Varsity Chess Matches between Oxford and Cambridge: Biographical Record of Players, 1873-present

BRITBASE – British Chess Game Archive

Varsity Oxford-Cambridge Match: Pen Pictures of Players, 1873-1959 • last edited:
Friday April 14, 2023 1:29 AM

James Sydney Abraham (8 March 1916 – 24 June 1979). Downing College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1937, 1938. Schoolmaster, Bushey, Herts, 1939. Attested Royal Artillery, 1940. Studied English under F. R. Leavis at Cambridge and taught at Loughborough Training College and later Hull College of Further Education. [book source] Died in Palermo, Italy.

Gerald Abrahams (15 April 1907 – 15 March 1980). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929. Competed many times in the British Chess Championship, finishing third in 1933 and also finishing in the prize list in 1946 and 1954. Represented Britain in the 1946 radio match versus the USSR, beating Ragozin by 1½-½. Played in three Hastings Premier tournaments: 1946/47, 1947/48 and 1951/52 scoring 4½, 4½ and 3 (out of 9) respectively. Barrister by profession; also authored many books on various subjects, including basic primers on chess such as Teach Yourself Chess (1948), The Pan Book of Chess (1966) and the more advanced The Chess Mind (1951). Was also a bridge player and author. Coached chess in the Liverpool area, his pupils including four-times British women’s champion Sheila Jackson. A variation of the Semi-Slav is often named after him (also known as the Abrahams–Noteboom Variation, or the Noteboom Variation: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.e3 b5 6.a4 Bb4 7.Bd2 a5 8.axb5 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 cxb5 10.b3 Bb7 (ECO D31). Wikipedia • Games at chessgames.com

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Solomon Adler (6 August 1909 – 4 August 1994). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1928, 1929, 1930. Born in Leeds, Yorkshire, of a family which had immigrated from Belarus. Studied economics at Oxford and University College, London, before emigrating to the USA in 1935 to do further research and was soon posted to the US Treasury department. Naturalised US citizen, 1940. Posted to China in 1941 and remained there until 1948. After his loyalty was investigated in 1949, he returned to Britain to teach at Cambridge University and he was denaturalised as a US citizen. In 1939 he had been identified as involved in espionage on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. He moved to China in the early 1960s and remained there. Wikipedia.

Ian Murray Ainslie (13 December 1912 – 21 February 1985). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1933, 1934. Born in Ormskirk, Lancashire.

James Macrae Aitken (27 October 1908 – 3 December 1983). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935. Born Calderbank, Lanarkshire, died Cheltenham, Gloucs. Scottish chess champion ten times, represented Scotland in four Olympiads. Worked at Bletchley Park as a code-breaker and cryptanalyst, WW2, and thereafter at Cheltenham. Wikipedia, Chess Scotland biography. Games Collection on BritBase.

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Michael James Albery (12 March 1910 – 22 September 1975). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1931, 1932. Listed on web sites as a ‘lawyer and poet’. Barrister, QC; head of 9 Old Square Chambers. Part of a theatrical family: his grandfather was dramatist Henry Arthur Jones, his mother Gertrude Mary (née) Jones, his father Irving Albery a conservative MP and in his turn son of an actress and theatrical manager Mary Moore and dramatist James Albery. Michael Albery’s son (Wyndham) John Albery was a noted chemist who became Master of University College, Oxford. Between 1948 and 1958 Michael Albery was a regular member of the Oxford Past team which played Cambridge Past.

Conel Hugh O’Donel Alexander (19 April 1909, Ireland – 15 February 1974). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, and took part in the Bletchley vs Oxford University match of 1944. (Known as Hugh Alexander.) Foreign office official, cryptanalyst, chess player, writer, columnist and administrator. Educ. King Edward’s School, Birmingham. Worked at Bletchley Park during WW2, and head of the cryptanalysis division at GCHQ for 25 years. CMG, CBE. British chess champion in 1938 and 1956. International Master. Represented England at six chess olympiads and was non-playing captain between 1964 and 1970. First place at the 1946/47 Hastings Premier, and equal first at in the 1953/54 Hastings Premier, defeating Soviet grandmasters Bronstein and Tolush.

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John Alexander ( ). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1952, 1953. From Acocks Green, SE Birmingham. Took part in the 1950 Birmingham Junior International, finishing 2nd= behind Haggqvist (Sweden) and ahead of future titled players Fridrik Olafsson and Jozef Boey. Seems to have dropped out of chess after university.

Ashley William Graham Allen (11 May 1869 – 1 July 1893). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1889, 1890. 2nd Lieut., 4th Bn., Suffolk Regiment (Militia), 1891. On the committee of the Counties’ Chess Association, 1890.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Ashley William Graham Allen TRINITY Michs. 1887 Born: 11 May 1869 Died: 1893 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, May 30, 1887. S. of William Joseph [India Civil Service], of 3, Gt Cumberland Place, Hyde Park, London. B. May 11, 1869, in London. Matric. Michs. 1887; B.A. 1890. Resided at 33, Green Street, Park Lane, 1892-3. Benefactor to the University, and founded the ‘Allen Fund’ and Scholarships in memory of his grandfather, Joseph Allen (1788), D.D [sometime fellow of Trinity, Bishop of Bristol 1834 and Bishop of Ely, 1836-1845]. Died July 1, 1893, at Lea Copse, Burgess Hill, Sussex. (Univ. Hist. Reg.)

Raymund Cecil Edward Allen (2 December 1863 – 13 December 1943). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1885. Educ. Clifton College. Occ. barrister, district probate registrar, writer. Wrote a satirical piece on chess for The Cambrian, 4 January 1895, p7, when a member of Newcastle CC. Had previously written a chess-related piece for The Strand Magazine, 1892, entitled The Black Knight (under the name ‘Raymund Allen’). This is reproduced in part in an article on chess in fiction by Edward Winter published at chesshistory.com. Allen wrote a number of other chess-related stories (e.g. A Happy Solution, Strand Magazine, 1916) and also humorous verse about a barrister’s life (e.g. Westminster Gazette, 21 September 1907, p3). Played for Cardiff CC, 1915. Played and lost against Capablanca in a simul, Cardiff, 11 October 1919. Article entitled My Match with Morphy-Smith (A Lesson on the Laws of Chess) was published in BCM, June 1937, ppn 293-295. Vice-President, South Wales Chess Association, 1935.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Raymund [sic] Cecil Edward Allen PEMBROKE Entered: Michs. 1882 Adm. pens. (age 19) at PEMBROKE, Oct. 7, 1882. [5th] s. of Edmund Edward (1842), R. of Porthkerry, near Cowbridge. B. at Millom, Cumberland. School, Clifton College. Matric. Michs. 1882; B.A. 1885; M.A. 1889. Barrister (Inner Temple) 1898. District and Probate Registrar, 1911-35. J.P. for Glamorgan, 1920; retired, 1935. Sometime of Whiteacre, Llandaff; afterwards of 3, Woodland Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath. (Reg. of the Senate, 1937; Kelly, Handbook, 1937.)

Western Mail, 4 January 1929, p6: CARMARTHEN PROBATE REGISTRY. Additional Post for Mr. Raymund Allen. Mr. Raymund Allen, M.A., who has been district probate registrar for Llandaff for many years, has been appointed to take charge of the Carmarthen Probate Registry in succession to Mr. H. M. Fraser. Mr. Allen will continue to be in charge of the Llandaff Registry. Though born in Cumberland, Mr. Allen, who is a barrister by profession, is a member of an old Pembrokeshire family, and his delightful essays in the Western Mail have invariably been popular features. With His Honour Judge A. Parsons, he is joint author of an authoritative publication on tbe Workmen’s Compensation Acts, and has also produced several short stories. He is recognised as a brilliant chess player. He has been an examiner in English for the Cambridge Local Examinations for some time.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette – Saturday 18 December 1943: Death of Mr Raymund Allen – Much sympathy will be accorded to the relatives of Mr. Raymund Allen, whose death took place at his home, 3, Woodland Place, Bathwick Hill, at the age of 80. The son of Canon A. E. Allen, Rector of Porthkerry with Barry, he was born at Millom, in Cumberland. He adopted law as his profession, and on coming to the Bar he became attached to the South Wales Circuit and ultimately was District Registrar for Cardiff district. He belonged to an old Cambridgeshire family, the members of which all reached an advanced age. He married, in 1906, a daughter of Mr. John Pattinson, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, who survives him, as do an older brother and a younger sister. Mr. Allen was a keen chess player.

Edwyn Anthony (23 August 1843 – 1 January 1932). Christ Church, Oxford§. Varsity match 1873. Barrister, inventor, founder member of Oxford University Chess Club. Educ. Cheltenham College. Originally matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge, 1864, but “did not reside”: he “migrated” to Oxford and matriculated at Christ Church in 1867. Wrote a book called Chess Telegraphic Codes (1890) Waterlow and Sons Limited, London Wall, London. “… a pupil of Steinitz’s”. (Sergeant) (§ Sergeant mistakenly gives Brasenose in the appendix) Chess columnist, Hereford Times (1880s), member of St George’s Chess Club, problemist. See Varsity History File.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Adm. pens. (age 21) at TRINITY, Nov. 11, 1864. S. of Charles, of Mansion House, Hereford. B. Aug. 23, 1843. School, Cheltenham College. Did not reside. Migrated to Oxford; matric. (Christ Church) June 13, 1867, age 23; B.A. and M.A. (Oxford) 1877. Adm. at the Inner Temple, Jan. 24, 1868. Called to the Bar, 1877. Practised as conveyancer and equity draftsman until c. 1889. Author, legal. (Al. Oxon.; R. L. Lloyd.)

