BCA GAZETTE
JULY 1998
Editor: Peter Price, 21 St. Peters Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 0AT. Tel. 0121 427 3285 (evenings).
BCA Committee 1998-9.
Chairman: Mrs. C. Gailans, 1 Benson Avenue, East Ham, London E6 3EE. Tel. 0181 471 9639.
Secretary: S. E. Lovell, 7 Coldwell Square, Crossgates, Leeds LS15 7HB. Tel. 0113 260 0013.
Treasurer: Mrs. C. Goddard, 45 Grayson Crest, Leeds LS4 2UB. Tel. 0113 274 0413.
PRO: I. G. Wagner, 7 Orleston Gardens, Chelsfield Village, Orpington, BR6 6HB. Tel. 01689 839175.
Tournament Director: S. O’Brien, 12 Crossway, Raynes Park, London SW20 9JA. Tel. 0181 540 4001.
Braille Librarian: B. Perham, 7 Maidenburgh Street, Colchester CO1 1TT. Tel: 01206 549 174.
Cassette Librarian: Mrs. S. Watkins, 20 Ravenwood Avenue, Blackpool FY4 2LT. Tel. 01253 344 627.
Membership Secretary: D. Hodgkins, 44 Moorhill Road, Whitnash, Leamington Spa CV31 2LN.
Tel. 01926 425 803.
CONTENTS
Editorial
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Forthcoming Events .
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Notes from the Secretary
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Obituaries: Ted Williams
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Margaret Barbour.
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Tournament Director’s Report
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BCA Internal Over-the-Board Gradings
Membership Secretary’s Report
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New Members and Changes of Address
Chess Theme Break Report .
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Annual Theme Break, 1999 .
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AGM Congress Report
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Haaksbergen Tournament
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Recent Additions to Braille Library .
Advertisement .
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Chess Clubs for Blind Players
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EDITORIAL
In this issue we pay farewell tributes to two BCA members who were much admired in their respective ways; and
we welcome two more ladies to join Claire on your committee: Charli Goddard is our new Honorary Treasurer,
and Shirley Watkins takes on the office of Cassette Librarian. In the Apocrypha we read that “women are
strongest”, and so with 46 women members of your association it is right that the committee has been so
strengthened.
Please let me have contributions for the October Gazette by 15th August.
Peter Price.
1
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Under 21 Championship. Open to all blind and partially sighted players under the age of 21. Sitwell Arms
Hotel, Renishaw, near Sheffield. Monday 27th July to Thursday 30th July. Participants pay £10 per night for
dinner, bed and breakfast. The closing date for this event was 30th June but you might still be lucky if you contact
the organiser, Stan Lovell, straight away.
British Rapid-Play Championship for Blind and Partially Sighted Players. Chesterfield Hotel, Chesterfield on
Saturday and Sunday 22nd/23rd August. First round Saturday 1 p.m., prize giving Sunday soon after 12 noon.
Dinner, bed and breakfast £32 sharing and £34 single room. Entry after 30 June is £10, you may still be in time to
enter if you hurry and contact the organiser, Stan Lovell.
BCA International Autumn Tournament. Royal Angus Hotel, Birmingham. 13th/15th November. Open to all
blind and partially sighted players, overseas players welcomed. There will be a Major open and a Minor for those
whose grade or estimated grade is 80 or below. Entry fee £8, accommodation on half board basis £32.50 per
person per night. Closing date for entries 20th September. Please note: there will be a £4 penalty for late
bookings this will apply to players and non players alike. Guide dog owners are advised that there does not appear
to be a suitable spending area for dogs near to the hotel. Organiser Sean O’Brien.
AGM and Congress 1999. Arrangements are at an advanced stage with a view to holding the next AGM and
Congress at the Midland Hotel, Derby from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th March 1999. Further details in the next
issue.
BCA reserves the right to refuse entry or to exclude participation of any person from any event it organises.
