Members of the club are saddened to hear of the sudden death this month of a past club player John Naylor. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
John last played for RCC during 2008/9 and 2009/10 seasons. He was a
formidable p
layer, an excellent chess coach, a memorable and likeable person. He is well remembered in the club and the league. Some of the memories have nothing to do with chess ... but if you do want to look at some of his games on this blog there are games
here, here and
here.
Club President Bob Wildig, recalls that John first came
to the club in the mid to late ‘80s along with Russell James, similar
age and nearly as strong a player. They were both juniors and Bob recalls taking them both to quite a
few matches around that time. 'On one occasion there
was an enemy pawn on the seventh on the verge of promotion only stopped
by knights and I must’ve gone white as a sheet thinking it would all
collapse but John just smiled and said ‘It’s all quite sound, Bob’ and
went off for his customary drag.'
John Hall knew John Naylor well from this time and recalls not only games played by and against him, but also inviting him home for a meal and giving John what turned out to be his first curry.
John moved away from Rugby for a while and when he returned he not only played very successfully as Board 1 on our A team, but also taugh chess to local schools and coached individuals. One junior he coached was Chris Pegler's son and she has video footage of him running a poker school for Rhys' 13th birthday party as a side gig. (Poker at that time was an passion equivalent to chess, and much more lucrative!). She recalls: 'John not only visited us at home to teach, but also accompanied us to Northampton Juniors' events to watch Rhys play. This venue had a high balcony from which parents could watch the games. John wanted to watch Rhys but was not keen on heights so I had to try and describe the game. Sometimes John would get so frustrated by my lack of decent commentary that he would advance briefly to the edge. He really was very committed to encouraging new chess talent'. Although Rhys did not persist with chess he still has the meticulously written notes from John and a great affection for the French Defence.
Nalin Kadowala and Jonathan Cox (who like John started chess at Rugby as juniors) joined him as part of what Nalin calls‘The Rugby Chess Club Dream Team’ during an amazing season in 2009/10. Nalin recalls John as very humorous and laid-back. Away from the chess board he was witty and welcoming. Until you were sitting across the board from him.
Then you’d realise that he could harness his bluffing power from poker
to dismantle you over the course of a not-very-long chess game.
Nalin also recalls when Rugby A had a home match against
Coventry Chess A at Rugby Railway Club. They had set out their usual four boards, everyone present apart from the top board,
John Naylor. This was no surprise to either RCC or our opponents (such was
John’s reputation)! Coventry’s
top board, was also not present and as it was not
unusual for him to be late, Nalin and Jonathan had a little bet on who would arrive first. Close to
half hour after the games had begun things started to get tense (half an hour
is the league's default time). What nobody expected was that two
minutes to the default time, John and Dave would casually walk in together
clearly sharing some amusing banter, each holding the staple beer. A few moves were played before John
leaned over his chess board to Dave to suggest, ‘Draw?’ ‘Fancy watching the
footie?’ This was met with a swift ‘Yes’ and the two of them
happily trotted off to the main lounge area.
In telling this tale Nalin reflects that whilst chess was an important part of John’s life - it
wasn’t all his life. Friendships and encouraging others was also what
he enjoyed doing. Wherever John is now, Nalin feels confident he has a pint in hand, and if he happens to be watching Nalin play some
horrendous chess there will be a smile on his face.
Thank you for the
memories John and God Bless.