Alumni Oxonienses: Anthony, Edwyn, 2s. Charles, of Hereford (city), gent. Christ Church, matric. 13 June, 1867, aged 23, B.A. & M.A. 1877, bar.-at-law, Inner Temple, 17 Nov., 1877. See Foster’s Men at the Bar.

Foster’s Men at the Bar: Anthony, Edwyn, M.A. Christ Church, Oxon, author of Law and Consolidation of Railroad Companies, a student of the Inner Temple 24 Jan., 1868 (then aged 24), called to the bar 17 Nov., 1877 (2nd son of Charles Anthony, Esq., of the Mansion House, Hereford); born 1844. 7, New Square, Lincoln’s Inn, W.C.

BCM, February 1932, p68: “… died at a nursing home at Wimbledon on January 1st [1932]. Although his name is only a memory to the present generation, there was a time when he was one of the foremost chess organisers and enthusiasts of the country. He founded Oxford University Chess Club together with Lord Randolph Churchill§ and became its president. A son of the founder of the Hereford Times, his column was one of the most important of the day. During his lifetime Herefordshire Chess Association took a leading place. He was a great mathematician and wrote the chapter on The Opposition in Mason’s Principles of Chess. A good many examples of his favourite opening, the Vienna, appear in Cook’s Synopsis. He was born in 1843 and had thus reached his 88th year. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, he graduated M.A. with honours and became a barrister-at-law of the Inner Temple. He obtained several patents both in England and America for improvements in printing machinery. Throughout his long and useful life his hobby was always chess.” § I think this sentence is misleading. Though Edwyn Anthony and Lord Randolph Churchill were amongst the 103 names of initial members of the Oxford University Chess Club, and can perhaps be credited as founder members, there is as yet no evidence that they were actively involved in its foundation. The main credit for founding OUCC should probably go to the Rev. C. E. Ranken who called the meeting and was elected the first president.”

Kington Times – Saturday 16 January 1932: “The death took place in a London nursing home of Mr. Edwyn Anthony (88), a son of the late Alderman Charles Anthony, who was six times Mayor of Hereford. Educated at Oxford, where he graduated M.A., Mr. Edwyn Anthony on the death of his father in 1885 become joint proprietor with his brother. Mr. Charles Anthony, of the newspaper founded by his father. He was the inventor of numerous improvements in printing machinery, including a newspaper folding apparatus, the rights of which he sold to an American firm of printing machine makers. He was a barrister of the Inner Temple, but did not practise. He was a foundation member of the Herefordshire County Council, becoming an alderman in 1892. He was also a county magistrate, a past-president of the South Herefordshire Liberal Association and one of the founders of the Hereford Liberal Club. He was one of the founders and a president of the Oxford University Chess Club, and was captain of the Oxford team which met Cambridge in the first (1873) inter-‘Varsity game.”

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Edmund Arblaster (11 December 1851 – 8 January 1937). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1875. Entered Clare College, Michs. 1871. Adm. pens. Mar. 25, 1871. Schools, Shrewsbury and King Edward VI, Birmingham. Matric. Michs. 1871; Scholar; B.A. (Class. Trip., 1st Class) 1875; M.A. 1878. Headmaster of Birkenhead Grammar School. Headmaster of Carlisle Grammar School, 1885-90; resigned. Sometime examiner in London University. Examiner for the Oxford and Cambridge Board and the Cambridge Local Syndicate. Ord. deacon, 1920; priest (Birmingham) 1921; C. of Coleshill, Warws., 1920-8. Rector of Whitsbury, Hants., 1928-37. Died there Jan. 8, 1937, aged 85. Brother of Frank (next). (Shrewsbury Sch. Reg.; Carlisle Gr. Sch. Reg.; Crockford) Senior vice-president of the Birmingham St George’s CC, 1897, and “is putting the finishing touches to an interesting little pamphlet about to be published, recording the doings of the club since its foundation in 1877.” (BCM, February 1897, p61)

John Gordon Archibald (1 January 1885, Montreal, Quebec, Canada – 8 June 1970, London). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1906, 1907. Educ. McGill University, Montreal; Rhodes scholar, 1904. 1st in Literae Humaniores, 1906 and a second in law, 1907. Fellow of All Souls, Oxford, for law, from 3 November 1908. Pre-WW1, qualified as a solicitor, England. Partner, Parker, Garrett & Co. In 1922 he married the (then) well-known Italian-born US actress and playwright Gilda Varesi in London.

Sunday Mirror – Sunday 12 March 1922

Leonard Arculus (25 October 1912 – 25 November 1990). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1933. Attended King Edward VI School, Birmingham and played in the 1929 British Boys’ (U18) Championship in Hastings. Occ. dept. manager, study/business trips to India, Australia.

Sohrab Ardeshir (7 June 1919 – 1 July 1997). Hertford College, Oxford (1938). Unofficial Varsity match 1944. From Mumbai, India. Barrister (admission to Middle Temple, 22 June 1944; called to the bar, 18 June 1947).

David Malet Armstrong (8 July 1926 – 13 May 2014). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1953, 1954. Born in Melbourne, died in Sydney. Australian philosopher. Wikipedia.

Henry Bartle Compton Arthur (14 October 1879 – 10 August 1916, Battle of the Somme) New College, Oxford. Varsity match 1900. Educ. Winchester College. Took degree early so he could enlist for service in the Boer War. Commissioned into the Royal Artillery, July 1900, and saw service in India. Promoted to Captain, December 1914, and later to Major. Was involved in WW1 actions at Festubert, Givenchy and Neuve Chapelle. Killed near Ovillers-La-Boisselle during Battle of the Somme. Winchester memorial. Banstead war memorial.

Henry Ernest Atkins (20 August 1872 – 31 January 1955). Peterhouse, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894: president of CUCC for three years. Schoolmaster, headmaster of Huddersfield College (1909-37) and nine-times British chess champion (a record until 1969). Educ. Wyggeston Grammar School, Leicester. B.A. (9th Wrangler, mathematics), 1893; M.A., 1901. British Amateur Chess Champion 1897, 1900. Won the British Chess Championship in 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1924 and 1925. Also finished first equal in 1904 but lost a play-off to Napier, and finished 3rd= in 1937. Played in 11 Anglo-American international cable matches. Represented Great Britain in the 1927 London and 1935 Warsaw Olympiads (boards 1 and 4 respectively). Played county chess for Leicestershire to 1909, thereafter for Yorkshire, and then again, after retirement, for Leicestershire in the late 1930s. Made an IM by FIDE in 1950 when the international master title was introduced, based on his earlier record of achievements. Wikipedia. BritBase Games Collection. Yorkshire Chess History. Atkins’ nephew Edward Kingsley Wakeford also played for Cambridge in the Varsity match, in 1913 and 1914; he was killed in the First World War.

Cambridge University Records: “Atkins, Henry Ernest.
Adm. pens. at PETERHOUSE, Oct. 18, 1889.
S. of Edward, clerk, of Leicester.
B. there Aug. 20, 1872.
School, Wyggeston Grammar, Leicester.
Matric. Michs. 1890; Scholar; B.A.
(9th Wrangler) 1893; M.A. 1901.
Assistant Master at Northampton and County School, 1898-1901; at Wyggeston Grammar School, Leicester, 1902-8. Principal of Huddersfield College, 1909-35.”

BCM, October 1897, p381-383: “Mr. H. E. Atkins, whose portrait we are glad to be able to present to our readers, was born on the 20th August, 1872. He learnt the game in a School Chess Club, at Leicester, his native place, at the age of 12. In 1887 he joined the Leicester Chess Club, and in club matches played at the last board; but he made such rapid progress that in two years he had reached board No. 1, which he has occupied ever since, to the advantage of the club, on whose behalf he has not lost a game since his promotion.

“In 1890 he went to Peterhouse, Cambridge. During the ensuing four
years he played first board for Cambridge in the Inter-University match,
and lost but one game* in
all the matches in which he
played for the University.
In 1895 Mr. Atkins took
part in the Amateur Championship Tournament, at
Hastings, winning his section and tieing with Mr. R.
Loman for second place in
the final; as Mr. Loman
was not British born, and
as the first prize winner was
Maröczy, this result secured
Mr. Atkins the “Newnes”
Cup for the ensuing year. [* This may be true but not fully researched yet. Atkins lost to Herbert William Trenchard on board 1 of the Cambridge University vs British CC match held on 20 March 1891. Game score available here.]

“At Clifton, in 1896, Mr.
Atkins won the first-class
tournament from a strong
list of competitors, with
the fine score of 8½ out of
9. His success in the
Southampton Tournament
makes him the holder of
the cup just mentioned for
the second time — a distinction which was not
secured by any of the
previous holders. Mr. Atkins
took part in both the cable
matches, 1896-97. On the first occasion, at board 7, he drew with
Delmar; in the second match he played at board 3, and defeated Burille,
one of the American victors of the previous year.

