Obituary: Paul Turberfield

Paul will be remembered by many older Worcestershire players as a stalwart member of the Worcester City team in the late 1970s through to the 1991 League Championships team. Paul also played for Worcestershire on many occasions. In addition to chess, Paul played Rugby and won many table-tennis prizes.

Paul had a good eye for tactics and was a strong player as demonstrated in a game I lost to him in the City Knock Out tournament in 1983.

Left: Turberfield - Collett. Worcester City Knock Out Cup 1983 Black has just played 29...Qf5? Can you see white's surprising winning move? Right: Paul in 1991

Paul retired from league chess in 1993 when he took a job that required evening and weekend work, but maintained his interest in the game, eagerly awaiting each month's edition of Chess and playing through the games.

Paul Turberfield died suddenly on 1 December 2011 aged 62 at home in Fernhill Heath. He had taken early retirement because of ill-health after a period of hospitalisation for a pulmonary condition. He is survived by his wife Olive, brother Michael, and sister Suzanne.

Written by Ray Collett