All cheques and postal orders should be made payable to the Braille Chess Association. Please include your
name with building society cheques.
Stan Lovell.
NOTES FROM THE SECRETARY
Following the AGM which took place on Saturday 7th March we welcome two new officers to the committee:
Charli Goddard as Treasurer and Shirley Watkins as Cassette Librarian. Their addresses appear at the front of this
issue. The following recommendation from the committee was approved: as from 1st October 1998 bookings
accepted by the organiser of any BCA event after the published closing date for entries will be subject to a £4
penalty. This applies to all players and non players and includes those who are under the age of 21.
Taped copies of the minutes of the AGM are available to any member from our cassette librarian.
Our good wishes go with Chris Ross and Graham Lilley who will be representing the UK at the World Individual
Championship in the Czech Republic from 3rd to 13th July.
Stan Lovell.
OBITUARIES: TED WILLIAMS
It was with deep regret that we heard of the death of Ted Williams on Sunday 12th April. Ted was in hospital,
following a fall in the nursing home where he and Ivy had lived for some time. Ted underwent surgery on a
broken hip caused by the fall which appeared to have been successful, and the cause of death was given as heart
failure.
The cremation service took place on 24th April and was attended by Geoff and Ruth Carlin, Norman and Pauline
Wragg and Stan and Jan Lovell from BCA, as well as a number of chess players from the Sheffield area along
with a great many members of family and friends.
There were floral tributes from BCA and from the Sheffield Chess Association and many have been sending
donations to BCA in memory of Ted.
John Edward Williams was born on 12th July 1914 in Sheffield where he lived all his life. He could rightly be
described as a Sheffield man through and through.
After losing his sight due to an accident during childhood he attended Tapton Mount School for the Blind. At the
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age of 15 he went on, as so many blind people did in those days, to the “Blind Workshops” where he started his
long career as a mat maker. Only those with similar experience will begin to understand the level of frustration
felt by a man with such an intellect being directed into such employment.
Ted’s early life was hard, perhaps never more so than when he found himself looking after his young son alone
and homeless. His life took a remarkable turn for the better when he met Ivy, and after a five month courtship
they married in April 1950.
Those who were privileged to know Ted knew him as a man of grit and determination. You could imagine his
iron will being forged from the steel for which Sheffield is famous. He could be sharp and abrasive but underlying
this was his deep sensitivity. He loved literature and music and had a great knowledge of sports and particularly,
like most true Yorkshiremen, he had a great knowledge and love of cricket.
Ted’s life long passion, of course, was for chess. “Chess is not a game it’s a way of life” he would say, as he
gathered around him a circle of listeners ready to be regaled by his endless supply of homespun philosophy and
remarkable tales.
Ted joined the Braille Chess Association in January 1932, just a few weeks after its inauguration. He was a
member of the UK national team in international events for blind players and particularly enjoyed his involvement
with the Six Nations Tournaments. Perhaps his most remarkable achievement amongst many was winning the
British Blind Players Championship at the age of 61. Ted’s chess was not confined to events for blind players,
however, and he scored many notable successes during his long career in the Sheffield League, the Yorkshire
League and in a variety of chess congresses.
In 1979 Ted was run over by a lorry which killed his guide dog and left him with severe multiple injuries. Once
again his grit and determination pulled him through although he was no longer able to enjoy the long walks with
his guide dog which had meant so much to him.
In these days when superlatives and overstatement are the norm, meaningful assessment is made more difficult,
but I believe that we have lost a remarkable man, a great personality and most of all a great friend.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Ivy, who devoted her life to Ted and who was always his greatest champion and
fan, and to their sons Keith, Raymond and Graham.
Stan Lovell.
MARGARET BARBOUR
With great sadness I am reporting the death of Margaret Barbour on the 29th of April after a long and valiant
fight against cancer. During the last year or two, chess had played an increasingly important part of her life. She
was making slow but steady progress, and had in fact played two league matches for us. She was almost ready to
make her debut at a BCA event, but sadly her illness prevented her from travelling.
