Fight Erupted over a Bingo “Lucky Seat”
Two South Wales grandmothers, simply known as Mrs Sandra Fry and Mrs. Lynn Want, were enmeshed in a feud over a bingo “lucky chair.” A scuffle ensued between them as they compete for the “lucky chair”, resulting in a bingo club to declare a “house” on them.
Both women are banned from the bingo club forever. Mrs. Lynn Want sustained a broken nose and two black eyes and needed to be hospitalized.
Her nemesis, Mrs. Fry, 55, complained, "I used to go to the club most nights and felt I knew everyone. Now I'm stuck in the house staring at the wallpaper. Even a murderer doesn't get life."
At least 500 people inside the Bridgend’s Castle Bingo hall watched in horrified amazement as the two elderly women fought. Trouble brewed between the two when Mrs. Fry got mad watching her rival Lynn Want, 58 got the best seat, considered as the “lucky seat” in the house.
Mrs. Fry couldn’t contain her anger so she punched Mrs. Want in the face, breaking her nose. Consequently, Mrs. Want had a broken nose and two black eyes.
Tracies Davies, operations manager for Castle Leisure which operates the Castle Bingo Hall explained the reason behind the punishment, "the behaviour of these two women was incompatible with the safe and social environment of our clubs."
Ms Davies also added that it was not the first time that the women were involved in a fight. Regarding the decision to ban the women, she said, "A lifetime ban is very unusual but at the moment we're not reconsidering it."
The security staff at Castle Bingo pulled Mrs. Fry away from Mrs. Want. Mrs. Fry was arrested in the process. Mrs. Fry explained that the fight was due to bullying. She said Mrs. Want “called me names for months before I snapped and hit her.” She also admitted that, "it was wrong of me but I didn't plan it. It was one lucky punch. I don't know where it came from - I was just as shocked as she was." Mrs. Fry had to be given an official police caution as a result.
Mrs. Want’s side of the story was "I walked straight past her and she got up and shouted at me and then smacked me on the nose. She had evil in her eye.”
She did not intend to press charges though because she knew that Mrs. Fry is a mother just like her and spending time in prison during Christmas is not something that Mrs. Fry would relish doing.