Obituary written by his friends at Malvern Chess Club on his death in 2006
Charles joined Malvern Chess Club in 1959, whilst working at (then) TRE.
He was secretary of the club from
1960 to 1986, was appointed Life President in 1996, and held the post of
Publicity Officer until his death.
A strong player, Charles won the County Individual Championship in 1971, the club championship in 1972 and 1973, and was a member of the first Malvern side to win the Worcestershire County League in 1986 and again in 1987. He was strongly involved in Worcestershire County chess, as President from 1983 to 1986 and more recently as organiser of the County Correspondence Chess teams. Although he eventually retired from competitive chess over the board, he retained much of his playing strength and played on a high board for the County Correspondence team.
Within the Malvern Chess Club, Charles was always a welcoming figure, encouraging and mentoring his fellow members, and organising a Christmas Lightning Tournament for many years. In 1999 he researched and wrote a fascinating and widely read history of the club to mark its centenary.