Low graded players teaching chess

[PeterFarr]

Yes, I have heard about the problems; must be a nightmare

The only trains that work properly round here are nothing to do with the Government of course East Lancs

Ooh rail ale trail - great combination

[Brian Towers]

Andy Tinker is still playing chess - I bumped into him at 4NCL a couple of years ago. He was also the star maths pupil. He moved into medicine like his father.

He was my star maths pupil!

He was one of a very small group who got a couple of extra lessons a week from me to prepare them for Oxbridge entry. Come exam time he politely declined. His father was a senior registrar at one of the big London teaching hospitals. He was going to follow in his footsteps and become a medic. He'd only been doing my extra lessons because he loved maths and enjoyed them. I was gobsmacked. There is absolutely nothing you can say in a situation like that. "No, No! Don't become a doctor. Mankind will be much better off if you become a mathematician." isn't very convincing.

By the way, the unqualified wonder maths teacher was Richard Marriot (I think his name was). He was appointed by the previous headmaster, Cooper, who died on the job, literally as he had a flat at the top of the school and was found dead one morning in his bed which was supported by empty whisky bottles rather than legs. The story of Richard's "interview" is another good story, taking place, as it did, entirely down the pub and involving nobody from the maths department.