Wednesday 28th January 2009

It is with deep regret that I have to announce that Ted passed away at the age of 92 on 21st January 2009.

Ted Starkey was a stalwart of the Hull Chess Club for very many years. In particular, he captained the Woodhouse Cup team in the Yorkshire Chess Association for many years after the war and steered them to many Trophy wins from 1962 to 1980.

During the war, Ted served as a Merchant Navy Radio Officer and in 1942 as part of an attacked Russian convoy, he had to abandon ship which was on fire. His time in the water and his injuries caused him to have to spend some considerable time in a Russian hospital in Murmansk, where he was apparently far too strong a chessplayer for his Russian opponents.

Ted captained the very strong Hull "C" team in Diivision 1 of the local league which ran up a series of Championship wins in the 60's and 70's. During his later years he was a very keen Flat Green bowler at the West Park Club in Hull.

Ted served as President of the Hull & District Chess Association from 1979 to 1983 and his name is perpetuated in the Major Tournament at the Annual Hull Chess Congress.

Older Hull readers will recall that Ted ran the family hardware business from premises in Beverley Road with his brother, the late Alf Starkey who was also a strong player.

My memories of Ted go back to the 1960-1980 period when I used to play board 9/10 in the Woodhouse Cup team with a grade of 135/140 – Yes it is hard to believe nowadays that I could play to that standard! That was in the days before the M62 was built so Saturday matches were very long journeys. Even to Leeds, on the old A63 we had to pass through Gilberdyke, Howden, Cliffe, Selby by pass, Monk Fryston and Garforth. To get further afield for matches at Dewsbury, Halifax and worst of all, Huddersfield, the journey was considerably longer. The only consolation was that on the return journey we could stop at Bob Ross’s favourite fish shop in Airmyn or stop at the Rose & Crown at Gilberdyke in time to watch “Match of the Day”. These were the days of Cyril Lord and Arthur Walsh on top boards plus in some years, the top Hull University player.

Although Ted had not been active in local chess for several years, Hull owe a lot to Ted’s efforts, particularly during his time as President of the HDCA. Our sympathies go out to his wife Grace and all the family.


John Lawson
(28th January 2009)