Anonymous Host

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At around 7pm on Monday January 19 1931, the telephone rang at Cottle's City Cafe on North John Street in the English port city of Liverpool.

Waitress Gladys Harley picked up.

On the line was an unfamiliar, elderly-sounding man with a deep voice who asked quickly, Is that the Central Chess Club?

Liverpool's Central Chess Club was meeting at the cafe that evening, as it did every Monday and Thursday throughout autumn, winter and early spring.

The club consisted of a small group of mostly amateur players whose informal and friendly matches were often played among the tables on the bustling main restaurant floor.

The man on the telephone asked, Is William Wallace there?

Gladys recognised many of the chess club's members by sight, but she didn't know most of their names.

Unsure whether William was among the crowd that evening, she approached the club's captain Samuel Beattie and asked, ''Is William Wallace here?''

Samuel had known William through the club for eight years.

The 52-year-old initially came across as shy and reserved, but over time developed a reputation as a pleasant, likeable gentleman.

He wasn't a regular attendee at the club, appearing as little as once a fortnight, telling others it was because he disliked leaving his wife alone at night.

In fact, William hadn't been seen at the club since before Christmas, but he was expected to appear that evening for a scheduled match in the second class championship.

The highly anticipated tournament had been planned two months in advance, with a first prize of 10 shillings and a second prize of 5 shillings.

But when Samuel Beattie glanced around the cafe, he didn't see William there.

This wasn't unusual as most club members didn't arrive until between 7.30 and 8.

Samuel went to the telephone and took the call on William's behalf.