CHESS-MAD Richard Furness has been honoured for 40 years service as a top judge.

Richard, of Cranwell Avenue, Culcheth, has been presented with the British Chess Federation President's Long Service Award.

The top man, Gerry Walsh, called at Richard's home this week to hand over the award.

A member of Culcheth Chess Club and a former geography teacher at Fred Longworth High School, Richard holds the titles of senior chess arbiter and international chess arbiter and has also been principal arbiter at the British Chess Championships.

He is senior arbiter for The Four Nations Chess League, the premier league of the game, and for the Isle of Man Open.

In the 1970s when the Benedictine Chess internationals came to Manchester it was Richard who was arbiter in charge and who was deeply involved in all aspects of the administration.

He also tours the Cheshire congress scene at weekends and since 1963 has done over 400 local, national and international events.