Stirling Chess Club and the Central League have lost a long-time stalwart following the death on Saturday of Robert Togneri.  He had been in hospital since just after new year.  Robert was a quiet, calm, gentle man who was regard with affection by all of us who dealt with him.  I can't recall him ever raising his voice, and as he liked to encourage people and seek the best in them, on the rare occasions when he criticised anyone it was done in a polite and helpful way.

Robert gave great service to both club and league as an administrator.  When I first enquired about Stirling Chess Club many years ago he was the secretary so he was my first contact there.  At that time he was also league secretary and later acted as club treasurer in addition to being a team captain for many years.  When he finally stepped down from the treasurer's post the records he handed on were impeccable.

Outside his family and faith, chess was one of Robert's life-long loves.  While he was becoming increasingly frail, until a couple of months ago he had rarely missed a club meeting, and when I last spoke to him, having met him between Christmas and New Year on a walk in King's Park near his home, he was hoping to return to the club soon.

As well as his involvement in administration Robert was a regular first team player at Stirling for many seasons, and was good enough to have competed on a couple of occasions in the Scottish championship when you had to qualify for it.  He was particularly strong in endgames and was noted for not getting into time trouble.

Stirling club records show that he made his match debut for the club in April 1964, though he may have joined a year or two earlier.  His final game in the league came in October 2019, over 55 years later.  Happily he contributed a full point in a 3-2 success for Stirling C.

When the club became aware that he had achieved 50 years of unbroken membership he was made our only life member.  in addition, we renamed one of our club tournaments and his name will live on at the club when the members compete twice a year in an allegro evening for the Robert Togneri trophy.

Just to let our friends in the wider chess community know that our dear friend and clubmate, Jack Peacock, passed away last week at the age of 81.
Jack was an active member of Stepps (and before that Crowwood) for over 40 years. He had been until fairly recently treasurer and hall booker and captain of various teams in his time-most recently our Dunbartonshire Division 2 team. Jack's visits to the club had more rationed this year-but still attended when he could.

For anyone wishing to attend Jack's funeral it will be this Thursday 30th January 30 at Daldowie Crematorium - 12 noon.

(Drew Pollock)

Remember next round is next Sunday, 2nd February

A reminder that this is the last week before a late fee is added to the entry fee for this event on the 2nd of February.

I regret to announce that the Oban player Derek Coope passed away last night.  His death was unexpected.

Does anyone have the bulletins for the 1970 Glasgow Congress. I am looking for rounds 2, 3, 4 and 6 (I have rounds 1 and 5).

I would like to be able to provide a database of all quoted games.

Historian/Archivist, Chess Scotland

Merry Christmas to everyone and a happy and prosperous new year

Hi all
for those who haven't entered yet this year, please submit an email to the Home Director, Harry Marron harrymarron48@gmail.com if you wish to enter. Entries are being taken up to December 31st 2019 with the draw being published early in the new year.

Good luck to all

Jim has asked me to give everyone an update. He had a mild stroke in Bucharest which has slightly affected his speech but he is still as 'sharp' as ever.
He does get tired easily but we are assured this will improve with time. 

Please only send essential, important emails as, although he is able to read them, writing an answer is 'hard work' and again very tiring. This also will improve over time.

Jim is able to communicate by phone but again please do not overtire him with trivial matters 

Jim thanks everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery. He wishes you all a lovely Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Does anyone know if there should be customs duty on a chessbase magazine with CD from Germany?  I ask because Royal Mail want to charge me £2 as a customs duty charge to give me my magazine.  We are still in the EU and this is of negligible value (free in fact as part of buying CB14 secondhand unused some time ago).  If I have to pay this can I reclaim it from the Post Office or the Government?  I suspect that they have made a mistake.