Margaret, though totally blind, was a brilliant Scrabble player, and was also an active supporter of Teesside
Chess and Games Club for the Blind. She was a very brave lady and will be sadly missed by all members of the
Club.
Geoff Garnett.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR’S REPORT - JULY 1998
Before getting down to the results, I should like to make a strong plea to all those who receive cassettes from
time to time from other members, or members of the committee, to please return them. I know for myself, that
several tapes I have sent out giving information have not been returned, and other members have mentioned this
problem to me. As we all know, cassettes and wallets are not cheap, so please give it some thought.
I have also been asked if I would list those taking part in the league and 7th British Championship which started
in January 1998. So, I will do that now.
3
BCA League January 1998.
Participants.
Division 1.: Atherton, Barry, Crombie, Gibbs D., McElroy, Schaefer, Sproson, (Whtehouse non-playing leader).
Division 2.: Brown S., Hodgkins (leader), Hague, O’Brien, Phillips, Way.
Division 3.: Bishop, Perham, Price (leader), Spink, Townshend, Winkworth.
Division 4.: Boden, Couchman, Bryant (leader), Gallacher, McTavish, Rathbun, Rees.
Division 5.: Cohen, Collisson, Cuthbert, Davey, Farrant, Parry, Patching, Potter, Wrod. (O’Brien, non-playing
leader).
7th British Championship
Premier Group: Bryant (non-playing leader), Cohn, Gibbs D., Hodgkins, Sproson, Wall.
Challengers: Couchman, Gallacher, Innes, Cohen, Plechaty, Price (leader).
Now to the results.
BCA 34th Championship
Premier:
Way - Sproson 1 - 0 (English) 29
Sobers - Sproson 1 - 0 (Giuco Piano) 43
Whittle - Brown S. 1 - 0 (GP) 43
Brown - Atherton 0 - 1 (King’s Pawn) 53
Cohn - Hodgkins 1 - 0 (English) 35
McElroy - Whittle 1 - 0 no details
Whittle - Sobers 0.5 - 0.5 (Queen’s Pawn) 46
Whittle - Atherton 1 - 0 (Queen’s Pawn) 35
Sobers - Hodgkins 0 - 1 (Pet) 57
Group B:
Rathbun - Wood 1 - 0
Patching - O’Brien 0.5 - 0.5 (Queen’s Gambit Declined) 58
Hague - Patching 0.5 - 0.5
Group C:
Gibbs D. - Barry 1 - 0
Potter - Price 0 - 1 (Queen’s Pawn) 31
Barry - Price 0.5 - 0.5 (Sicilian) 31
Price - Gibbs (Colle) 38
Townshend - Price (Sicilian) 48
BCA League
Division 1:
Gibbs D. - Barry 1 - 0 9
Division 4:
Boden - Bryant 0 - 1.
7th British Championship.
Challengers:
Price - Innes 1 - 0 (King’s Gambit) 7
Couchman - Price 1 - 0 (Sicilian) 22
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Ladder Results
Patching - Collisson 1 - 0 (Pet) 19
Spink - Couchman 1 - 0 54
Gibbs D. - Couchman 1 - 0 52
Ladder table to date (30th April)
Davey 38, Gibbs 34, Patching 29, Sobers 27, Atherton 26, Spink 16
The ladder table is open to all members of the BCA who wish to play friendlies. Results of these games should
be given to Geoff Patching (address in membership list) tel. 01380 727 244.
Two points are awarded for a win and one for a draw. Points accumulate and the person with the most points at
31st December each year wins the ladder table and their score reverts to 0. Other members keep their score. Any
further inquiries please contact Geoff as above.
Finally, I’ve been asked about the possibility of playing games by e-mail. What do members think? As I’m
probably the least knowledgeable person in the BCA with regard to what this would involve, if you are interested,
I would be pleased to pass on your queries.
Sean O’Brien.
