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Message from David Reid regarding John Thompson of Glasgow Montrose Chess Club who passed away in early January 2024:

John Thompson first appeared on the Glasgow chess scene in the late 70s, when he bumped into David and Kenneth Reid, in Possil Library, when we were browsing the fine collection of chess books to be found there. We met gain shortly after, when a local tournament was staged for a street festival, and become firm friends. John was kind enough to invite us to his home to play with his pals, George Rooney, Jimmy McKelvie, "Mad" Malky and a Polish guy who's name was "Chess". They pretty much all followed John into Glasgow Montrose ranks in due course.

Those Friday nights were great fun; they had cracking stories! The tale of the KGB intercepting their correspondence game cards with postal players in Moscow was wonderful. The personal notes inside had been redacted! George reckoned he was being followed by the security services one time. John replied he didn't think they could find their way to Saracen Street!! Setting off to East Kilbride (might have been Irvine!) for a chess tourney they ended up lost in Kilmarnock!! Etc. etc. Great entertainment. Johns' quick wit and dry sense of humour were assets to the club. His comedy double act with George Rooney lives long in the club memory. He was a decent player too - well booked up on his favourite openings. The Stonewall Dutch, Bird's Opening, the QGD were at his command, and he had a very annoying habit of accepting the Queens Gambit pawn and then bloody-mindedly keeping it. 

He married the charming Helen and went on to have 3 fine sons, who preferred golf and snooker to chess, probably to their Dad's relief, as they soon surpassed him in those. John did not enjoy the best of health in recent years, and so his time in the club was limited. He is still to be seen on the GMCC website - reminder to our current members of happy days, enjoyable evenings and the ease with which he could bring a smile to any of our faces. He will be missed by all those who knew him, and by Glasgow Montrose Chess Club in particular.