I DON'T BELIEVE IT!

[David Gilbert]

Last week I was organizing the HASSRA* national chess championships at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool. It was won by Darryl Wolstencroft (Fylde) on the tiebreak after a three way photo finish with Peter Jowett (North West) and David Boyes (Yorkshire & Humber).

An excellent couple of days enjoyed by everyone – but somehow East Midlands and the South West couldn’t nominate anyone. Admittedly two candidates from East Midlands were unable to attend this year for personal reasons, but in the South West they couldn’t find a single chess player! I don’t believe it!

So if you work – or know someone who works – in the South West for the Department of Health or it’s agencies, or the Department of Work and Pensions and it’s agencies, including Job Centre Plus, let me know and I’ll draw the existence of such people to the attention of the regional HASSRA organizer (they would have to be HASSRA members or join-up).

*HASSRA is the acronym for “Health and Social Security Recreational Association”. Changes to Government Departments over the years made a new acronym of DWP, Job Centre Plus, DH, the Food Standards Authority, the Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority etc near impossible and so the Association decided to retain its original name! Why not?

[Phil Neatherway]

you mean you're still happy to be known as 'The Department of Stealth and Total Obscurity'?

In the days when I was a student, you could still claim benefits in the summer vacation. To do so, you had to sign on at the office in Hassle Street and then go to the Job Centre in Barracks Road.

[Malcolm Clarke]

When I played in the regional railway chess competition 15 years ago I travelled 70 miles to play in the final having won my qualifying competition, but won it by virtue of being the only person to turn up, so I can well believe that some parts of the country will give little support to an event, particularly when they live a long way from the venue.

I did play for the DHSS chess club in the late 1980's (I in fact played one league game against Dave) and still have some of the old DHSS chess magazines, one of which contained a report of the DHSS National Championship in 1988. That year the event was won by Mark Charter of Wales and South West, with Vinnie Jones (I assume not the footballer/film actor) as organiser. The list of previous winners included D Andrews of East Midlands.

[Neil Graham]

When I played in the regional railway chess competition 15 years ago I travelled 70 miles to play in the final having won my qualifying competition, but won it by virtue of being the only person to turn up, so I can well believe that some parts of the country will give little support to an event, particularly when they live a long way from the venue.

I did play for the DHSS chess club in the late 1980's (I in fact played one league game against Dave) and still have some of the old DHSS chess magazines, one of which contained a report of the DHSS National Championship in 1988. That year the event was won by Mark Charter of Wales and South West, with Vinnie Jones (I assume not the footballer/film actor) as organiser. The list of previous winners included D Andrews of East Midlands.

David Andrews - shown as 164 in the Yorkshire List - played for Worksop.

[Daryl Taylor]

I did play for the DHSS chess club in the late 1980's (I in fact played one league game against Dave) and still have some of the old DHSS chess magazines, one of which contained a report of the DHSS National Championship in 1988. That year the event was won by Mark Charter of Wales and South West, with Vinnie Jones (I assume not the footballer/film actor) as organiser. The list of previous winners included D Andrews of East Midlands.

You'll find my name on that trophy for the 1974-75 season, Malcolm.

The finals in Whitley Bay were a piece of cake compared to the London regional elimination rounds.