BCA INTERNAL OVER-THE-BOARD GRADINGS
Dear members, below are your up-to-date BCA internal over-the-board gradings for games played between BCA
players. These are not the BCF gradings.
Ali A. 30, Ali J. 50, Bell 59, Benson 152, Bohre 128, Beutlehoff 176, Brown A. 43, Brown B. 31, Brown C. 43,
Brown S. 119, Burnell 149, Busbridge 45, Campbell 26, Carlin 102, Cash 27, Chambers 157, Cohen 29, Cohn
108, Collisson 57, Crombie 111, DeVoss 158, Doyle 142, Draine 32, Eastwick-Field 97, Farrant 16, Friese E. 102,
Friese W. 75, Gailans C. 30, Gailans V. 98, Gallagher 107, Gardener 100, Garnett 92, Gibbs 37, Glass 70, Gordon
103, Green 85, Hall 62, Hamari 53, Harris 109, Harrington 22, Hewitt L. 42, Hewitt M. 141, Hodgkins 130,
Horrocks 121, Keating 150, Kelly 24, Kirkham 72, Lidstone 33, Lilley 184, Loftus 139, Long 20, Lovell 145,
Mordue 200, Murphy 114, Mistry 51, Nair 85, O’Brien 105, Oliver 120, Osborne 69, Parry 74, Patching 59,
Pearson 80, Perham 55, Phillips 81, Plechaty 92, Pohlers 181, Price 59, Reader 61, Rich 32, Richmond 127, Ross
172, Schaefer 130, Sheany 47, Sobers 98, Spink 76, Thomson 62, Thacker 106, Van Gelder 120, Wagner 67,
Watkins 55, Williams M. 50, Williamson 152, Wood 41, Zemann 103.
Well done Matt Hewitt, your grade increased by the most points in one year from 100 to 141! If anyone has any
interest in how I work out your grades, please get in touch with me.
John Gallagher, Leeds.
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT
The following people have either informed me that they no longer wish to continue membership of the BCA or
have not responded to the 28 days notice letter, and therefore are now lapsed members of the BCA: K. Altinok,
CP. De Vos Kotze, F. Ferris, D. Hathaway, Mrs. C. Kelly, D. Mann, M. Noble, Ms. D. Ross, I. Sabir, P. Stockton,
Miss C. Thacker.
Unfortunately, during the last 12 months the BCA has incurred three deceased members, they are: Mrs. Margaret
Barbour, Joseph Stricz and Ted Williams.
With the deletion of all those mentioned above, as at 4th May 1998, the BCA membership stands at 212. This
comprises the following:
Life members 124;
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Honorary life members 7;
Annual Subscribers 82;
43 Associate members;
46 Women members;
20 Overseas members including 7 from Eire;
20 Junior members.
If any member has a change of address, correction - however slight - or wishes to change the medium by which
they receive information, then please do not hesitate to contact me either by writing to: 44 Moorhill Road,
Whitnash, Leamington Spa, CV31 2LN or phoning 01926 425 803.
David Hodgkins.
NEW MEMBERS AND CHANGES OF ADDRESS
A cordial welcome is extended to:
Philip Ward, (Junior), (Tape), 6 Cardinal Grove, Fairfield, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 7SE
and Paul Ward, (Associate Member), address as above.
Correction.
Townsend, Ms. H., should read (Braille): Flat 1, Unit A, Tait Close, Eastfield Road, Peterborough, PE1 4QH.
Changes of address:
Draine, Malcolm, (Large print), 22 Fairfield Road, Wimborne, BH21 2AJ.
Gordon, Phil, (Braille), 7 Grangewood, Bromley Cross, BL7 9YG
and Gordon, Mrs. Janet, (Associate), as above.
Rich, Sally, (Tape), Pembridge Halls of Residence, Kingfisher Way, Loughborough, LE11 3NY.