“The Manchester Evening News of September 11th contained the
following comment upon the result of the Class I. Tournament:— “As
reported earlier in the week, Mr. H. E. Atkins, of Leicester, has won the
first prize in the amateur tournament at Southampton, and thus retains the
Newnes Challenge Cup, which he won at the Hastings Competition in 1895.
He will probably be awarded the title of amateur champion, but it is doubtful whether he is fairly entitled to that distinction, inasmuch as in the
invitation extended to British amateurs to enter this tournament (arranged
by a district and not a national organisation) no mention was made of the
fact that the Newnes Cup would be offered for competition. Had due
publicity been given to the cup feature of the tournament, there would no
doubt have been some important additions to the list of competitors. As
there is now no such body as the British Chess Association, the cup has
presumably reverted to Sir George Newnes. the donor. If this be so, Sir
George has the opportunity of bringing about a much-needed improvement
in the organisation of British chess. The cup, though it has not been
competed for many times, has an interesting history, and there is no other
object in existence so directly associated with the best amateur chess in the
country. It would therefore form a really attractive rallying point for the
leading players, and if Sir George would nominate a committee approximately
representative of national amateur chess, and hand the cup over to them
with the view of their arranging an annual championship competition, the
groundwork would be laid of a new British Chess Association, now greatly
needed.” It is pertinent to the concluding suggestion to enquire how the
funds are to be raised which such a committee would need annually. So long
as invitations from provincial clubs held out, the matter would be simple
enough; but the history of previous organizations devoted to holding annual
tournaments goes to show that a time comes when such invitations are not
obtainable. That it would be an advantage to English chess to have its
amateur championship competed for less intermittently, and under the
auspices of a thoroughly representative body, will be conceded on all hands,
but we doubt greatly whether a national organization commanding national
support can be formed in the manner proposed. A flourishing general
organization upon a thoroughly representative basis exists for the Southern
Counties; a similar union for the Northern Counties would solve the
difficulty. A joint committee of the two unions could hold a national
meeting every second year, leaving each union free to hold its own
tournament meeting in the alternate years. Chess players of Lancashire,
it is your turn to move, and it is your duty to organise your forces and
found a County Association that will co-operate with the associations
of other Northern counties in the establishment of a Northern Counties’
Chess Union. Your deplorable indifference to county organization retards
the expanding movement, which must, eventually, culminate in a national
federation for the commonweal of English chess. Is this apathy to continue?”

BCM, March 1955, p102: “With the passing, on January 31st [1955], at the age of eighty-two [sic] of Henry Ernest Atkins the chess world has lost a recognized international master, and British chess one of its strongest players of all time. Yet Atkins was the despair of chess enthusiasts because he played so little international chess and confined himself largely—and at that intermittently—to local affairs, where the strength of most of his opponents could hardly extend him. One leading player recently regretted that Atkins spent so much time “in the wilds,” but Atkins would have taken an opposite view and have considered that he was “in the wilds” if he had spent more of his time playing chess; teaching was his whole life, and the game of chess he insisted on treating as a game. Consequently as a chess-player Atkins was almost always out of practice and playing below his true strength, yet in his five international events – Amsterdam, 1899; Hanover, 1902; London, 1922; London Team Tourney, 1927; and Warsaw Team Tourney, 1935 – he scored 63.2 per cent, or if Amsterdam which was virtually a Hauptturnier is excluded, 53.5 per cent. Sir George Thomas considered that only lack of opportunity prevented him from establishing himself in the world championship class. As it is, he will be remembered chiefly by chess-players as the man who played eleven times in the British Championship and won it nine times, failing only at the first attempt in 1904 after a tie for first place, and at the last in 1937, at the age of sixty-five, when he shared third place, a record which has never been remotely approached by any other player and is not likely to be. Atkins played in a clear-cut strategical style which makes his games ideal studies for the beginner, and he finished them with an elegance to enchant the artist; like the Études of Chopin, they provide technical exercises and works of art in one. But I believe that if Atkins had his wish —and this wish I am sure he will have—he would wish to be remembered by his many pupils, whether they be pupils of the chessmaster or of the schoolmaster, not for any practical achievements but for being a true guide, philosopher, and friend to all who came under his tutelage.—R. N. C[oles].

The Times, 1 February 1955, p10: “MR. H. E. ATKINS, BRITISH CHESS CHAMPION NINE TIMES. Mr. Henry Ernest Atkins, formerly Principal of Huddersfield College and an outstanding chess player—he won the British Chess Championship nine times—died in hospital at Leicester yesterday at the age of 82.

“The son of Edward Atkins, of Leicester, he was born on August 20, 1872, and was educated at Wyggeston Grammar School. He went up to Cambridge with a scholarship at Peterhouse in 1890 and was bracketed Ninth Wrangler in 1893. In 1894 he took a First in Part II of the Mathematical Tripos, and four years later he was appointed an assistant master at Northampton and County School. From 1902 to 1908 he was assistant master at Wyggeston Grammar School, and in 1909 he was appointed Principal of Huddersfield College. He retired in 1938.

“He first showed his promise at chess as an undergraduate at Cambridge, where he played in the University team; but he first came into prominence at the Hastings Minor Tournament of 1895, where he was equal second, Maroczy taking the first prize. Thereafter until 1911 he had a period of almost unbroken success in English tournaments. He won the S.C.C.U. tournaments in 1896 and 1897 and the Amateur Championship Trophy at Bath in 1900.

A REPRESENTATIVE PLAYER

“From 1904 to 1911 he played regularly in the British championship, winning it every year except the first, when he tied with Napier and lost the play-off. He tied with J. H. Blake in 1909 and with the late F. D. Yates in 1911, but was successful both times in the play-off. During this period he represented Great Britain regularly in the cable matches against the United States, curiously enough with rather limited success. He also played for England in the pre-1914 international matches against Holland.

“After the 1914-18 War, although he took relatively little part in competitive chess, he did, however, take part in the London International Tournament of 1922, and won some fine games, notably against Rubinstein and Tartakower; his forrm was, however, uneven. In 1924 and 1925 he again appeared in the British championship and won it on both occasions. He twice represented England in the International Team Tournament for the Hamilton Russell Cup, at London in 1925 [sic] (the first of the series) and again at Warsaw in 1935.

“In 1937 he again represented England against Holland, himself and Mr. R. P. Michell on the English side being the only players who had taken part in the pre-1914 series. He played on the fifth board against L. Prins, winning one and losing one—the latter an exceptionally fine game by the young Dutch player which virtually decided the match. In the same year, having now retired from his professional work, Atkins again took part in the British championship, and came fourth [sic]. It was noticeable that his ignorance of modern opening theory handicapped him; if he succeeded in extricating himself from his opening difficulties he was more than a match for his younger rivals.

“He is survived by his widow.”
[unattributed but probably Harry Golombek]

Manchester Guardian, 1 February 1955: “MR H. E. ATKINS –
Mr Henry Ernest Atkins, of East Avenue, Leicester, the British chess master, died yesterday at the age of 83.
Atkins was considered the outstanding British player of the first quarter of this century. His record in the British championships of nine wins in eleven appearances and of seven wins in succession between 1905 and 1911 is unlikely ever to be paralleled. His profession—he was a schoolmaster, and became headmaster of Huddersfield College—allowed him little opportunity to participate in international events, but he captained the English team in the first International Team Tournament at London in 1927 and also played at Warsaw in 1935. In 1950 he was awarded the title of International Master by the International Chess Federation.
Atkins’s forte was his powerful positional play, moulded on the strategic precepts of Steinitz. Usually favouring solid variations of the Queen’s Gambit or Ruy Lopez, he was particularly adept at building up massive attacks which included
the entire board in their scope. Atkins
had an ideal chess temperament, and
would probably have ranked among the
world’s greatest masters had he been able to give all his time to the game.”

Sunday Times, 13 February 1955 (by Hugh Alexander): “Nine times British champion, H. E. Atkins, who has just died at the age of eighty-two, was the finest British player of this century: had he devoted the time to chess, he would have been one of the leading world masters.
A deep strategist, he was scientific and methodical rather than intuitive and imaginative: nevertheless when occasion offered he could attack with skill and vigour, as this game shows.”

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Walter Arthur Atmore (1859 – disappeared 1896). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1880, 1881. Clerk. Born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, death registered in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Melton Mowbray Marriage Banns: (1) 5 April 1896, (2) 12 April 1896, (3) 19 April 1896, Walter Arthur Atmore, resid. Melton Mowbray & Julia Tyler, St James’s, Brighton. Probate record: “ATMORE Walter Arthur of Nottingham-road Melton Mowbray Leicestershire died on or since 21 April 1896 at ____________ Administration London 18 November [1903] to Edward Alfred Atmore chemist Effects £527 6s. 7d.” His name appears on King’s Lynn electoral lists up to 1903.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: “Adm. pens. at ST JOHN’S, Oct. 10, 1878. S. of George, chemist. B. at King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Bapt. Sept. 14, 1859. School, King Edward VI, Grantham. Matric. Michs. 1878; B.A. 1882.”

Notice placed in the London Daily News, 27 October 1902: “Walter Arthur Atmore, at Grantham 1883 to 1893, and afterwards at Ashford-by-Leicestershire. Left Melton Mowbray Station at 3.40 p.m. for London on 21st April, 1896. He posted a letter at Paddington on the morning of the 22nd April. Has not since been heard of; his age then was 35. ANY INFORMATION of him since that date is EARNESTLY REQUESTED—to be sent to Beloe and Beloe, Solicitors, King’s Lynn”

Grantham Journal – Saturday 31 October 1903: “A Remarkable Disappearance.—Sir F. Jeune. in the Probate Court, on Monday, granted leave to presume the death of Walter Arthur Atmore, on or since April 20th, 1896. The presumed deceased had been cashier to Messrs. Hornsby & Sons, Ltd., at Grantham, and afterwards a clerk near Melton Mowbray. He was engaged to be married, and, after settling up his affairs, took a house at Melton Mowbray, and on April 20th, 1896, left for London. On the following day he wrote a letter, which bore the Paddington post-mark, in which be told his fiancée that his head had gone wrong, and that he was not fit to be anyone’s husband. The brother of the deceased made inquiries at the railway and police stations and hospitals, but from that day to this nothing whatever had been heard of him.”

