Worcester College For The Blind. A Chess Legacy. Words,Pictures And Games. Part Two.

O.K. so I am back with part two - a mass of stuff here, so same rules as last time!! Dip in and out when you have time and I hope you enjoy what is here. I have decided to make it three parts, so more next time, with a lot of games. Mainly text this time, but hopefully an enjoyable read.

So, to the header photo. The quality is what I have been able to do with scanning it from Chess Pie Number 2. I am sure that some of you will have the skills to enhance it, so feel free to help out guys. Thanks in advance.

Luckily the wonderful Vlastimil Fialla has sourced two reports of the exhibition. ( He is amazing - PLEASE support his work thank you) as I am doing this in 3 parts I will give all the material, with apologies in advance - I have still not worked out the formatting issues involved in posting my one finger typing word documents into the site software. .

From The Worcester Daily Times, Oct 29. 1919.

''Chess Champion at Worcester.
Senor Capablanca, the world's champion chess player, paid a visit to
Worcester on Tuesday. Mr. G.C. Brown, the Headmaster of the Blind College, had
the good fortune to attract him to that institution during his tour of the large
centres of Great Britain in which he has won some 700 matches, drawing about
50, and losing only 19 or 20. Advantage was taken of his visit to arrange for
members of Worcester, Malverm, Stourport, Droitwich, Pershore, Evesham, and
Dudley Chess clubs to take boards, with the result that the champion was able to
play 41 simultaneous matches.

It was a red letter day for the school, of whose students 15 took boards, and for the
various clubs, whose members were delighted to risk an almost certain defeat
for the sake of gaining ideas from the great master of the game. The College
students played good sound chess and held out well.

One of them, Reed, at the College's fourth table, had the distinction
of achieving victory. The Senor, who had the opening move in all the games, began
with the Ruy Lopez opening. Reed replied with the classical defence. The Senor lost
his Queen in the middle of the game, and Reed had the advantage of the exchange. The
Senor resigned at the 36th move.
Reed is fourth-year student who has learnt his chess at the College, and has
won other memorable games. For instance, he was victorious when Mr. F.G.
Jones, of Worcester, engaged 20 College students in simultaneous games. He takes
his victories modestly, but his comrades acclaimed him with great heartiness, and
so did the other visitors to the College, who did not enjoy equal success.
The Senor kept all the other players on the defensive from the commencement. Most of the players survived 20 or more moves, and a few lasted out into the
thirties, but by that time it was ''a lingering agony long drawn out'' It was
remarkable to find the President of the Worcester Chess Club (the Rev. W.W.
Vevers), and the Captain (Mr. F. Hale) fighting out the issue longest. When Mr.
Vevers was vanquished, the Senor sat down opposite Mr Hale to give him his
coup de grace. But so incomparable an opponent did not only honour all the
players in defeat. They were delighted by the experience.
The Mayor of Worcester was present at the little opening ceremony,
when the Headmaster introduced Senor Capablanca, and heartily welcomed him
to the College to play its students and also members of clubs in Worcester and
neighbouring towns (Applause). More-over, they tendered him their sincerest
thanks for his kindness in visiting them.

It was not necessary to recall to chess players and enthusiasts what the Senor
had done, and what he was doing. He was not only the champion but he was the only
Capablanca (Applause).
Therefore they congratulated themselves most heartily that they had the
was their desire to improve their chess, of which they were proud in their small way,
and they hoped to profit by the lesson they were about to learn.
They expected to be finished off summarily, but they would all try their
best to get a draw. He himself had had a beautiful dream that he would draw
(laughter) but he was afraid that that was as near as he would approach such a
degree of success.
The mayor, who said he was probably the only person in the room who
knew nothing about the game, gladly welcomed Senor Capablanca on behalf of
the City. It was a great honour that the world's champion should pay a visit to so
relatively small a place.
Senor Capablanca, speaking with ease in good English, thanked Mr. Brown
and the Mayor for the welcome they had given to him. It was a great pleasure to
come to the College to improve their game - if possible.''
 