CHESS THEME BREAK REPORT
The 5th annual GDBA chess theme break was as last year held at Windermere Manor. Nine chess players
received excellent coaching from Peter Gibbs, Geoff Carlin, Peter Price and George Phillips. For the minitournament the players were placed in three groups of three, games being played on a time-handicap basis, the
winner of each group competing for the GDBA hotel’s trophy. The final was between Eric Gallacher, Bob Brown
and Geoff Patching, with Geoff the winner yet again! Peter Gibbs, once more, gave a simultaneous display which
is always great fun.
Non chess players were not forgotten during the week, with the hotel management organising various trips. Even
the bad weather could not dampen our spirits, for as usual the food was superb, the hotel delightful and the staff
helpful and friendly.
Shirley Watkins.
ANNUAL THEME BREAK 1999
The next chess theme break, organised by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, will be from Saturday 6th to
13th February, 1999 at the Windermere Manor Hotel. The rate is retained at £170.00 per person which is
inclusive of dinner, bed, breakfast, mornings and afternoons refreshment breaks. The charge is the same whether
one takes a guide dog or not.
The chess instruction is organised by me with the assistance of other trainers. There will be separate training
groups depending on the playing strengths of the individuals.
In addition to the chess, there are planned excursions and evening entertainment including a quiz. Players who
attended this year’s theme break will receive details direct in due course. However, I recommend that anyone who
wishes to attend, should contact the hotel when convenient. The details are: Windermere Manor Hotel, Rayrigg
6
Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1ES tel. 015394 45801, fax 015394 48397.
Although it is too early for the details, I can say that the theme break for the year 2000 will be in February at the
GDBA’s other hotel, the Cliffden, Teignmouth, Devon.
Peter Gibbs.
AGM CONGRESS REPORT
The 1998 AGM Congress was held at the Swallow Hotel, Northampton. Two unusual features of this venue
were firstly that most of the accommodation was on the ground floor, and secondly the use of credit-card type
keys for the rooms, the first time I personally had experienced this feature.
The hotel turned out to be an excellent choice, with good food and friendly staff.
The AGM itself was quite a lively affair, with one particular issue, involving officers’ expenses, proving fairly
controversial. I do not, however, feel that this report is the place to go into details of this item. It did, however,
have a bearing on two changes in committee personnel. Peter Gibbs felt unable to continue as treasurer, and was
replaced by Charli Goddard, while Shirley Watkins took over from Phil Gordon as cassette librarian. I would like
to thank both Peter and Phil for their hard work on the committee, in Phil’s case for more than a decade, and wish
the two new incumbents the best for their terms of office.
Of the three motions put forward, two were successful. The first involved the regular reporting of IBCA matters
in the Gazette, whilst the second called for games in week-long BCA events to start in the mornings. I believe that
most people would have supported Hans Cohn’s sentiments in putting forward the third motion, which called for
improvements in coaching for our elite players, and more use of the cassette library facilities by them. It was felt,
however, that the demands of the motion were too rigid and not practicable in some cases.
The tournament was as ever well controlled by Gerry Walsh and Peter Gibbs, with assistance in the latter stages
from Julie Leonard, and also help in stewarding from members of the local club. The Open saw shocks aplenty,
although it was no surprise to see Graham Lilley again take the trophy. He shared first place with Tyson Mordue
and Matthew Hewitt. Matthew’s 4 out of 5 was a particularly fine effort, and very encouraging for the future of
our international teams. These are indeed exciting times with two teenage players as good as Matthew Hewitt and
Chris Ross. Another performance of note was that of Orlando Sobers, who defied his lowly grading with an
excellent 3 out of 5, his two defeats being against two of the strongest players in the tournament.
We welcomed Adrian Pearson to a BCA tournament for the first time, and he proceeded to walk away with the
Minor tournament with 4.5 out of 5.
Final scores.