Lincolnshire Chronicle – Friday 30 October 1903: “A Benedicts Disappearance —Sir F. Jeune in the Probate Court on Monday, granted leave to presume the death of Walter Arthur Atmore, on or since April 20th 1896. The presumed deceased had been chief cashier of a firm of engineers at Grantham, and also a clerk and accountant at Melton Mowbray. He was engaged to a Miss Julia Taylor [Tyler], with whom he was on most affectionate terms, and was going to be married at Brighton. After settling up his affairs he took a house at Melton Mowbray and on April 20th, 1896 he left for London. On the following day he wrote a letter, which bore the Paddington postmark, in which be told his fiancée that his head had gone wrong, and that he was not fit to be anyone’s husband. The brother of the deceased made inquiries at the railway and police stations and hospitals, but from that day to this nothing whatever had been heard of him.”

Elias Steelo Awad (c.1927 – 12 June 2007). Magdalene College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1948. PhD, biochemistry. Died in New York.

Frederick Augustus Babcock (26 September 1878 – 21 October 1901). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901.

Liverpool Weekly Courier – Saturday 26 October 1901: “SUICIDE OF A LIVERPOOL GENTLEMAN.
The Liverpool coroner (Mr. Sampson) and a jury told an inquest touching the death of Frederick Augustus Babcock, aged 25, who died from the effects of a pistol shot wound at his uncle’s house, West Derby, on Monday morning last.

“Mr. Benjamin Franklin Babcock, uncle of the deceased, residing at 11, Hayman’s-green, West Derby, said deceased had taken his degree at Oxford in June last, and intended to go into a stockbroker’s office on the day he died. He could give no reason why the young man should have taken his life. He was moody and nervous about the state of his health in the mornings—especially about his want of circulation.

“Miss Vera Babcock, cousin of the deceased, said that a jug of hot water was
placed outside his bedroom door about
eight o’clock on Monday morning. He took it in, and a few minutes afterwards she heard a noise m his bedroom, which was followed by a groan, which caused her to think that something had happened. She never heard directly or indirectly that he had any intention to take his life, and she could not suggest any reason why he should have shot himself.

“Mr. B. F. Babcock, cousin of the deceased, said on Saturday last he lent his cousin a rook rifle, and he saw deceased handling one of his revolvers (the one now produced). He warned him to be careful in using it, but he thought no more about it, and left. The next time he saw the revolver was after the deceased was shot.

“The Coroner.— Can you give us any reason why he should do this? Absolutely none, whatever.
Was he in any financial difficulty, or had he any love affair?—Nothing of that kind. If he had he would have told me. The whole thing is absolutely inexplicable to me.

“The Coroner read the following note, which was in deceased’s hand-writing, and addressed to the witness:— ‘Dear Frank,—Perhaps I owe £15 or £16 to Oxford. You will find details in my diary. However, college has £30 caution money of mine. Layton has my will.—Fred. A. B.’

“Ernest Steyn said that deceased was at his rooms on the evening of the 16th inst. He was in his usual health, and he gave witness an order for 2,000 cigars. At parting that night he made an appointment for the following Tuesday evening. Witness could suggest no reason why his friend should have taken his life.

“Dr. Hall said he was called to Mr. Babcock’s house a few minutes after eight o’clock on Monday morning. He saw deceased in bed, but his condition was extreme. There was a bullet wound in his forehead between the eyebrows, which caused death. The doctor could not say whether the wound was or was not self-inflicted.

“The jury found that the wound was self-inflicted, but as to the state of deceased’s mind they had no evidence upon which to express an opinion.”

Norman Mudie Bach (13 July 1903 – 16 October 1971, Bermuda). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1923. Educ. Leys School, Cambridge. Contract bridge player; captain of the English bridge team, 1939; founded the world bridge championship for the Bermuda Bowl, 1950; represented Bermuda in several Bridge Olympiads. 2nd Lt., RASC, WW2. Occ. accountant, company secretary, hotel company. Moved to Bermuda shortly after WW2. Obituary by Alan Truscott, New York Times, 1971.

John Maxwell Bailey (born 1935). Queen’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1958, 1959, 1960. Educ: Sydney Boys High School; St Paul’s College, Sydney. BSc, University of Sydney, and 1956 Rhodes Scholar. Son of Victor Albert Bailey (1895-1964) who was professor of physics at Sydney University and had also read physics at Queen’s College, Oxford. Worked at the European Atomic Energy Commission, Geneva. “[Oxford’s] leader JA [sic] Bailey must have an innate genius for the game. He hardly ever plays, but when he can be induced to turn out for them on board one seems to win with unfailing regularity.” (BH Wood, 1960) New South Wales Junior Champion, 1951 [source]. Photo of John Bailey playing John Purdy, from The Sunday Herald (Sydney), 11 February 1951.

Rodney Montgomery Baine (1 July 1913 – 25 June 2000). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1937, 1938, 1939. Rhodes scholar, from Mississippi, at Merton (1936-39). 1931 graduate of Tupelo High School. BA (1935), Southwestern at Memphis, MA at Vanderbilt, PhD at Harvard. Served with the US Army during WW2. Instructor of English at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, professor of the English Department at the University of Richmond, Delta State University of Alabama at Montevallo. Professor of 18th-century English at the University of Georgia from 1962. He donated the trophy for the Mississippi state chess championship and won it himself in 1955 and 1956. Virginia state co-champion in 1951. Alabama state champion 1960. Left his collection of chess books to the Barret and Burrow Library, Rhodes College, Tennessee.

Sir (Robert) James Ball, CBE (15 July 1933 – 15 January 2018 ). Queen’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1956, 1958. Economics professor. Co-creator of the Oxford Econometric Model. Knighted 1984. Wikipedia.

Anthony Beckett Bamford (19 May 1934 – 28 August 2017). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity match 1955. Matric. 1953; read English. Occ. actuary. Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, 1963. Played on a high board for Sussex, 1960s. Tony Bamford later played for Glastonbury CC and was a former president of the Somerset County Chess Association. [obit in the Corpus newsletter, 2017]

Alec Joscelyne Bamford, M.C. (9 April 1885, China – 19 November 1957). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1906. Born in Shanghai; his father was a Congregational minister. Educ. Clive House, Southport; Hulme Grammar School, Oldham; Malvern College. 3rd Class, Experimental Physics, U. of London, 1905; B.Sc., 1906. 10th= Senior Wrangler, Cambridge Tripos, 1907, despite being seriously ill at the beginning of the term. Also rowed at Cambridge. WW1, 2nd Lt., Motor Machine Gun Corps; Military Cross, 1917; acting Capt., 1918. Superintendent of Colombo Observatory, Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Tutor and lecturer, Physics and Mathematics.

Kenneth Humphry Bancroft (9 April 1905, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales – 22 December 1942, as a POW, Thailand). Pembroke College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928. His father John was an HM Inspector of Schools. Educ. St Paul’s, London. King Charles I Exhibition, Classics, Pembroke College, 1924. University champion and president of OUCC. Posted to the Malay States Colonial Service, 1928. Competed in the 1933 BCF Premier alongside his colonial service colleague and friend Eugene Ernest Colman. Served as Captain, Kedah Volunteer Force, on the Japanese invasion. See also Chess in Changi, BCM, January 1946 p13-14. Note: Gaige spells his middle name incorrectly as ‘Humphrey’.

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Ernest Guibal Le Breton Banks (28 September 1893 – 20 August 1972). Worcester College, Oxford, Varsity match 1913. Educ. St John’s School, Leatherhead. WW1, commissioned 2nd Lt., Welsh Regiment, 1915. In Gallipoli; mentioned in dispatches. Occ. oil executive (Burmah Oil).

Leonard William Barden (born 1929). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953. Chess master, journalist, author, promoter and broadcaster. Educ. Whitgift School, Croydon. Read modern history at Oxford. British chess champion, 1954 (jointly with Alan Phillips). Represented England in four chess olympiads: 1952, 1954, 1960, 1962. Long-standing chess columnist, notably for The Guardian, the London Evening Standard (1956-2020 – a record for a daily newspaper column of any type) and the Financial Times. Wikipedia • Guardian Chess • Financial Times Chess.

Leonard Barden at the 1957/58 Hastings (colorised by John Saunders)

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James Haydn Barnes (26 March 1894 – 7 September 1988). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1919, 1920. Educ. University College School, London (1909-14). Occ. schoolteacher (mathematics). WW1, British Red Cross, 1916-19. B.A., 1921. Assistant master, Kingswood School, Bath, from 1921 (photo – the Kingswood School buildings were requisitioned during WW2 and the school temporarily housed at Uppingham, Rutland). Methodist lay preacher. Played chess for Somerset (OTB and CC), 1930s, and in the Midlands, into the 1960s.

Sir Richard Whieldon Barnett (6 December 1863 – 17 October 1930). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888. Born County Down, Ireland. MP, barrister, sportsman. B.A. (jurisprudence), 1887, M.A., B.C.L, 1889. Wikipedia.

[BCM, Jan 1931, p8ff]: “Sir Richard Whieldon Barnett, one of the outstanding figures of British chess, died at his home in London on October 17th [1930]. He had been seriously ill for about two months, but hope had been maintained that he would pull through in the end, for just previous to the attack of pneumonia he shot at Bisley with all his old skill. A statement by his medical advisers that no further bulletins would be issued created a strong hope that his recovery if slow would be sure. But it was not to be, and the whole Chess World mourns the loss of a patron, a player and a friend.

