Peter Jackson Trophy

Peter G Jackson (1931-1981) was born in Yorkshire, but relocated to Stafford into the engineering firm English Electric. It was in Stafford that he married wife Paula in 1965. They had 2 children, who were aged 12 and 9 at the time of his death.

He played chess for both the English Electric team and Stafford Chess Club and was a significant figure in Stafford Chess history.  Peter was club secretary for many years, and a tireless organiser.  He also held the positions of Match Secretary and Postal Secretary for Stafford Chess Council through to the amalgamation with Stafford Chess Club in 1970, where he continued as Tournament Secretary for several years. 

Peter played a great deal of correspondence chess, much of it at international level.  Most of his over-the-board chess was played in the Wolverhampton league where he won the prestigous Rock Cup in the 1969-70 season.  He was also given the honour of being made League President in 1969.

Peter was also a major organiser in county matters where he held the position of Treasurer for 9 years and Secretary for 10 years.

Stafford Chess Club minutes of 18-Sep-1981 reflect on Peter's huge contribution to the club over many years, at one point running the club single handed.

Our longest serving club member, Roger Butters recalls the first time he ever met Peter, which was in 1955 in an encounter between English Electric and King Edward VI School.  It  is a clear indicator of Peter's prowess over the board:

Match, Board 3, English Electric Co. Ltd v. King Edward VI School Stafford. Date: 11th March, 1955

White: Peter Jackson          Black: Roger Butters

Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation

1. P-K4 P-QB4

2. Kt-KB3                               P-Q3

3. P-Q4                                    PxP

4. KtxP                                     Kt-KB3

5. Kt-QB3                               P-KKt3

6. B-QB4                                 B-Kt2

7. B-K3                                    0-0

8. Q-Q2                                   P-QR3

9. 0-0-0                                   P-QKt4

10.  B-Q5                                    KtxB

11.  KtxKt                                   B-Kt2

12.  P-KR4                                  Kt-QB3

13.  P-R5                                     KtxKt

14.  BxKt                                     BxKt

15.  BxB                                       KxB

16.  PxP                                       R-R1

17.  Q-R6 ch                              K-Kt1

18.  PxRP ch                              RxP

19.  QxR ch                                K-B1

20.  Q-R8 mate

For those who can't decipher the old notation, here's a modern link to play through the game.

Peter was full of plans for a new tournament he was about to devise just the week before he tragically died from a heart attack following a game of badminton.  Ironically it turned out to be the memorial tournament named after him.

Today, the 'Peter Jackson Trophy' is fittingly awarded to our outstanding player of the year.