Sadness as Former Club Stalwart Ray Cox dies

Shrewsbury Chess Club and the wider county chess-playing community has been left saddened by the death of former club member Ray Cox.

Ray was a key part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, being part of Shropshire Chess League title-winning sides four times in the early to mid 1970s. He was also club secretary for a spell during this time.

Ray had started playing chess as a junior during the late 1950s, and played at a high level for the club and for Shropshire’s first team through the 1960s and 1970s. He was part of the Shrewsbury squad that won the Shropshire league in 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1976.

After several years away from the game, he returned to the club in 2010 – almost 35 years after his last league triumph with the club – losing just two out of his 11 competitive games over the next two seasons before retiring from over-the-board chess.

He continued to actively play the game right up until his death, and was described as a “formidable postal chess player” by his friend and former player Peter Dearnley.

Ray died on February 8, and his funeral will be held on Thursday (March 2), his family has announced.

Tributes have been paid to Ray by members of the club and Shropshire Chess Association.

“Ray was a very likeable and sporting player who could give anyone in the county a good game.  He had a natural feel for chess and was able to continue this in the postal chess arena, even when physical frailty prevented him from competing over the board,” said Francis Best, Shrewsbury club member.  Mark Smith, club Secretary, added, “Ray was always interested in everyone’s games not just his own, a quality that strong players sometimes lack.  He was good company too.”

Matthew Clark, president of Shropshire Chess Association, said condolences had been sent to the family on the organisation’s behalf.

He said: “Ray was a key member of Shrewsbury Chess Club in the 1960s and 1970s I understand, and was one of the strongest players in the county in that period.”

Thursday’s funeral service will be held at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Wem, starting at 11.30am. All are welcome.