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Last update: Friday June 3, 2005 9:44
Robert Pinner Vice President of the Richmond and Twickenham Chess Club died at his home in Strawberry Hill on 20th November 2004. His father taught him chess at the age of 4. He first played chess seriously when attending King Edward’s High School for boys, Birmingham whose alumnae have also included C.H. O’D. Alexander and Tony Miles. This Period came to an end when the school was evacuated to Repton at the outbreak of World War Two.
Robert did not play again until at the age of 26 when he joined the Richmond Chess Club. He gave an account of this some years later in the club newsletter.
“I emigrated from Birmingham to Richmond and passing the Richmond Chess Club felt the urge to play again. Looking back I realise I must have been bored at the time. However, I even descended to reading chess books and magazines, Chess congresses followed at regular intervals. The whole thing snowballed until one year I played more games that anyone else in the country, bar one! The main trouble, I suppose was that I had no wife and no T.V.”
Both omissions were rectified in 1962 when he married fellow Richmond member Lesley Fletcher, the daughter of Elliot Fletcher author of Gambits accepted and purchased the house in Strawberry Hill where he lived for the rest of his life.
With the amalgamation of the Richmond and Twickenham Chess Clubs he became match captain of both the London League and National club teams a post he held for seventeen years. He also served several teams as Club Chairman.
He gave up all chess organising in 1974 when Lesley became ill. After she died in 1982 he did not return to chess instead he concentrated on the world of antique oriental rugs where his scholarship gained him an international reputation. His work in this field is covered by the extensive obituary published in the Independent on the 10th December.
Robert continued to have an interest in chess attending committee meetings in his role as Life Vice President. He maintained contact with his old chess friends and always enjoyed receiving the postcards Michael Franklin would send when away playing in a tournament.
During the last few years’ heart problems caused a steady decline in his health.
He died peacefully at his home.
Robert Pinner 11th September 1925 to 10th November 2004
Ken Norman