Photograph by T. Arthur
Goard, son-in-law, fellow member of Exeter Chess Club and Vice-President
of Exeter Camera Club. George
Cutler was born in Christchurch, Hampshire. He first learned the game
about 1868 and for about 10 years was his main recreation. Then his
career in banking took over and he didn't play for about 20 years. He
retired as a Bankers' Accountant and moved to Exeter in 1896 and finding
himself with more leisure time returned to the game, joining the Exeter
Club and playing most days. The
1901 census records that he was a widower and lived with his daughter
Matilda and her husband, Thomas Arthur Goard, a 35 year old Exeter
dentist living at 7, Elm Grove Road, with their 3 year old son Arthur.
Goard was also a member of Exeter Chess Club and a keen
photographer (see above) When
the Devon County Association was founded in 1901, although Henry
Bremridge was the hard-working figurehead, he had Cutler's full and
active support. At the Association's 1905 A.G.M. Bremridge had
determined to give up the posts of both Secretary and Treasurer. In the
end, a compromise was reached when Cutler took over as Treasurer on
condition that Bremridge remained as Secretary. The
BCM of January 1908 contained a very affectionate portrait of Henry
Bremridge, written by Cutler, in which he stated that he was a regular
visitor to Bremridge's Winkleigh
Vicarage. The Editor added the footnote,
"The kindly sentiments expressed here show how close is the
bond of friendship is between the two leading officials of the
Association". Eventually,
in 1909 Bremridge did resign as Secretary, and it wasn't long before
Cutler held both key posts himself. He held these posts as late as 1924,
when he was still living at his son-in-law's house in Elm Grove Road.
According to the Exeter club minute books, Cutler attended their A.G.M.s
but played no active role in club affairs, reserving his energies for
the Devon Association. He
was a strong correspondence player, having played 9 games for Devon by
1906, winning 7 and drawing 1. In Rhoda Bowles' postal tournaments in Womanhood,
he played 25 games of which he won 17 and drew 5. He won 2nd prize in
Section B of the 4th Tournament and was awarded the
Brilliancy Bronze medal. In
1927, Goard died aged 61 ("one of the club's oldest members")
and Cutler, then 82, left Exeter and moved to 3, Kingsdown Road, Epsom.
There is no mention of his death in the Exeter minutes nor any obituary
in other contemporary chess literature. He seems to have died a
forgotten man, but someone who devoted himself to the first quarter
century of the D.C.C.A. must be remembered as a true Pioneer. R.
H. Jones Bibliography: BCMs
1906 & 1908 Exeter
club minute books. 1901 census online. |
