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29.12.05 - Adrian Turner
It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of club
member, chess personality, and friend Adrian Turner. Our
thoughts are with his family. His long time friend John Kable
prepared these notes on Adrian’s life.
Adrian Errol Turner
Born April 29, 1922 in Invercargill, New Zealand
Died November 7, 2005 in Melbourne, Australia.
Adrian Turner saw overseas service with the Royal New Zealand
Air Force during World War 2. On his return to civilian life he
obtained a Master of Arts Degree from Auckland University.
In 1968 Adrian took a senior post in the Monash University
Library, from which he retired in 1986.
In 2002 Adrian suffered a stroke, which left him
wheelchair-bound.
During the last three years of his life Adrian lived at
Millward Residential Care, where his wife bought a unit so that
she could be with him.
Adrian left a wife, and a son and daughter from a previous
marriage.
Adrian Turner had a most distinguished chess career. At one
time he was Correspondence Chess Champion of New Zealand. In his
four appearances in the New Zealand Championship from 1951 to
1957 he finished equal second twice and third twice. In 1952
Adrian was the umpire (‘resplendent in early Victorian side
whiskers’) for the match in Auckland between Cecil Purdy, the
Australian champion and Ortvin Sarapu, the New Zealand champion
for the Championship of Australasia, which ended in a 5-5 tie.
Adrian was several times champion of the Monash University
Chess Club and was made an Honorary Life Member of the club. For
a period in the nineties Adrian was the Deputy President of the
Australian Chess Federation. He was an active member of the
Waverley Chess Club for many years, and when the senior section
of the club folded he joined the Box Hill Chess club. As a
member of our club Adrian was always available to help put away
the chess equipment, and he was extremely generous in his
financial support for our juniors and for club activities.
John Kable
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