Alastair Cargill writes: I remember the Cathedral Close venue with some fondness — although the air used to be solid cigarette smoke!
I was one of a number of pupils of Exeter School who gravitated towards the club. The first evening I went to the club with great trepidation but found a friendly club and welcoming faces. My favourite memory was of the very occasional matches when we used to play downstairs at Cathedral Close in the library — wonderful old leather armchairs and the smell of books — really felt to me like playing in some venue back in time!
Below are some games played at the club.
Game Rigby,C - Cargill,A, Exeter CC Simul. , 1982
A game from the traditional simultaneous display given by the club champion against all comers. No more than a fun game, but I just liked my 29th move which I am not sure I would see now (old age and all that!). — AC
Torre Attack/Queen's Gambit
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 Be7 4. e3 d5 5. Nbd2 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Bd3 Bd7 8. O-O Nc6 9. Rc1 Nb4 10. a3 Nxd3 11. cxd3 O-O 12. Re1 Rc8 13. e4 c6 14. e5 Be7 15. b4 b6 16. Nb3 Rc7 17. h3 Qc8 18. Nh2
18...c5 19. Qc2 Ba4 20. dxc5 bxc5 21. Qc3
Not easy to spot at speed, but this loses a Pawn.
21...Bxb3 22. Qxb3 cxb4 23. Rxc7 Qxc7 24. axb4 Rb8 25. Ng4 Rxb4 26. Qa2 a5 27. Ra1 a4 28. Qd2 a3 29. Rc1
29...Qxc1+ 30. Qxc1 a2 0-1
[Notes by Alastair Cargill]