Anthony Cockburn's Remarkable Return to Bingo and The Ritz

A Journey from Architecture to Bingo

Anthony Cockburn's journey to owning The Ritz, a beloved bingo club, is a tale of passion—and a bit of fate. He first set foot on his professional path with aspirations of becoming an architect, a choice that seemed as logical as any youth setting out to build a future. But fate has a knack for playful twists. "I’ll start with my bingo career at the age of 16," Anthony reminisced, underscoring the unusual turn his career took early on.

With a love for bingo igniting his youthful spirit, Anthony’s life took another turn when personal circumstances led him to drop out of college despite his commitment to studying architecture. "I continued with my studies for a year, but personal circumstances led me to drop out of college," he explained. This setback didn't deter him; instead, it redirected his path and thus began his extensive career in the bingo industry.

A Mentor and a Legacy

Fast forward a couple of decades, and you would find Anthony entrenched in the bingo world under the wing of the notable Chris Clavering. "Chris was a bit of a legend in the Northeast. Everyone knew him – particularly in bingo," Anthony recalls. Their camaraderie sparked instantly over conversations weaving through Anthony's two decades of bingo expertise and Chris's half-century in the game. “Chris and I spoke about my 20 years in bingo, and he spoke about his 50 years! And we just seemed to hit it off,” Anthony shared.

It wasn't long after that Chris invited Anthony to join him in running The Ritz. “He eventually asked if I was going to come and work for him. I eventually gave in and agreed. I was back in bingo!” Anthony remarked enthusiastically. But what began as mentorship soon transformed into a legacy-building moment.

The Handing Over of The Ritz

Chris Clavering, sensing his time might be limited, took significant steps to ensure the future of The Ritz. "One day he handed his keys to me as he said he wasn’t well, and just asked me to keep things going,” Anthony recalls. The symbolism of this gesture became a turning point. "The following week, he called me and said he needed to see me. It was then that he admitted he wasn’t well,” continued Anthony.

In a heartfelt discussion, Chris made an offer Anthony couldn't refuse. “It was at this point that he offered for me to take over the club and become the new owner,” he said. Anthony accepted, acknowledging the honor of carrying forward what Chris had built. “I thanked him, and he said that it was him that should be thanking me. I was ensuring that his beloved club and legacy was to carry on.”

Keeping the Bingo Spirit Alive

Sadly, Chris Clavering passed away a mere week after the transfer of ownership, leaving Anthony with a promise to uphold. It’s not just about running a club; for Anthony, it’s about celebrating a legacy. “It’s about keeping his legacy going… It was a promise, and I don’t need to change it,” he pledged.

With Anthony at the helm, The Ritz continues to thrive, upholding the traditional community essence of a bingo club while honoring its storied past. “He admitted he wasn’t a well man. He wanted the club to be in safe hands before he passed,” Anthony reflected, emphasizing his commitment to the task at hand.

The walls of The Ritz might echo with the excitement of bingo games today, but they also resonate with the spirit of Chris Clavering, thanks to Anthony Cockburn's dedicated stewardship. This isn’t just a business for Anthony; it's a promise fulfilled and a heritage cherished.