The death occurred on Saturday 24^th April, of John H. Vasey, 51, a well-known character on the Devon chess scene, as well as in many other circles in Torbay. He had been in declining health for some months, but it was still a great shock, when, having been taken into hospital on Thursday, he passed away early on Saturday morning. He had been active to the end, and was acting as Quizmaster for the Torbay Quiz League at Churston Golf Club on Wednesday evening when he was taken ill.

His last chess event was at the West of England Congress in Exmouth over the Easter weekend, where it was clear that his recent eating disorder was having a cumulative effect on his already small frame and his mental outlook. Yet he made very little of his personal problems, even to chess friends who tried to talk them through with him.

John had been active in various chess clubs in the Torbay area for many years, had been a regular player for the county and loved his role as organiser, helping with the annual Paignton, Torbay, Exeter and West of England Congresses.

This however, was only a relatively small part of his work. He was a regular cricket umpire for the Torquay Cricket Club, a South Devon League football referee, snooker referee and tireless quizmaster for the Torbay Quiz League. He worked on a voluntary basis for Oxfam and the Coalition for Disabled people in South Devon, where he was active in the advocacy and welfare rights department. Richard White, the Coalition's Chief Executive, has been quoted as saying "John was passionate about helping other disabled people to get what they were entitled to. He was exceptionally reliable and well-informed, a very clever man who spoke eloquently. He was a real doer - always busy".

Even chess players who felt they knew him well, knew little about the extent of his activities in these other areas. Though everyone is agreed that he was a good-natured person who was always willing to help out in any way he could, and his rewards were personal rather than financial.

International Chess Master, Gary Lane, paid the following tribute from Australia where he now lives: "John contributed a lot to the development of chess in Devon through his outstanding volunteer work. I first played against him when I was 11, and he was a perfect gentleman at the board, and for years was an inspiration to players at all levels. He will be sadly missed".

TORBAY & DISTRICT LEAGUE RESULTS 2003/04