I’d posted here a couple of years ago about Gerry McCurdy, originally from Belfast, who was a strong player in Ireland in the 1960’s, and who had recently returned to chess after a gap of decades with much of his old strength intact, no easy task. He was living in Prayssac in southwest France.
I’m sorry to have to report that he died last week (Tuesday, January 26). One of his former students broke the news (see comments on the page above), and now David McAlister has provided confirmation in a notice from the school he taught at in Blackpool in England (whence the photo above).
He represented Ireland in the Student Olympiads at Örebro 1966 and Harrachov 1967 and earlier at the 1964 Glorney Cup. He played in four Irish championships, 1966, ’70, ’71, and ’72, scoring 5½/8, 5½/9, 5/9, and 4½/9 respectively, finishing equal 3rd in 1966, a point behind Moles, and was runner-up in two Ulster championships, in 1968 and 1970.
Thanks Gerry for encouraging me to widen my horizons during the time I studied A Level French under your guidance at St Marys College, Blackpool, 1978 – 1980. You played a major role in my late teenage life in so far as you treated me as a young adult both at school and at social events. We even met up in France on one occasion with Jo , John and Pat Carrington. We both had a deep common interest in France and her culture and partly thanks to you, I went on to live for 23 years in the country.
Apologies for my delay in paying my respects to you Gerry but be assured that you had a profound input in my young adult life for which I am eternally grateful.
Rest in peace