Paul Blackman (1945-2024)

[Peter Ackley]

Paul Blackman, Sheffield League, passed away in July. Alas my time in Sheffield chess and Paul's didn't cross so I won't try to write an obituary - please see Steve Mann's https://mannchess.org.uk/SNotices/2024- ... ackman.htm

[Peter Ackley]

Deleted duplicate posting

[Andrew Zigmond]

Very sorry to hear this news. I didn't know Paul well although we met a few times over the years.

Paul was very involved in junior coaching in the Sheffield area and ran a "junior" D team in the Yorkshire League. The first attempt was not a success but the second try caught fire and, at their peak, had expanded to the "D" team being in the top division with an "E" and "F" team in the lower divisions (although confusingly the C Team drawn from the adult contingent at Sheffield had withdrawn and it wasn't until a few seasons later that their teams were restructured and renamed).

Some talented juniors came through the Sheffield ranks at that time although they never displaced Paul on top board where he was a formidable opponent.

A great man who will be much missed.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

His older brother, Roy Blackman, is a well known folk singer in Rotherham:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoLGa0FqhjI
https://www.reverbnation.com/royblackman

[MartinCarpenter]

That's a very good and thorough obituary from Steve. That Sheffield D team were seriously dangerous for a few seasons!

He clearly did very impressive amounts of junior organising, several of whom are reinforcing Sheffield A in recent times.

Looks like we only overlapped for one match.