London - Chess

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 19th Year

Issue

Issue No.

11

Date Released

Jul 1966

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Yorkshire - Mayor’s Day
2. 2London - Chess
3. 3Northumberland - Payout
4. 4Nottinghamshire - Merry Go Round

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

NoS synopsis: N.C.B. headquarters chess team
NCB Commentary - Some pasttimes demand concentration.
For Derek Coleby, Captain of the Coal Board’s Headquarters Chess Team, and for his team mates, amongst them John Taylor, once champion of the Northern Counties, concentration led this year to victory in the London Commercial Chess League, after a play-off against the Port of London Authority.
Chess may seem to the onlooker a slow game. But it isn’t always.
Celebrating their victory in the League, the Coal Board team invited some of their opponents to a friendly evening - at lightning chess - with the buzzer going every ten seconds.
It’s thirsty work - even for veterans like Betty Howlett, the League’s lady champion.
Something like five thousand moves later the boards were empty - and the champions went home.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 3rd June 1966.

Keywords

Sport; Mining

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases
Films on Coal Catalogue   1969, p.52
The National Archives COAL 32   /13 Scripts for Mining Review, 1960-1963

Credits:

Sponsor

National Coal Board

Production Co.

National Coal Board Film Unit