The David Wood Memorial Trust was founded in 1969 by Roy Wagstaff in memory of David Wood, a promising Essex junior player tragically killed in a road accident in April of the previous year while returning from the British Universities Championships in Swansea. Roy always had a keen interest in helping youngsters and David was one of his proteges.
Naturally, Roy felt the loss of such a burgeoning talent very deeply and conceived the idea of forming a charitable trust in David’s name, dedicated to assisting Essex junior chess. Roy provided the whole of the initial investment from his own resources and enlisted the services of a number of prominent persons on the Essex Chess scene to stand as Managing Trustees. The Trust Deed was drawn up, the necessary formalities were processed through the Charity Commissioners and the Trust held its inaugural meeting on 8 January 1970.
The David Wood Memorial Trust is dedicated to the furtherance of Essex junior chess through the provision of grants from income on its invested fund. The Trust does not seek to take the place of the Essex Chess Association’s junior budget, nor the Essex Junior Chess Association. but to be an additional resource, to enable juniors to take part in events where otherwise they would not, provide training, prizes at junior tournaments. junior prizes at open tournaments, equipment, etc