O.K. Go grab a beer or whatever you fancy - a long - and rather wonderful -  report next from The Worcestershire Chronicle, Nov. 1st, 1919. Enjoy!

CHESS WIZARD IN WORCESTER.
Young Student's Splendid Achievement Worcester can boast of a visit on
Tuesday afternoon by the greatest chess master in the world today, Senor
Capablanca, the young Cuban, who made such a sensational display at the Hastings
 Tournament. For this unique event all honour must be given to Mr. G. C.
Brown, Headmaster of the College for the Blind, Whittington, who conceived
the happy idea of securing the presence of the chess phenomenon, an experience
which will be long remembered with pleasure by the chess-players of
Worcester and the immediate neighbourhood.

The College is pre-eminent for two remarkable achievements, representing mental and physical activities. Chess and rowing and in order to give the students a rare treat Mr. Brown
induced Senor Capablanca to come and play some simultaneous games.

When he consented Mr. Brown got together the cream of local chess players in the
district also to take part, and, needless to say, the chance of such an experience
was highly appreciated. Forty-two boards were set out in the spacious hall, and this
formed the arena for Senor Capablanca to demonstrate his marvellous skill in the
game.

A pleasing feature of the event was the presence of the Mayor (Ald, A.Carlton), who extended a civic welcome to the distinguished visitor, and made one of his usual happy little speeches.
The most striking impression on seeming Senor Capablanca for the first
time is that of his extreme youth, and many expectant persons, who had not
read previously an account of the chess master, were rather of the Mayor's
anticipation, a vision of a venerable gentlemen of mysterious presence and an
expression of impenetrable mental intensity.

Instead they saw a sprightly young man, very modestly attired save
for a soft collar of a rather pronounced pattern, who moved rapidly from one
player to another, and left his opponents for the most part in great difficulties. 
 His features are cast in pleasant lines, and his dark complexion serves to heighten the
expression of deep thought in his eyes.
His head is phrenologically a mathematical one, with a fine dome and
expansive forehead. Still one would never suspect him of achieving such
world-wide fame in the realm of chess.
The company was assembled when Mr. Brown, who was accompanied by the
Mayor introduced Senor Capablanca, and there was a regular fusillade of hand
clapping where the master appeared.
Introduction and Welcome.
Mr. Brown said it was his great privilege to introduce the great Senor Capablanca, and to extend to him on behalf of the College and the chess players in the neighbourhood not only a
hearty welcome, but an expression of gratitude for coming down to that small
gathering. (Applause.)

It was quite unnecessary to remind those who were chess-players and chess novices of what
Senor Capablanca had done and was doing. There had been several chess
champions, but there was only one Capablanca- (applause)
They congratulate themselves most heartily that they had arranged for him to come
down to visit them, and on the opportunity they had of playing against
him, and of being defeated, of naturally looking forward to a draw (laughter) and
personally be had a dream of making a draw of his game, but he was afraid that
would not be realised.

He would call upon the Mayor to extend a civic welcome to Senor Capablanca.
The Mayor said he did not know why he had been asked to speak that
afternoon, because, perhaps, he was the only person in the room that knew
nothing at all about the game. His city welcomes here the worlds greatest
champion of chess, Senor Capablanca. (Loud applause).

It was a great honour to the city - that he should come to so small
a place. He (the Mayor) thought he would have met an old gentleman with a
very long beard, and eye hidden behind very powerful glasses, but instead of that
a gentleman who was practically a boy.
 (Laughter). 
What he - (Senor Capablanca) would become in future days when he had a grey beard and
glasses he could not say, but he hardly thought that even Mr. Brown's dream
would come true. (Laughter)

He brought that there were indebted to Mr.Brown for being so enterprising as to bring
Senor Capablanca down -loud applause- and it was very kind of Mr, Brown to
invite outsiders to share in that very eventful function.
The Mayor then addressed Senor Capablanca and gave him a very hearty
welcome to the ancient city. Senor Capablanca who was most enthusiastically greeted, the applause lasting for a considerable time, during which he bowed his acknowledgements, said he wished to thank them for their very kind welcome, and to assure them that it was a
great pleasure for him to come amongst them and to do the best he could. (laughter) 
for him to do, to improve their game. (Applause).

