Story by Jeremy Hamm
Do any of the Messenger’s older readers remember The Limes Working Men’s Club – the handsome building at 272 Barnsley Rd – and the chess club that met there on Thursday nights?
89 year old Bill Pettigrew does. A keen chess player, he recalls being turned away on account of being a copper with Sheffield City Police; at that time, the club barred policemen and – bizarrely – binmen. Bill was eventually let in, on condition that he never wore his uniform!
The chess club there met between 1946 and 1961, entering teams in the Sheffield Chess Association league. One memorable occasion was in 1954 when the British champion Reg Bonham came to The Limes to give a simultaneous exhibition (taking on several strong players at the same time) – no mean feat for a blind chess players.
Summer chess club
Local juniors are welcome to attend a chess club at Burngreave Library (Sorby House, Spital Hill) on Saturday mornings 10.00-11.15am 18th June, 2nd July, 16th July and 30th July.
June Chess puzzle available only on printed version of the Burngreave Messenger (Issue 120)
April solution: Habibu Zziwa, Nicholas Sanderson and Sam Humphrey found the correct solution 1.Qc3+ 2.Bxc3 Ba3 mate.