STALWART Bert Foord has been handed a long-service award on stepping down after 25 years as Worcestershire Chess Association honorary treasurer.

Friends from his Droitwich club, an officer of the English Chess Federation and county association members were present.

Foord played chess avidly as a young man. He taught comparative government and became an expert on the politics of the Caribbean.

He played correspondence chess by post as his academic work was with students attending evening classes before retiring from the team at the end of the last season.

Foord continued over-the-board chess when he retired as principal of Avoncroft College in 1984.

He played for Redditch, Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Worcestershire.