Ronald (Ronnie) Wilson Ives, Yorkshire Chess

[Kevin Thurlow]

Fascinating stuff. I saw a few names of old opponents there. I wonder if Leonard Barden remembers anything of his Wakefield simul? (I appreciate this is a challenge as he must have done thousands of them!)

[Ingrid Ives]

This photo is labelled: 'Paignton Chess Congress 5-12 September 1953'.

[Ingrid Ives]

These two are labelled: 'Ilford 1952'.
In the foreground on the table marked 'Open D' are:
C.K. Simpson playing A.P. Day
In the foreground on the table marked 'Open C' are:
J.H.R. Staleybrass playing F.C Shorter

Mum is playing in the background on both of these photos.

[John Saunders]

That's a splendid photo from the 1953 Paignton tournament. Many thanks for sharing it, Ingrid. If it's OK, I'd like to post it on BritBase in due course.

Next to your father in the front row is 'Dody' Bourdillon, who tied for first place in the 1958 British Women's Championship, losing the play-off match to Anne Sunnucks, and next to your mother is Harold Meek who was a leading chess organiser. Next to Meek is A. R. B. [Andrew Rowland Benedick] Thomas who was a frequent competitor in the British Championship and one of the strongest players in the west country for many years.

I can't immediately identify any others but may be able to in due course. (I've a notion the very tall gentleman, 4th from the left, back row, pinstripe, might be Harry Matchett, but I'm not quite sure.

[Ingrid Ives]

That's a splendid photo from the 1953 Paignton tournament. Many thanks for sharing it, Ingrid. If it's OK, I'd like to post it on BritBase in due course.

Next to your father in the front row is 'Dody' Bourdillon, who tied for first place in the 1958 British Women's Championship, losing the play-off match to Anne Sunnucks, and next to your mother is Harold Meek who was a leading chess organiser. Next to Meek is A. R. B. [Andrew Rowland Benedick] Thomas who was a frequent competitor in the British Championship and one of the strongest players in the west country for many years.

I can't immediately identify any others but may be able to in due course. (I've a notion the very tall gentleman, 4th from the left, back row, pinstripe, might be Harry Matchett, but I'm not quite sure.

You're welcome, John. It's fine with me for you to post it on Britbase. I have it to high resolution, 600 dpi, so please let me know if you need that. It's a professional photo (please see attached, reverse of photo) but I would think it's out of copyright now and anyway we're not using it for commercial purposes.

Thanks for the info on who else is in that photo; very interesting for me.

[Ingrid Ives]

I now have dates and places or newspaper information for some of my mother's professional photos:

Yorkshire Evening News photo 1954

[Ingrid Ives]

Yorkshire Post / Yorkshire Evening Post
Leeds and Doncaster Chronicle
Huddersfield Chess Congress 1953

[John Saunders]

Many thanks, Ingrid.

Inspired by the appearance here of your 1953 Paignton photo, I've put together a web page on that tournament for BritBase...

https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/pgn/19 ... iewer.html

... using a colourised version of the group photo. I'm not claiming it is an improvement on the original. I've also posted two other photos from 1953 Paignton which I have not colourised as they are not particularly sharp. Derek Paffley appears in one of them.

I've posted the results: Ronnie Ives won his section while Cobie Ives shared 2nd prize in hers.

[Ingrid Ives]

Wakefield Chess Congress 14th April 1952

[Ingrid Ives]

Many thanks, Ingrid.

Inspired by the appearance here of your 1953 Paignton photo, I've put together a web page on that tournament for BritBase...

https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/pgn/19 ... iewer.html

... using a colourised version of the group photo. I'm not claiming it is an improvement on the original. I've also posted two other photos from 1953 Paignton which I have not colourised as they are not particularly sharp. Derek Paffley appears in one of them.

I've posted the results: Ronnie Ives won his section while Cobie Ives shared 2nd prize in hers.

John, that's absolutely fantastic! The photo looks amazing and having the results for my parents is just brilliant. I can see Derek there too. Many thanks!

[Ingrid Ives]

Bradford Chess Congress 1952
Bradford & District Newspaper Co Ltd

[Ingrid Ives]

Yorkshire Post / Yorkshire Evening Post
Leeds and Doncaster Chronicle
1952

[Ingrid Ives]

Ilford 1951

[Ingrid Ives]

Unknown location and date.
Maybe Bognor Regis? They played at a congress in Bognor Regis but I don't know when.

[John Saunders]

Unknown location and date.
Maybe Bognor Regis? They played at a congress in Bognor Regis but I don't know when.

Hi again Ingrid,

That's definitely the Oldway Mansion, Paignton. I'd know that door anywhere! Part of the magic of the Paignton tournament was that it was always played in the same room, from its inception in 1951 onwards. Hence, the quirky title of the book written in 2010 about the Paignton Congress by Bob Jones - 60 Years in the Same Room. Your parents first took part in the Paignton tournament in 1953 so it's probably then.