occasions. His infrequent appearances at the table are now mainly overseas, although he does partner Sandra Landy in the Gold Cup. On a recent trip to America he reached the final of the prestigious Reisinger Trophy.

Mark captained Great Britain's women when they won the Silver Medal in the 1992 Olympiad.

Main Hobbies: Reading, cooking, theatre, old movies, wine, chess (he was twice British Speed Champion) & watching sport.

Is married to Vera Nesterovitch, who has promised him he can have Sky Television for his 60th Birthday! Lives in Romford, but has plans to move closer to London.

Attributes: Can always raise a smile, even in adversity, and has a fantastic sense of humour. Hair now vanished. Tall, and still reasonably slim!

Ambitions: To sail on an exact replica of Titanic. To drink a bottle of Margaux 1961. To be able to afford a new BMW.

Editor's Note: Many people wonder how the nickname "Ratty" came about. Well, naming no names, many years ago Mark had a girlfriend who called him "Marky-Mouse". When they eventually parted company, the lady was none too pleased, and started to refer to him as "Marky-Rat". Sadly for Mark, this stuck, gradually becoming shorted to Ratty or (particularly by your Editor) to Ratty-Darling. We would like to make it quite clear that this nickname actually has no foundation in truth!
However, people meeting Ratty for the first time do need some forewarning, because he was born without a volume control and is, without doubt, one of the noisiest people we know!