“Sir Richard Barnett was born in Ireland (Co. Down) on December 6th, 1863, the son of Dr. Richard Barnett. When he went up to Wadham College, Oxford, he was already keen on chess. This, however, did not interfere with his studies for he took honours in classics, law, and the B.C.L. He was called to the bar of the Middle Temple in 1889.

“For three years (1886-9) he won the championship of Ireland, but then decided chess must give way to more serious work. From 1889 to 1916 he left the game alone; but all his enthusiasm for it returned during the war, which found him living in North London, Conservative Member of Parliament for West St. Pancras. From 1918-29 he represented South-West St. Pancras and no candidate from any other party ever stood the smallest chance of ousting him. A strong Unionist he often laughingly described himself as a “Labour” Member because his large majorities were made up by the votes of the working-class population of his constituency. The railwaymen of St. Pancras understood him and revered him: when he resigned, the Conservative Party easily lost the seat.

“Sir Richard joined the Imperial Chess Club soon after his election to Parliament and at once showed he retained all his old grip of the game. He revived the House of Commons Chess Circle and was president of it from 1923 to 1929. With the exception of Mr. Bonar Law he was considerably stronger than the next best player.

“He made history by introducing an official chess function into the House itself, namely the simultaneous display by Señor Capablanca to thirty members and pressmen in December, 1919.

“By this time the various chess organisations began to realise what a powerful friend was in their midst. Kent County Chess Association (for whom he had a residential qualification to play) elected him chairman of Council and delegate to the Southern Counties Chess Union. The latter body secured his services as their representative on the Executive Committee of the British Chess Federation.

“This body at once requested him to accept its chairmanship. He consented, and for eight years his genial, effective and businesslike leadership made it a pleasure to attend the meetings.

“Sir Richard Barnett was as near the ideal of the chess enthusiast we are likely to get. He had the means to enable him to give generously to the various funds and subscriptions necessary to caissic enterprise. He had the will to support and assist in every direction: he had an inborn love of the game for its own sake which caused him never to refuse an invitation to play for Kent, for the Imperial Chess Club, or for the University team, if it were in any way possible to accept. With it all he had a charm of manner and an ability to pick on the vital point of any issue, which was no doubt the result of his wide experience as soldier, lawman, sportsman and international man of business. He was also a prominent freemason.

“An excellent full page picture of Sir Richard Barnett (together with Mr. Maurice Blood) appeared in The Field for July 19th, of last year. They had just shot for Ireland in the Elcho shield, Sir Richard being fourth with a score of 205, the highest score being 216 by Dr. J. A. Sellars. Previous to this, they had won the Eandco with a score of 99 out of 100 and also the Hopton challenge cup. Sir Richard looks a picture of health and strength; it is incredibly sad to think that he should have passed away only three months after this.

“In past years Sir Richard Barnett had on thirty-seven occasions represented his country in the Elcho shield and twice made the record score. In 1908 he was in the United Kingdom team at the Olympic Games and served on the Council of the National Rifle Association. On the outbreak of the war he was appointed musketry officer of the 41st Infantry Brigade and later staff officer in the Ulster Division. He was inventor of the Barnett optical sight for the S.M.L.E. rifle. For many years he captained the Commons team in the annual shooting match Lords v. Commons at Bisley.

“As a politician, Sir Richard well deserved the honour of Knighthood conferred on him in 1925. He introduced the Nurses’ Registration Bill in 1919 and was appointed a member of the Chairmen’s Panel for Grand Committees in February, 1923. He was president of the Commercial Committee of the House of Commons in 1923 and attended the Inter-Parliamentary Conferences on Commerce from 1917 to 1928.

“As a financier and international man of affairs he was president of British Controlled Oilfields, and chairman of Baku Consolidated Oilfields, Kertch-Taman Oilfields, Oilfields Finance Corporation, Tchengelek Proprietary, and Trinidad Petroleum Development Company, and a vice-president of the Institution of Petroleum Technologists. He was chairman of the committee on the low-temperature carbonization of coal in 1918.

“His large number of personal kindnesses and charitable actions will never be known, but one small incident may help as an illustration.

“At a B.C.F. Congress in the North one of the competitors in Sir Richard’s section was an ex-serviceman living on a small (disablement) pension. When the game was over, he said: “I wish I’d got the set of chessmen we have just played with.” A week later he received as a gift from his opponent a full size set of Staunton chessmen.

“All his generous gifts to chess enterprise cannot be enumerated here. He was never known to refuse an appeal for help. Together with his friend Sir Watson Rutherford he put down £25 quickly to help raise the £250 given by the House of Commons Chess Circle towards the London Congress of 1922. He contributed largely to, and helped officially to run the recent tournament at Nice, so successfully organised by our esteemed correspondent “Eze.”

“He was president of the London Chess League for two years and opened each of its Annual Congresses. He actually played in 1929, and won the brilliancy prize for his game with S. G. Howell Smith. J. H. Blake in making the award said: “I think there is no room for two opinions as to Sir Richard Barnett’s game being the most brilliant of those submitted. The sacrifice of a piece on the fifteenth move is not recovered, and the attack builds up a winning position culminating in another sacrifice. White’s 27th move indicated that he was preparing for a still more sparkling finish.” This game was published in the B.C.M. for February, 1930, page 60. At the Ramsgate Congress of 1929, Sir Richard Barnett won the First Class Tournament at the B.C.F. Congress with a score of 8 out of 11.

“He was a great reader, and a keen Shakesperean [sic]. At the Stratford-on-Avon Congress he devoted as many evenings as possible to the festival of plays at the Memorial Theatre, his criticisms of the actors showing an intimate knowledge both of the plays and their presentation.

“It was a pleasure to him to visit and inspect ancient ruins, castles and relics, and he was always the first to put down his name for these excursions which have always been one of the features of chess congresses. He took photographs when possible and preserved them among his mementos of the meeting. A personal friend of Señor Capablanca, he was a great admirer of that champion’s games and always played over and preserved copies of such as were published.

“This short and disjointed notice can give only the faintest idea of the esteem and regard in which Sir Richard Whieldon Barnett was universally held, and we hope our readers will be able to read between the lines and judge what an irreparable loss the whole world of chess-playing has sustained by his death at the comparatively early age of 67.”

David Leslie Barrett (1930 – 29 July 2011). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1952, 1953. Played for the Insurance CC.

John Frederick Barrett (1928? – alive?). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1954. Educ. Taunton’s Grammar School, Southampton. Grade of 3a (=209-216) in the 1954 BCF Grading List. Worked on non-linear control systems in Engineering Dept at Cambridge (later at Southampton University). Leonard Barden comments: “Cambridge 1950, later Oxford, was fourth in the 1946 British Boys Championship behind John Fuller, Gordon Crown and myself.” 1946 British Boys’ Championship Final (Hastings, 12-17 April): 1 John A Fuller (Lenton, SCCU nominee) 5/5; 2 Gordon T Crown (Holt High School, Liverpool) 3½; 3 Leonard W Barden (Whitgift School) 3 (drew with Crown and Barrett); 4 John F Barrett (Taunton’s School, Southampton) 2½; 5 E Houghton (Shipley) 1; 6 E A Goodman (Worcester RGS) 0.

Edward Hugh Bateman (1 June 1902 – 20 January 1993). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1923, 1924, 1925. M.A. (Cantab), B.Sc. (Eng) (London). Chartered engineer, bridge designer, author.

Harry Bateman, FRS (29 May 1882, Manchester – 21 January 1946, Pasadena, California). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1902, 1903, 1904. Educ. Manchester Grammar School. Senior Wrangler, 1903. Smith’s Prize, Fellow of Trinity, 1905. Bryn Mawr, 1910-1912. Research Fellowship, John Hopkins University, 1912-1917 (where Frank Morley was professor and supervised Bateman’s PhD thesis). Professor of Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, and Aeronautics at the California Institute of Technology, 1917 to the end of his career. FRS, 1928. Wikipedia. Played in the 1902 and 1903 GB v USA university cable matches.

BCM, Oct 1947, p323: “HARRY BATEMAN, F.R.S. Harry Bateman, F.R.S., Professor of Mathematics at Pasadena, California, died in February, 1946. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was major scholar and eventually fellow. He was senior wrangler in 1903, and in the first division of the first class of Part 11 of the Mathematical Tripos in 1904. He was awarded a Smiths Prize.

“He played for Cambridge v. Oxford in 1902 (winning at board 4), 1903 (drawing at board 2), and 1904 (drawing at board 2): and for Oxford and Cambridge v. Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Columbia in 1902 (drawing at board 5) and 1903 (losing at board 2). His enthusiasm for Mathematics and his great fertility in research left him little energy for chess. But his ability was great, and in the last match of his last Universities’ London week (against Mrs. Bowles’ team) he had Mr. Mieses for his opponent at board 1. [The game score of Mieses-Bateman, March 1905, appears here.] He was the most amiable and unworldly of men; and as he walked slowly along, revolving some mathematical problem, he had the look of a slightly surprised angel.”
B[ertram]. G[oulding]. B[rown].

One brief example of his chess…

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Richard Battersby (9 September 1875, Bury – 7 September 1942, Ainsdale, Lancs). St Catherine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1896, 1897. Educ. Bury Grammar School. Occ. schoolmaster.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Adm. pens. at ST CATHARINE’S, June 21, 1894. S. of John. B. Sept. 9, 1875, at Bury, Lancs. [School, Bury Grammar.] Matric. Michs. 1894; B.A. 1897; M.A. 1904. Assistant Master at Norwich Grammar School, 1898-1902; at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, 1903-19-. Of 3, Delamere Road, Ainsdale, Lancs., 1934. (Schoolmasters’ Directory, 1904-19; Univ. Parl. Reg., 1934.)

