Trevor Nichols: A Tribute
Dear Players of St. John's
It is with great sadness that I inform you all of the passing of my father, Trevor. For those that didn't know he had been fighting a long standing battle with cancer and had been given months to live in November of last year. He had been putting in regular appearances at the club in the last year or so, since moving back to Norwich from Kessingland. This was something that he very much enjoyed. I want to say a big thank you to all that welcomed him in to the club. All the best Simon |
Personal Remembrances
I only met Trevor last year but I have fond memories of the blitz games we played. I can't recall playing a game against him where his F pawn didn't move, he'd always go for the throat! I remember him outplaying me quite handily the first couple of times we played, taking me off guard with some sharp lines in the King's Gambit. We'd always fight to the finish, never splitting the point, and then analyse the game into a draw, often talking about the game for twice as long as we actually played it. There was always a smile behind his gruff visage and I'm glad to have occasionally brought it out.
He clearly loved chess, and I'll miss him a lot. My sympathies to Simon and his family, Nathan Abbott |
I first met Trevor in the 2015-16 season when we played for St Johns Bishops. I noticed he played the King's Gambit in his first games as White and the Alekhine as Black, when I asked he told me that, "you've got to change around and keep yourself on your toes. If you play the same openings all the time you get the same games."
To chat with Trevor in the smoking areas when we were at the Coachmakers along with Nigel and Harry about chess was fun, especially about the people in Norfolk Chess. I will miss him. I like a bit of subjective gossip now and then. With condolences to you and yours. Charlie Neil |
Trevor was one of the first chess players who welcomed me after I arrived in Norwich in 1994. He used to regularly beat me e.g. by obtaining a solid pawn structure and then rolling me over with the pieces; and I can recall many excited conversations in the car.
On one occasion it was so noisy going to Kings Lynn that I turned the music on in my car only to have Trevor and the other passengers (IIRC Mike Stuart and Johnny Danger) out sing the CD. Edward King |
Like Ken, I first met Trevor when I was a member of the Woodpushers chess club in the 1990s. He was always a tough opponent and I was only occasionally able to beat him.
He also liked his quizzing and invited me onto his team for a short time which I thoroughly enjoyed. Regards Crumpton Clarke |
It was great to see Trevor rejoin the club and as Harry said it was obvious he enjoyed spending time with Simon at the Coachmakers. He clearly loved the game and will be sorely missed.
Much Love David Payne |
I am so very sorry to hear this, my deepest condolences to you and your family.
David May |
I'm really sad to hear the news about Trevor. I know he really enjoyed his chess and he certainly gave me a good game on quite a few occasions, and in a number of those games I came second. All at the Club have really appreciated him coming along on Thursdays and it's good to know that he enjoyed his chess to the end.
With best regards Gerry |
I’m so very sorry to hear this. I’ve known Trevor for a good number of years from when we were both members of the old Woodpushers club together and we often had a chinwag on the Guildhall taxi rank when I was working in Norwich. This comes as quite a shock as I had not known that he was seriously ill.
My heartfelt sympathies. Best regards, Ken Ellis |
Trevor was a very interesting character and though somewhat hard in outward appearance, in the time I knew him I could sense a warmth there as he often smiled at something silly I’d said despite himself probably not wanting to. I could also tell that he very much liked spending time with his son Simon at the club and being a part of the club itself. It is a testament to him and Simon that he chose to spend those nights at the club in the company of father and son.
My abiding memories of Trevor will be his aggressive chess against me out of the Alekhine and The French (once totally doing me in, but not finding the right move at the last moment to mate me with not much time on the clock). I’ll also remember him as Norfolk’s premier Terrence Stamp lookalike, which prompted me to start calling him Terrence to which he would always reply: ‘That’s Mr Stamp to you!’ and seem annoyed, but secretly I think he rather liked the comparison. David McLean |