It was quite possible that some of them would win, when so many games were being played at the one time, and when mistakes were made of
sufficient magnitude it was possible for
him to win (Laughter)

He presumed were all aware of the proper methods of playing, and hoped they
might derive some benefit. (Applause)
The Rev, W. W. Vevers (of Norton. Evesham) wished as the unworthy president of the Worcester Chess Cub to give a welcome to Senor Capablanca, He never expected to play against such a redoubtable player. He wished to express the welcome of Worcester chess players to him. (Applause).

Now that he had announced himself as President of the club he could not expect to get off so
easily as the draw Mr. Brown dreamed about. (Laughter).
Mr. Brown said that he wished to express thanks to the Birmingham Chess
Club for lending 12 sets of men for the occasion, and also to the Mayor for
coming to make the welcome to Senor Capablanca more impressive than it
would have been otherwise. (Applause).
Young Student Scores a Win.
As already mentioned, Senor Capablanca faced 42 opponents, The
College supplied 13 players, nine of whom were wholly blind while
Worcester sent nine players, Stourport four, Malvern eight, Droitwich two,
Pershore two, Evesham three and Dudley one.

The Rev. W. W. Vevers, although President of the Worcester Club, came
rather as a freelance, and was bracketed with the Evesham players. Play began at
3:30, and with the exception of an adjournment for tea, lasted until 8
o'clock, no little time for the master to be on his feet as he did not get an
opportunity of sitting down until he played the 
last couple of moves with Mr. F. Hale, captain of the
 Worcester Club, who had the honour of playing the most
protracted game.

The tables were occupied by the following:
College: G. C. Brown, W. Hodgaen
Students: V. C. Grimshaw, Fits Gibbon,(sic)
Hargreaves, Reed, H. Coldwell, Hunt, J.
Coldwell, Coates, Watson, Martin and Wallace.
Worcester: C. Halse, V. Collet, G
Lansdale, F. Hale, W. Firkins, R. Trent.
C. Farram, H. G. Perkins and R. D,
Charke.
Stourport: J. Bufton, H.Roberts and J. Sellars.
Malvern: W. Hayling, R. Carcless, CKoets, A. Grifith, J. Moukls,

W.Summers, T. Evans and T. Barker.
Droitwich: J. Dutton and Rev. F.Richardson.
Pershore: D,. Gibbs and Canon L.S. Robinson.
Evesham: 0. Vevers, P. Stil and Rev. W. W. Vevers.
Dudley: J. Moore.
Won 41, Lost 1.
Of the 42 games Capablanca won 41 and lost one to a young student of the
College, Mr. Reed, who, it is scarcely necessary to say, was the recipient of
cordial congratulations from his fellow students and the other players.

By this win, as Mr. Brown later pointed out, the College has done better than Manchester
or the French team of players. In the case of Manchester there were 40 players, and
the master scored 38 wins and the other two drew; while he won against all the
French players, numbering 38.

It should be stated that Mr. Reed, who is about 19 years of age, is not wholly blind, but his
sight is so unfortunately weak that he cannot read, and can hardly distinguish
objects even the size of chessmen on a moderately large board.

When he got the advantage in the game, he was wise enough to continue with extreme caution until Capablanca resigned. The opening of the game was the Ruy Lopez - an
attack by white, which develops rapidly on the king's side of the board. It is swift
and deadly in the hands of an expert, and young players are apt to lose their heads
Not so young Reed, who, when his redoubtable antagonist rushed down his
Queen for an early coup de gras, succeeded in pinning the powerful piece,
and winning the exchange. Thence forward the game developed slowly in
favour of the amateur, and although Capablanca on two visits to the table
leaned on his elbows and spent time considering some probable trap, the
weight of pieces proved too much apparently round,(sic) When his king was
badly harassed by black queen and rook, he suddenly pushed the monarch on one
side and said: "That is yours."