Raymond Wallace Martin Baxter (23 July 1933 – 13 November 2018). St John’s, College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but twice represented Cambridge in the second team (Dragons v Unicorns) match and also represented Scotland in the 1964 Tel Aviv Olympiad. Played in the 1960 and 1965 Scottish Championships. In 1965 he finished in a three-way tie with Dr James Aitken and Peter Jamieson but lost out in the play-off. Biography at Chess Scotland website.

Reginald Wyke Bayliss (24 December 1865 – 30 May 1937). Peterhouse, Cambridge. Varsity match 1889. Educ. St Helen’s College, Southsea. Occ. schoolmaster (mathematics). Nephew of Sir Wyke Bayliss (1835-1906), a notable painter, author and poet and also a strong chess player who was accorded an obituary in BCM (1906, ppn 187-188). Reginald Wyke Bayliss authored a book called First school calculus in 1914 (publ. E. Arnold). Problemist.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Reginald Wyke Bayliss PETERHOUSE Entered: Michs. 1886 Born: 24 Dec 1865 Died: 30 May 1937 More Information: Adm. pens. at PETERHOUSE, Oct. 1, 1886. S. of William Wyke (1854), R. of Upham, Bishop’s Waltham. B. Dec. 24, 1865, at Milton, Hants. School, St Helen’s College, Southsea. Matric. Michs. 1886; Scholar and Prizeman; B.A. (20th Wrangler) 1889; M.A. 1909. Private Tutor, 1893; with Capt. James, 1893-7. Assistant Master at Holmdale, Camberley, 1897-1901; at St Dunstan’s College, Catford, 1902-5. Assistant Master at Whitgift’s Grammar School, Croydon, 1905-24. Of Milford-on-Sea, Hants. Died May 30, 1937, at Herne Bay. Buried at Streatham. (T. A. Walker, 591; Schoolmasters’ Directory, 1928-9; The Times, June 2, 1937.)

Kenneth Beaumont (18 January 1912 – 16 September 1985). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1933, 1934. Teacher. Came from Huddersfield and returned there after Cambridge. Won the Huddersfield CC club championship eight times. Won the 1954/55 Yorkshire Championship. Qualified for the 1954 British Championship in which he scored 3/11. Graded 5a (177-184) on the 1958 BCF Grading List, having been 4b (185-192) on the previous list.

John Matthias Bee (24 February 1888 – 1st qtr of 1979). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1908, 1909, 1910. Journalist. 3rd Class, in both parts of the Historical Tripos, Cambridge, 1908 and 1909. “For many years he was Match Captain and President of the Metropolitan CC and played for Cambridge University before the First World War. In the 1924-25 City of London CC Championship he finished 7-9 eq with F F L Alexander and V Buerger. In 1945 he played a leading part in re-opening the Met. C C in which he remained active until 1968.” (BCM, March 1979, p120). Revived the Sunday Times chess column from 5 September 1943 (though unattributed). Set chess problems in the Boy’s Own Paper (1950s). Viz. History of Metropolitan Chess Club 1890-1990, Chapter 5.

Leonard Barden comments: “He was my predecessor as chess editor of the Evening Standard. It was barely a column, just a two-move problem with solutions and no other commentary and appeared anonymously, which is why I thought it must be some hack in the office. So I wrote to the Features Editor offering a better column with chess news, games, and game positions as well as problems. This was accepted, although the FE pulled a face when I stated my proposed fee which was quite modest but apparently several times more than Bee received. I still didn’t know who I had replaced until some months later at a party I told somebody the story and that person, who knew Bee, claimed that Bee was broken-hearted by being sacked and that I was some kind of monster.”

William Newton Percy Beebe (6 June 1858 – 28 September 1937). Trinity College, Oxford, Varsity matches 1881, 1882. Educ. Dulwich College. Occ. clergyman, author.

Alumni Oxonienses: Beebe, Rev. William Newton Percy, 1s. Henry Thomas, of Brixton, Surrey, cler. Trinity Coll., matric. 11 Oct., 1879, aged 21 ; B.A. 1883, M.A. 1886.

Dulwich College Register: BEEBE, William Newton Percy, b. 6 June 1858, s. of —, Rev. Henry Thomas, D.D., V. of Yeovil, Somerset; c. of 1253 and 1254, 1st c. 1 r. of 9209; fr. Abbey Sch., Beckenham, 1869-72 ; Ath. Sp., walking race, 1874-5-6; L. July 1876; 6th; Trinity Coll. Oxf.; 3rd cl. Class. Mods. 1881; 4th cl. Hist. ; B. A. 1882 ; M.A. 1886; D. 1883; P. 1884 ; C. of St. Bride, Old Trafford, Manchester, 1883; St. Martin, Brighton, 1885; V. of St. Luke, Brighton, 1893; sin. R. of Pitney, Yeovil, 1897 ; V. of Whitchurch 1907 ; Univ. Chess Club, Hon. Secy., played v. Cambridge, 1881-2 ; Pres. 1882. Author, History of Whitchurch; m. 17 Sept. 1896, Florence Ellen (d. 1924), d. of Henry Penfold, M.R.C.S., Brunswick PI., Hove; Id. Address: Whitchurch Vicarage, Tavistock, q. r. 1.

Western Morning News – Wednesday 29 September 1937: DEATH OF VICAR OF WHITCHURCH Rev. W. N. P. Beebe had held living for 30 years – Less than a week after completing 30 years as vicar of Whitchurch, Tavistock, Rev William Newton Percy Beebe died last night. Son of the late Rev. Dr. Beebe, he was educated at Dulwich College and Trinity College. Oxford, obtaining his B.A. degree in 1882 and the M.A. four years later. Ordained by Bishop Fraser, of Manchester, Mr. Beebe was curate of St. Bride’s, Old Trafford, Manchester, from 1883 to 1885. and then for eight years was curate of St. Martin’s. Brighton. In 1893 he was appointed vicar of St. Luke’s, Brighton, going to Whitchurch in 1907. He was the holder of the sinecure of Kingston Pitney, which now, on his death, will be united with the benefice of Yeovil-with-Preston Plucknett. POOR-LAW WORK.
Kingston Pitney has been a sinecure for some 400 years. There is no church now, and Mr. Beebe was instituted into the living on a piece of land opposite Yeovil Hospital.
He was appointed in 1897 to assist his father, who was then vicar of Yeovil.
He served for some years as a Poor-law Guardian, both at Brighton and Tavistock, and was deanery treasurer for the Diocesan Board of Finance.
Although over 70 years of age. Mr Beebe recently undertook a trip of some 20,000 miles to visit a brother, who he had not seen for 27 years.
He left Southampton in January last, travelled for five weeks in a liner, and after spending a fortnight with his brother in Sydney. Australia, he made the return voyage.
Mr Beebe was very popular in the Tavistock district.
He was proud of the fact that while at Oxford he rowed in the Trinity eight and was president of Oxford University Chess Club.
He was taken ill only on Saturday last

(Dr) Michael Benger (9 December 1910 – 30 September 1980). Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1932. A member of Battersea CC before WW2 and played for Surrey. Won the London League New Year tournament in 1938. After the war lived in Cheltenham and later played for Neath CC in South Wales.

[BCM, Nov 1980, p577] “Dr. Michael Benger died in hospital at the age of 69 on September 30th 1980. As a chess player his heyday was in the years immediately before the last World War. Typical of his play then are the two games of his published in the 1938 B.C.M. After the War Michael Benger was an enthusiastic supporter of the Lensbury & Britannic House C.C., but since his retirement he has spent most of his time in the island of Lipari in the Mediterranean.” J.M. Soesan

Eric Sigmund Bensinger (7 January 1909 – 16 March 1943, Tunisia). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1929, 1930, 1931. Son of German-born parents, educ. St Paul’s School, London. Classical scholar. Translator of (film) music-related books from Russian. Served in WW2: Lt. in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry; later attached to the 2nd Hampshires and served in the North African campaign. War grave details. Played and lost against Capablanca in a simul, 10 April 1929. Played for Oxfordshire in county matches. Appears in the photo of the 23 March 1931 match between Hastings CC and Oxford/Cambridge combined team.

Dr Isaac Berenblum (26 August 1903 – 18 April 2000). Oxford college not known. Did not play in a Varsity match for Oxford but represented the university in other chess matches, including the 1944 Oxford University vs Bletchley match. Pathologist, oncologist. Born Bialystok, Poland, died Rehovot, Israel. Educ. elementary schools in Antwerp, Belgium (1907-14); Bristol Grammar School (1914-20); Leeds University (1920-26). 1936-40: Beit Memorial Research Fellow, Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford 1938-48. In charge of Oxford University Research Centre of the British Empire Cancer Campaign 1940-49; Departmental demonstrator, and later lecturer at the Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford. Thereafter, took up professorial posts in Israel. County chess for Yorkshire and later for Oxfordshire. Vice-president of the Oxford Chess Association, 1938. [reference] [Yorkshire Chess History]

José Manuel Bermúdez y Quadreny (17 March 1899, Havana, Cuba – 22 May 1985, Dade City, Florida). St Catherine’s College, Oxford. Varsity match 1922. Cuban national, became a lawyer.

Herbert Neville Bewley (25 July 1890 – 12 August 1966). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912. Born Wallasey, became mayor of Liverpool, 1959-60, and was awarded the CBE.

