they later gave to their family home, Brent Whim – they had got engaged at Brent on a whim. From then on, for many years every time they passed that spot on the old A38 they would just touch hands and smile to each other.

The 1939 British Championships moved to Bournemouth but with the political uncertainty of the time, and the absence of the top players competing in the Rio de Janeiro Olympiad, the men’s championship was scrapped in favour of a more general Premier Tournament which included Euwe and Landau of the Netherlands. The usual trio of Ron, Rowena and her mother spent the fortnight there.

The Ladies Championship proceeded as usual but Rowena was well and truly upstaged by 13 year old Elaine Saunders who scored 10/11without a loss, while she recorded a very modest 5. Her head may have been full of wedding plans.

Enjoying the sea air on Bournemouth promenade - August 1939. The recently-engaged couple were to marry the following year.

The happy couple leaving the church - 13th July 1940.

The war interrupted her chess career, as the couple adjusted to married life and the destruction of Plymouth in the Blitz. Rowena worked in the W.V.S. throughout the war.

In August 1945 she gave birth to a son after a difficult pregnancy. Christened McKay Bruce, the baby died after 10 days and she was advised that it would be unwise to try again.

In the first post-war season, chess activity resumed for Rowena with a vengeance, especially in the summer of 1946. The Devon team