As was spelled out in the following post https://mccreadyandchess.wordpress.com/2015/06/05/bedfordshire-chess-in-the-70s-its-past-and-its-future/ as far back as the late 50s and early 60s the youth of Bedfordshire were playing competitive chess at school and trickling into the Bedfordshire league as a result. To claim the rise in popularity of chess amongst the youth was part of the so called nationwide ‘English chess explosion’, which followed on from the success of Fischer is a mistake easily disproven. That was principally a 70s phenomenon which impacted our county later down the line.
Here we have evidence from 1961 that schools in Bedfordshire were competing against each other and attracting publicity in the process. Not only playing against other schools in our county but also schools outside it. As the reportage states, this was not the first instance and we can safely say almost certainly not the last.
Earlier that year, reportage shows that county and Junior County Matches were held simultaneously at the same venue. This suggests that senior figures within the county were involved in housing events together. I shall await further clarification on this matter (if possible).
With regards to the Bedfordshire league, there is reportage reporting that in 1961 BMS were already participating.
Bedford Modern School also participated in the national schools championship in 1961.
McCreadyandChess 