World Girls Champion.

Rowena attended Gunnerside School in Plymouth, a private all-girl establishment. Her secondary education was interrupted when she had a mastoidectomy, resulting in the loss of a year’s schooling and suffering with tinnitus. In spite of this break in her education, or perhaps even because of it, she was able to concentrate on her chess training and music practice. She played the cello as a pupil and continued with this, eventually becoming Principal ‘Cellist with the Plymouth Orchestral Society.

Rowena as a schoolgirl at her 'cello practice.

Early in 1935 she competed in FIDE’s 10th Annual Girls’ Open Championship. In spite of its rather grand-sounding title, and the fact that it was won in its first 2 years by the renowned Vera Menchik, on this occasion, for whatever reasontheir game. One who needs no urging in this direction is little Elaine Saunders who celebrated her 9th birthday last week, and whose score shows the high standard she has reached in so few years.

Rowena and Elaine were destined to become life-long friends in chess.

Above: Rowena with her FIDE Trophy.

In 1937 Rowena and her mother went to Blackpool for the British Championships. Mrs. Dew competed in the 3rd Class Division 2 where she finished with 5½/10 and just out of the prizelist. Her 18 year old daughter on the other hand won the British Ladies Championship with the considerable score of 10/11. The BCM observed “Miss Dew gives all the credit for her success to R. M. Bruce, the Plymouth C.C. captain, who has assiduously coached her for