Horace Ransom Bigelow (6 March 1898 – 18 April 1980). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1920, 1921. From USA (born St Paul, Minnesota – his father Horace E Bigelow was an attorney). Left USA for Europe in 1908 (residing in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France and England over a 10+ year period), learnt chess from a governess in Lucerne, Switzerland, aged ten. Educ. Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, Lancashire, England (1915 – his parents were then residing in Italy). Interpreter, Intelligence Section, US Army, in France and Italy, WW1. Won the Oxford university championship. Returned to USA in 1921 (lived in Port Washington, NY) where he played in some high-profile tournaments in the 1920s when he was a member of the Manhattan CC and also one of the organisers of the 1924 New York tournament. Beat Lasker and drew with Alekhine in simuls; still playing in 1938. Chess columnist. Wrote the intro to Reti’s Masters of the Chessboard in the US edition. Provided the English translation (from Italian) to an article, “The Problem of the Knight’s Tour”, published in Chess Amateur, July–October 1922, and July 1923. “Bigelow returned to the United States and went into business.” (Brian Harley, Chess and Its Stars, Whitehead & Miller, 1936) Wikipedia. Chess Notes. Photo as part of the 1921 Varsity team.

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Sir Geoffrey Lionel Bindman (born 3 January 1933). Oriel College, Oxford. Varsity match 1954. Educ. Royal Grammar School, Newcastle. Occ. solicitor specialising in human rights law, and founder of the human rights law firm Bindmans LLP. QC, 2011. Knighted in 2007 for services to human rights. Wikipedia.

Jonas Birnberg (2 February 1894, Galati, Roumania – 29 May 1970, Lewisham, London). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1927, 1929 and some later Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past matches. Wrangler, Mathematical Tripos, Part 2, 1916. Defeated TH Tylor in 1929. Won the 1924/25 London Christmas Premier with 7½/9 ahead of William Winter 6, JH Blake 6, etc. Defeated Capablanca in a 46-board simul held in London on 13 December 1925. He was graded 4b on the 1954 BCF Grading List – equivalent to 185-192 or 2100.

Cambridge Independent Press, 16 June 1916: WRANGLERS’ CAREERS. James [sic] Birnberg, Scholar and prizeman of Queens’ College, who is 22 years old, was formerly at the Central Foundation School, London, where he also held a scholarship. He has some reputation as a chess player, having carried off a championship. [n.b. the same newspaper article refers to another wrangler, George Warden (Caius, b 1894) who also “represented his Alma Mater at chess” – but there is no record of him having played in the Varsity match]

BCM, October 1970, p280: “Jonas Birnberg, M.A., one of the leading amateurs of the 1920s, died in June, aged 76. In 1913 he entered Queens’ College, Cambridge with a mathematical scholarship, and was for many years senior maths master at Colfe’s School, and at the time of his death a Lecturer in Mathematics at Goldsmiths’ College.

“He was elected Vice-President of Cambridge University Chess Club (1915-16) and became Champion 1913-15. As the Oxford v. Cambridge Match did not take place between 1914 and 1918, he never took part in this event. In the 1925 London League Christmas Congress he was first, half a point ahead of W. Winter.

“He was for many years a member of the Metropolitan C.C. winning the Championship in 1927-28 and 1929-30. In London League matches he had a very good record on a high board for Metropolitan C.C.; and during a number of post-war seasons he played, until comparatively recently, for the Athenaeum C.C. When over seventy he was playing at a board number which many young players would envy. In the team he was respected, and displayed modesty, courtesy and perfect chess manners.

“His personality gained him well deserved popularity, and he will be remembered and much missed by very many.—R.G.W. and D.C.” [Bob Wade & Daniel Castello – n.b. the Varsity match did take place in 1914]

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Roman Leon Biske (21 May 1887 – arrested/purged, Moscow, 1938). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity match 1909. BCM 1909, p176, gives his name as ‘TR Biske’. Born in Kiev, according to UK naturalisation record (St Petersburg according to later newspaper reports). Admitted to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1905, transferring to Wadham College, Oxford, after a year (source). Class 3, Modern History, Oxford, 1908. Was a law student in London in 1911, staying at Hampden House in Hampstead. Qualified as barrister, 1912. Was granted British naturalisation in 1915 but this was revoked in 1919 as he had “shown himself by act to be disaffected to His Majesty” (London Gazette, 21 February 1919 & The Times, 22 February 1919, p2). Radical and Marxist at Oxford. Published a book giving examples of Russian handwriting, 1919. Translated Stalin’s biography of Lenin on the occasion of Lenin’s 50th birthday. Worked as translator and lawyer for the US Embassy in Moscow (source).

Nottingham Journal – Friday 18 February 1938: “ARRESTED – IN RUSSIA – Former British Subject a “Purge” Victim – Moscow, Thursday [17 February 1938]. M. Roman Biske, an Oxford graduate and former British subject, has been arrested in the current “purge” of Soviet citizens working for foreigners and foreign organisations, it is learned in Moscow to-day.

“A girl translator for the Danish Legation and several minor employees of different legations have also been arrested.

“M. Biske, who is a member of both the British and the Soviet Bar, was employed on important legal transaction work by Soviet organisations and also by the United States Embassy in Moscow.

“Three days ago he disappeared and friends upon going to his home found that the doors bore the seals of the commissariat of the interior, which always seals the doors of arrested people’s homes.

“M. Biske was born about 50 years ago in Leningrad (then St Petersburg), was taken to England as a child, and educated there and became a British subject. He returned to Russia after the revolution and acquired Soviet citizenship.—British United Press.”

[further contemporary account of Biske’s 1938 arrest]

Adrian David Hugh Bivar (25 October 1926 – 3 July 2015). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity matches 1944, 1945. Professor of Iranian Studies, SOAS, London University. Numismatist. Known as ‘David’. Wikipedia.

Max Black (24 February 1909, Baku, Azerbaijan – 27 August 1988, Ithaca, New York, USA). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1928, 1929, 1930. Philosopher, professor, author, mathematician. Educ. Dame Alice Owen’s School, Islington. B.A., mathematics (1930). At Cambridge attended classes of G. E. Moore and Ludwig Wittgenstein. Professor of philosophy in the University of Illinois (1940). Professor of philosophy at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (1946). “Black taught himself chess at an early age, competed for a time in tournaments, and occasionally staged exhibitions of blindfold chess and matches against several opponents” (DNB but I can find no reference to this in chess literature). “Not only was Black a lifelong musician, but he was also a gifted chess player who, even in his late sixties, would play demonstration matches with as many as twenty opponents simultaneously.” (American National Biography – see above comment). Played in the London Boys’ Championship of 1926. Wikipedia. Biography, MacTutor.

Rev. Arthur Selwyn Patteson Blackburne (27 October 1860, Auckland, New Zealand – 23 June 1943, Surrey). Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Did not play play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1922 Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past match.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Arthur Selwyn Patteson [sic] Blackburne. CORPUS CHRISTI Michs. 1881 Adm. pens. at CORPUS CHRISTI, Oct. 1, 1881. B. in the East. Matric. Michs. 1881; B.A. 1884; M.A. 1892. Ord. deacon, 1887; priest (Rochester) 1888; C. of Chatham, 1887-9. C. of Dorking, 1889-98. Chaplain to the Dorking Union, 1891-8. R. of Stoke d’Abernon, Surrey, 1898-1936. Chaplain to the Schiff Home of Recovery, Cobham, 1910-36. Of 127, Seabrook, Hythe, Kent, 1938. (Crockford, 1938.)

David Russell Bland (19 February 1926- 26 August 2001). Trinity College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity matches 1944, 1945. Author of books on mathematics, physics (wave theory). Taught at the Cranfield Institute of Technology, now Cranfield University.

Brebis Bleaney (6 June 1915 – 4 November 2006). St John’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1936, 1937 and 1938. Wikipedia. Physicist; Lecturer in Physics, Balliol College, Oxford 1947-50; Fellow and Lecturer in Physics, St John’s College, Oxford 1947-57, Tutor 1950-57, Honorary Fellow 1968; Research Fellow, Harvard University and MIT 1949; University Demonstrator and Lecturer in Physics, Oxford University 1945-57, Dr Lee’s Professor of Experimental Philosophy 1957-77 (Emeritus); FRS 1950; CBE 1965; Warren Research Fellow, Royal Society 1977-80, Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow 1980-82; Fellow, Wadham College, Oxford 1957-77, Senior Research Fellow 1977-82, Emeritus Fellow 1982-2006. [The Independent, Obit., 2006] Captained school & university chess clubs.

William Henry Blythe (1855 – 11 September 1931). Jesus College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1878, 1879. Private tutor. Alumni Cantabrigienses: “Adm. pens. (age 19) at Jesus [College], Oct. 1874. S. of Joseph Henry, Esq. B[orn] 1855, at Llanllwechaearn, Montgomery [Powys, Wales]. School, Shrewsbury (Rev. H. M. Moss). Matric. Michs. 1874; B.A. 1878; M.A. 1881. For some time at Cooper’s Hill College; afterwards a private tutor at Milford Haven. Returned to Cambridge. Churchwarden and Treasurer of St Mark’s, Cambridge, for 26 years. Died Sept. 11, 1931, aged 76, at 92, Grantchester Meadows, Cambridge. (The Times, Sept. 12, 1931.)”

Rev. William Ernest Bolland (26 May 1847, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand – 29 May 1919, Oxford). Merton College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1893 Oxford Past v Oxford Present match. Educ. Marlborough College. B.A., 1872 (1st class hons.). After taking his degree he married and commenced private coaching for undergraduates. Headmaster, King’s School, Worcester, 1879-96. Vicar/curate, Embleton, Northumberland, 1896-1905. Rector of Denton, Norfolk, from 1905. Active in chess whilst in Worcester and played in the North v South matches of 1893 and 1894. Played correspondence chess whilst in Norfolk. Comprehensive biography by Steve Mann at the Yorkshire Chess History website.

