Dr N.C.Young
Dr Norman C. Young 1928-2012
Norman Young learned to play chess at Paisley Grammar School and also played at Glasgow University. He met Ilse as the Glasgow Hospital where they both worked and they were married in 1951. After his National Service they moved to Walsall in 1953 and Norman practised as a Doctor in Leamore until he retired in 1990.
He joined Walsall Kipping Chess Club in 1953 and was a leading and active member of the Club until a few weeks before his death on the 16th January. He served as president continuously form 1977 and was particularly proud of being captain of most club teams (35) from 1961 onwards, and during his continued time as president from 1977 the club became Birmingham League champions in 2003, 2004, and 2005. He also served as President of Stafford Chess Association for the 25 years 1973-1998.
He was a strong player and represented the County on main occasions. He had a notable collection of "scalps" of the leading Midlands players collected mainly in the 1960s and 1970s.
Norman and Ilse were always generous hosts to the chess community, opening their beautiful house and manicured gardens not only for matches and committee meetings but also putting up international players who competed in the major events staged by the club and county to mark their respective 50th (1992) and 100th (1997) anniversaries. For the former he played host to GM Alexy Suetin of Russia and was fond of recounting anecdotes of the visit and his subsequent exchanges of correspondence with him.
His other passions were sailing, to which he brought his same competitive spirit as for chess, fly fishing and gardening. He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all his friends in the chess world.