No Record Kept.
It is matter for regret that young Reed, who replied to the opening with
the classical defence, did not keep a record of his game, being in fact, the
only player who did not do so. He may however, be able to reconstruct it.  

Mr. Reed is quite a novice at chess, having only been playing for about two years,
and his strength in the College team is some distance from the top. A young
fellow named Grimshaw is considered as being the best player, and certainly
played a fine defensive game for quite a number of moves, but he was routed in a
sudden development.

Another student named Wallace, playing a very decent open game, managed to remain third last at the tables.

It was very interesting to watch theblind players at work. There was the large board with ordinary men on which Senor Capablanca made his moves; while his blind opponent has a small board with pegs, which fit, into holes in the squares.
The pegs are shopped in particular ways to indicate the pawns and pieces and the
black men have tiny projections on the top. The squares of the board are also
made in such a way as to assist the fineness of feeling the black squares being
slightly sunk.

They kept record of their games on Braille pads, and it is understood that the young enthusiasts eagerly study the leading works on chess, printed in Braille type.
lt is of interest to know that Senor Capablanca has only on one previous
occasion played with blind persons- two players in Buenos Aires and it is was
quite an experience.

To show his keenness, on a quick round of the tables he came to a young player and saw that
the latter had placed a piece on a wrong square, on his own board. "Rook should
be on King 5, not Queen 5," he said, and passed on.

The rapidity with which the Senor went round the tables and moved, almost without hesitation, was the marvel of all who watched him.
Another feature was the great variety of opening with which the Senor
favoured his opponents, and except in the case of the Ruy Lopez, which he seems
to favour, each player had a different task to face. In the opening just mentioned
Mr. W. Roberts, of Stourport, made a rattling game, which appeared even to
about the 22nd move, when a slight slip brought disaster.

If one sought for "a picture" at the chessboard, the pleasant presence of that fine old chess player, the Rev. W.W. Vevers, would hold immediate attention. He played a sturdy
uphill fight and held bravely on until an end game, in which he was hopelessly
situated with a number of pawns at the mercy of Capablanca's rook, caused him
to fall - the second last doughty knight to fall before the conqueror.

Mr. F. Hale. as mentioned, played a very excellent game, in which he had queen.
two rooks and a knight against similar forces. But the superior genius had
hampered his movements considerably.At last, following some exchanges
Capablanca advanced a pawn with fatal effect, and Mr. Hale capitulated.

In the remaining games there were naturally many brilliant positions in which the
Master laid some ingenious traps and they will probably form food for
interesting discussion later on.

The gathering was an eventful one in the chess history of Worcester, and will be
remembered with exceptional pleasure by those who had the felicity to be present
on the occasion.

 A picture to compare with the previous one from the college - now NEW College - website. what would Mr. Brown have thought of those cars parked around the fountain!!

We have a game from the event. as with the Alekhine game last time, the simultaneous player doesn't exactly have things all his own way, but wins in the end.

Next time I will have a quick look at two very fine players who came out of the college.

Last time I identified Rupert Cross in the Alekhine Photo.

Theo Tylor

was, apart from other things - Cross's friend and mentor. .

They could play well enough to be selected to play in the British championship, back when you had to be selected. Note that both payers are listed as from Oxford - as in the University.

That's it - chess wise for now. Thanks if you stayed the course!! Back next time with lots of chess from Tylor and Cross, plus some nice photos. 

Before going I must mention that this has been a very sad couple of days here. I have no shame in saying that I have been crying my eyes out.

Some of you will know that apart from chess I also love my cricket. Yesterday there was a devastating piece of news.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/josh-baker-worcestershire-spinner-dies-at-the-age-of-20-1431954  

Josh was from my home town. I saw him play as a skinny teenager just a 15 minute drive from where I am sitting now and predicted that he would go on to play for England.

God love you and keep you Josh - my heart is broken into pieces. My thoughts are with you and your family. I do not have the words to express my feelings - for which I feel shame - I should say something wonderful, but I can not find the words. Perhaps there are none.

 R.I.P. Josh Baker. One of our own. You will not be forgotten.