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Kensington Olympia

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 5:27 pm
by James Pratt
BCM is writing about chess at Olympia at the School Boys and Girls Exhibition, now long buried.

Who can help us with memories? We have a photo of the 1958 Primary Schools Champ, one Roger Taylor. Did you know him?

James Pratt
www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk

Re: Kensington Olympia

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 6:10 pm
by IM Jack Rudd
There are two Roger Taylors listed in the ECF Grading Database, one from 3Cs, one from Denton (both inactive). If my maths can be relied on, the chap you're looking for should be about 65 now.

Re: Kensington Olympia

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:50 pm
by Tim Harding
James Pratt wrote:BCM is writing about chess at Olympia at the School Boys and Girls Exhibition, now long buried.

Who can help us with memories? We have a photo of the 1958 Primary Schools Champ, one Roger Taylor. Did you know him?

James Pratt
www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk
Bob Wade ran the stand for (I think) the Chess Education Society at the 1967/8 exhibition in Olympia, and had probably done so in at
least one previous year (and maybe also later). He recruited a team of student players including myself to run a continuous replacement
simultaneous (10 or 12 boards I think) against all comers. Opponents were mostly kids and teenagers I suppose.
We each did a 2-hour stint and then handed over ongoing games to the next person.

Les Blackstock was one of the others doing the simul.

My only clear recollection is that one day I was the starter and so began with about eight opponents. Bob warned me that a particular
player had a higher rating than me, so I made sure to beat him, which came in handy psychologically when we were paired again in a
county match not long afterwards.

Re: Kensington Olympia

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:43 pm
by Paul Buswell
I believe I visited at some time in the late 1960s, when the simul giver was C B Wood, as I recall (perhaps incorrectly).

PB