Open. 1 - 3 Lilley, Mordue, Hewitt 4/5; 4 - 6 Chambers, Ross, Hodgkins, 3.5/5; 7 Sobers 3/5; 8 - 12 Thacker,
Eastwick-Field, Burnell, Cohn, Murphy 2.5/5; 13 - 15 Brown, O’Brien, Horrocks 2/5; 16, 17 Gordon, Carlin 1.5/5;
18 - 20 Gailans, Collisson, Spink 1/5.
Grading Prizes to David Hodgkins and Orlando Sobers.
Minor. 1 Pearson 4.5/5; 2 Watkins 4/5; 3 Osborne 3.5/5; 4, 5 Patching, Rich 3/5; 6 - 8 Busbridge, Harrington,
Hewitt 2/5; 9 Gailans 1/5; 10 Farrant 0/5.
Grading prizes to Sally Rich and Richard Harrington.
Stephen Eastwick-Field
HAAKSBERGEN TOURNAMENT 25TH TO 26TH APRIL, 1998
It was agreed that we would meet at King George Dock at Hull at 3 p.m. on Thursday 23rd April, as we were
allowed to board the P and O ferry from 4:00 onwards. We had all arrived by 3:30 with the exception of Geoff
Patching. We waited until 4:30 and Geoff had not arrived, so the first panic had begun! We rang his wife who
informed us he had left home at 7 o’clock that morning and he was somewhere en route to Hull. We left messages
at the station to tell him that the rest of the party had proceeded to the docks, and it was agreed that the party
should board the ship leaving one person, Gerry Walsh, to wait until the last minute for Geoff. He did arrive with
a few minutes to spare and was escorted safely aboard.
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However, from then on, the journey settled down to a pleasant voyage on the ferry; and having more time aboard
ship it made life a lot more pleasant. We docked at Rotterdam at 7:00 a.m. on Friday 24th, disembarked at 8:00,
and caught the Northsea ferry coach to Rotterdam station. We then caught the 10:00 train to Henelgow arriving at
12:30. We were escorted to our host families, and we all met up again on the Friday night for the opening party
which was very successful.
We had 12 in the party altogether and 8 of these were chess players, 5 being partially-sighted or blind and 3
being sighted. The format was the same as the previous year so it meant that any table could win the tournament,
and, from the table point of view, we had Geoff Brown on table 2, John Gallacher on 4, David Hodgkins on 6,
Gerry Walsh on 7, George Plechaty on 13, Mike Murphy on 17, Francis Collisson on 19, and Geoff Patching on
20.
We had a disastrous first round with the British players scoring 4 out of a possible 8; and in round 2 we scored
4.5 out of 8. The majority of the team attended the party on the Saturday evening and a very enjoyable time was
had by all, and I think this must have done the British team a power of good because on the Sunday morning we
really went to town and scored 7.5 out of 8 - which I feel is quite a record!
Regarding the tables, the scores were as follows:
Geoff Brown 3/3 - winning his table outright.
John Gallagher 1.5/3.
David Hodgkins 2/3 - placing him second.
Gerry Walsh 1.5/3.
George Plechaty 3/3 - winning his table.
Mike Murphy 2/3 - joint first on his table.
Francis Collisson 1/3.
Geoff Patching 2/3 - joint first on his table.
Regarding the tables, we had 5 members coming either first or second table prize, which I feel was quite a good
achievement.
There were two joint winners of the plaque and these were team A3, of which Geoff Brown was a member, and
team C1, of which Francis Collisson was a member. The winning team was decided by the toss of a coin and team
C1 were awarded the plaque. This meant that Francis Collisson again had a winner’s medal, and he did say to us
on the boat coming back, that if he is a member of the winning team next year he is going to ask them if he can
keep the plaque because he has been involved for three years on the trot.
We had to make a rapid departure from the chess venue at 1:30, as we had to catch the train to Rotterdam at 2:00.
This meant that prize giving had to be a rush and we were not around to see all of the prize giving.
