Jim Billsborough 1942-2020

[Matt Mackenzie]

The passing has been announced of this one time stalwart of Cumbrian chess - both as a strong player (both OTB and by post) and organiser - and the driving force behind Millom chess club for many years; it is no coincidence that it went out of operation not that long after he retired from the chess scene in the late 1990s.

Was also a painter of some repute, a veteran left wing political activist, and one of this town's well known personalities.

Had unfortunately lost touch with him in recent years, and only learned of his demise earlier today just before his funeral.

RIP.

[JustinHorton]

Some artworks

[Roland Kensdale]

Some artworks

Exceptionally fine.

A gifted man.

[MartinCarpenter]

Good paintings.

Clearly a very impressive organiser too! Millom is a truly lovely place, but hardly large and the travel to away matches must have been a huge effort.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Good paintings.

Clearly a very impressive organiser too! Millom is a truly lovely place, but hardly large and the travel to away matches must have been a huge effort.

What do you know of it then?

Yes, league fixtures in an all-Cumbrian set up can certainly be "fun".

(the more so when you had clubs at places like Alston - try looking that one up on your map)

[MartinCarpenter]

Good paintings.

Clearly a very impressive organiser too! Millom is a truly lovely place, but hardly large and the travel to away matches must have been a huge effort.

What do you know of it then?

Yes, league fixtures in an all-Cumbrian set up can certainly be "fun".

(the more so when you had clubs at places like Alston - try looking that one up on your map)

Well, it would be more accurate of me to proclaim Duddon sands to be a stunningly beautiful place. The view up valley from the embankment really is something. Less sure about the town itself!

Alston in winter would definitely put the Stockport league trip to Buxton into perspective! Play at a neutral venue in Appleby or something?

Must be some temptation to rejoin Lancashire and travel by boat

[Simon Rogers]

In Millom you have The Discovery Centre also there is the prison nearby at Haverigg.
There has been talk for a number of years of building a bridge across Morecambe Bay from Barrow to Heysham, Lancashire.
Back in the 1990s there was even talk of a Hovercraft service from Barrow to the Fylde Coast of Lancashire and another Hovercraft service from Blackpool to Southport and Liverpool.

[Neill Cooper]

In Millom you have The Discovery Centre also there is the prison nearby at Haverigg.

I've recently been told by a Millom resident that Jim ran a chess club at Haverigg Prison.

[Simon Rogers]

In Millom you have The Discovery Centre also there is the prison nearby at Haverigg.

I've recently been told by a Millom resident that Jim ran a chess club at Haverigg Prison.

Was it linked to the CSC initiative. I knew a couple of people who worked for them and went into prisons across the North of England.

[Matt Mackenzie]

In Millom you have The Discovery Centre also there is the prison nearby at Haverigg.

I've recently been told by a Millom resident that Jim ran a chess club at Haverigg Prison.

I think he did, but it was before even I started playing in these parts (1994)

[Neill Cooper]

My informant (not a chess player) implied it was more recent than that but time flies as you get older.
Anyway, a group of us from Cumbria Chess Association went in a couple of weeks ago and had a lovely evening at their active and enthusiastic chess club.

[Matt Mackenzie]

I certainly did not know it was still a thing now!