Our host families kindly took us to the station and we arrived in Rotterdam at 4:30 to catch the ferry back to
England which sailed at 6:30. A very pleasant journey was had on the boat returning home, and we had a singsong in the Moonlight Bar with their resident pianist which made the evening very enjoyable. We docked in Hull
at 7:00 next morning and disembarked at 8:00, and everybody was sent their appropriate ways home.
This way of travelling was much more relaxed, but the only problem being the time of the sailing back on
Sunday. In future visits it would possibly be better to catch the ferry on the Monday night so that there is no rush
to leave Haaksbergen. The host families that we stayed with all seemed to be agreeable with the fact that another
year we would possibly stay over Sunday night and start travelling home on the Monday morning: but it is
possible that we would have to find our own way back to Henelgow station. However, there are one or two other
ideas for travelling being thought about at the moment, and we will wait to see what way we feel is the best way to
travel for future tournaments in Haaksbergen.
Next year is the 25th anniversary of the tournament, and we all have a feeling that it is going to be quite an
anniversary.
All those who went on the trip would like to thank George Plechaty for the hard work which he put into
organising the trip; and it was nice to see Janet once again after recovering from her problems of 1997.
Clive Hodgkins
************
Note. Haaksbergen 1999 is now expected to run from Friday, 23rd April until the following Monday, April 26th.
Editor.
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RECENT ADDITIONS TO BRAILLE LIBRARY
Below is a list of books, acquired from RNIB New College, Worcester, added to the stock at BCA library.
Alekhine, A.: Chess Heritage, or the Nottingham International Chess Tournament, 1936. Every game
checkmate.
Keres, P.: Practical Chess Endings: 4 Vols.
Marowitch and Palmer: Opening Repertoire for Black. 4 Vols.
Reti, R.: Modern Ideas in Chess: 2 Vols.
Tatersall, W. V.: Rules of Chess.
Cook: Synopsis of the Openings.
(Readers should note that there are some errors and omissions in the above list, and that none of the works is very
modern).
Also a number bound copies of earlier years of the Braille Chess Magazine are now lodged with Paul Benson,
whose address is to be found in the membership list.
ADVERTISEMENT: BRAILLE LIBRARIAN AND/OR HELP WITH STORING THE BRAILLE LIBRARY
WANTED.
A volunteer will soon be required to administer your association’s impressive stock of Braille chess literature. A
willingness to provide accommodation for the books will be an advantage, but not essential. Your committee is
considering alternative possibilities for storing the library, e.g., at the premises of a local blind society, and any
member who knows of such a society willing to assist in this respect, or who would be willing to house part of the
library himself or herself, should please contact the Braille librarian whose address is at the front of this Gazette.
All offers and suggestions will be placed before your committee as soon as possible.
Brian Perham
CHESS CLUBS FOR BLIND PLAYERS
Since the Teesside Chess and Games Club for the Blind was formed in 1992, we have received a total income of
over £15,000. Mainly by way of grants and donations. It has enabled all equipment - chess sets, boards, clocks
and tape recorders - to be provided free of charge to all members. Also general subsidies have been made to those
attending BCA events. For example, those who attended the British championship only paid £40.00.
The existence of the club certainly attracted many visually-impaired people into the game. With the possible
exception of Christopher Ross, none of the Teesside players would have had the courage, confidence or possibly
even the money to join an existing open chess club. I am also sure that Christopher would not have made the
progress he has if we had not introduced him to competitive league chess in 1993. I well remember his first ever
league match when he played on board 5 and scraped a draw.
There is no reason why clubs like ours cannot be formed in any part of the country. Just think how much money
could be brought into chess for blind players, and just how many extra players would be encouraged to take up the
game.
I would like to hear from anybody who would be interested in forming such a club. Our experiences may be
helpful, and we would be only too glad to help with development of a club anywhere in the country.
Geoff Garnett
Secretary Teesside Chess and Games Club for the Blind, 1 West Mews, Yarm, Cleveland TS15 9BN.
Tel. 01642 790 476.
Printed by Eastwinds Ltd.
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