Alumni Oxonienses: Bolland, Rev. William Ernest, 1s. William, of New Plymouth, New Zealand, cler. Merton Coll., matric. 19 Oct., 1867, aged 20; B.A. 1872, M.A. 1874, headmaster of Worcester Cathedral School 1879.

Reginald Walter Bonham (31 January 1906 – 16 March 1984). St Catherine’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1927, 1928, 1929. Taught Braille and Mathematics at the Worcester College for the Blind, now known as RNIB, Worcester, which he had attended himself. Blind chess player known for his achievements in both blind and sighted chess. Founded the International Braille Chess Association in 1951. Won the Blind World Chess Championship in 1958 and the Correspondence Blind World Championship in 1957, 1959, 1961, 1964 (jointly) and 1966. On the 1954 BCF Grading List was graded 3b (= 201-208). Took part in five British Championships: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1955. Wikipedia. See also Ray Collett’s website.

Thomas Brindley Booth (25 September 1926 – 2 March 2011). Trinity College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1945. Inventor (autopilot technology).

Arthur Cousen Bottomley (8 May 1885, Bradford, Yorks – ?1958). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1905, 1907. Would have played in 1906 but arrived late for the match by which time he had been replaced. Educ. Weston Government College, from where he won a scholarship to Westminster School, 1900; scholarship to Clare, 1904. Junior Optime, Mathematics Tripos, Part 1, 1907. Mathematics teacher. WW1, Lt. Royal Garrison Artillery, 1915-21. Played in the Anglo-US university cable match of 1906 and drew.

Alfred William Bowen (2 January 1918 – 22 August 2012). Oriel College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1937, 1938, 1939, as well as the unofficial 1940 match. Played in the 1949, 1950, 1962 and 1963 British Championships, scoring 6½/11, 5/11, 6/11 and 5/11 respectively. Graded 2a (225-232) on the 1958 BCF Grading List, behind only Kottnauer, Alexander, Clarke, Golombek and Penrose. Finished 2nd in the BCF 1937 Major Open. Represented Britain in the 1949 Anglo-Dutch (ENG v NED) Match, and also the London League against the Sydney (Australia) Chess League in a 1949 radio chess match. Familiarly known as ‘Bill Bowen’. From Wolverhampton; later a member of Hampstead CC. An accomplished bridge player. Games at chessgames.com.

Thomas Frank Brenchley (9 April 1918 – 7 July 2011). Merton College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity match 1940. Known as Frank Brenchley. Diplomat. Ambassador to Norway and Poland, authority on terrorism. CMG (1964). Served with the Royal Corps of Signals 1939–46 as an intelligence officer in the Middle East. In retirement returned to Merton College as an honorary fellow. No other chess references. Wikipedia.

Ian Lucas Bridges (6 May 1921 – 26 May 2005). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1948. For many years housemaster and head of Mathematics at Uppingham (which he had attended as a boy). Awarded Croix de Guerre during the Normandy campaign, WW2. His father was Esteban Lucas Bridges, author of Uttermost Part of the Earth.

Everard Lindesay Brine (1 Dec 1890 – 24 Sept 1918) Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity match 1912. Born Kensington, London, died Hamadam, Persia, of enteric fever, whilst on active service. Lieutenant, Hampshire Regiment, 3/4th Bn.; attached 1/4th Bn., Indian Expeditionary Force. Sent to Mesopotamia in December 1915, taking part in the attempted relief of Kut. He was invalided home in the summer of 1916, but in July 1917 he was sent to Persia [Iran]. A collection of his poems were published by Blackwell in 1921. A review in ‘The New Age’, 9 June 1921, stated: ‘The author was a young officer and a victim of the War, who died in 1918. There is nothing in the book to indicate exceptional ability. The best poem is entitled ‘New College Gardens: Spring’…’ (Coincidence: his opponent in the 1912 Varsity match, Ralph Chubb, was also a published poet – JS.)Christ Church War Memorial – biography • Photo on Flickr.

The Times, 30 Oct 1918: “… younger son of the late Admiral Lindesay Brine and Mrs Brine, of 48 Fitzgeorge Avenue, West Kensington. He was educated at Sherborne, gaining there two leaving exhibitions, and at Christ Church, Oxford. He was a member of the Oxford Union Chess Club, and played in the annual Inter-University Match held in London on March 25, 1912. He took his B.A. degree in July 1914, was given a commission in the Hampshire Regiment, and was sent out in December 1915 to Mesopotamia, taking part in the attempted relief of Kut. He was invalided home the following summer, but in July 1917, he was again ordered to the East. He was 27 years of age.”

Graham Powell Britton (2 February 1913, Hastings, Sussex – 16 April 1978, London). Jesus College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936. Born Hastings, Sussex, died London. Some biographical information about him and a photo were posted some years ago at this website and may be found here.

Edward Granville Broadbent (27 June 1923 – 9 March 2008). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1942. Chartered engineer, Royal Aircraft Establishment. Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Institute of Mathematics and Applications, Royal Society London, Royal Academy Engineering. M.A. (Cantab) 1947, D.Sc. (Cantab) 1975. Deputy Chief Scientific Officer (Aerodynamics Department) 1969-1983. Visiting Professor, Department of Mathematics, Imperial College, London from 1983. “County-standard chess and bridge player” (Times obit) No other chess references found.

Edward Willingham¶ Brocklesby (29 April 1914 – 9 December 2004) Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1935, 1936. Played for Kent in the 1930s and Oxfordshire later. Had an elder brother Sydney Hugh Brocklesby (1909-1997) who was also a chess player (I played SH Brocklesby myself in 1971 at a tournament in Oxford – JS) (¶ Middle name given as “William” by Gaige but I think “Willingham” is right – JS)

Jacob Bronowski (18 January 1908 – 22 August 1974). Jesus College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1931. Senior Wrangler, 1930. Polish-born British mathematician and historian. Best known as the presenter and writer of the 13-part 1973 BBC television documentary series, and accompanying book, The Ascent of Man. Wikipedia. Strong player and widely-published problemist.

Long obituary in BCM (Dec 1974, pps 441-443) by Harry Golombek. Excerpts: “His gifts were too many and various for him to have become a great chess-player since a sole dedication is necessary for that; but he certainly was a good player and I have recently come across the table of a tournament in which he played at Cambridge University in the late 1920’s and in which he was first without losing a game, ahead of, amongst others, the late C.H.O’D. Alexander. By a series of odd coincidences, he and I met each other on numerous occasions so that in fact my acquaintance with Bronowski extended for some 50 years… After the war, when he joined the Coal Board and came to live in Chalfont St.Giles, I met him quite often since the Board had a college in the vicinity. He became a subscriber to the ‘B.C.M.’ of which he was a fervent supporter and, many years later, when I had to give up the Games Editorship through over-work, he wrote a most kind letter to me saying that I had the satisfaction of having written much that would endure. I did not believe this but it was nice of him to say so. By then he was in America but still maintaining a keen interest in English chess. He wrote to me another nice note congratulating me on receiving the O.B.E. for my services to chess and we still met on occasion when he made return visits to England. The last time I saw him was in London this year just a month before he died.”

Charles Lewis Brook (12 June 1855 – 9 May 1939). Trinity College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1875, 1876, 1877. Sewing thread manufacturer. BCM, Sept 1939, p396 mentions the death of C.L. Brook in connection with Huddersfield Chess Club. He was a vice-president of the Yorkshire Chess Association. The Huddersfield College Magazine of April 1875 says he was of a family of Meltham, near Huddersfield. Brook, Charles Lewis, o.s. Charles John, of Grieve, Yorks., arm. Trinity College, matric. 19 Oct 1874, aged 19, B.A. 1878 (Alumni); sewing thread manuf’r, didn’t marry (Census 1911). Played in the 1875, 1876 and 1877 Varsity chess matches. Further info, Yorkshire Chess History website.

Bertram Goulding Brown (5 July 1881 – 22 August 1965). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904. Educ. Westminster School. Private tutor and Director of Studies at Emmanuel and Downing Colleges, Cambridge University; historian.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 25, 1900. s. of Walter, of 46, Regent’s Park Road, London. B. July 5, 1881, in London. School, Westminster. Matric. Michs. 1900; Exhibitioner, 1902; Prizeman; Scholar, 1903; Earl of Derby Student, 1903-5; Lightfoot Scholar, 1904; B.A. (Hist. Trip., Pt I and Pt II, 1st Class) 1903; M.A. 1907. Director of Studies in History at Emmanuel College and Downing College. Of 16, Brookside, Cambridge, 1939. (Roll of the Regent House, 1939.)

The Times, 24 August 1965: “BROWN.—On August 22nd, 1965, Bertram Goulding Brown, of 16 Brookside, Cambridge, aged 84 years, late Director of Studies in history at Emmanuel and Downing Colleges, Cambridge, beloved husband of the late May Marian and father of Pauline, Tony, and Hilary. Funeral service at Cambridge City Cemetery on Thursday, August 26th, at 11 am. Flowers may be sent to W. Eaden Lllley’s Private Chapel, Mill Lane, Cambridge.

The Times, 7 September 1965: “MR. B. GOULDING BROWN –
A friend writes:—The death of B. Goulding Brown at the age of eighty-three removes from the Cambridge scene, and from British chess, a unique and lovable figure. Almost the last of the private coaches, Goulding Brown took pupils reading for the History Tripos for over 60 years. He loved teaching, and said it kept him young. He was a remarkably successful coach; he had a genius for turning prospective third classes into seconds, and seconds into firsts. Generations of his pupils in every walk of life, spoke of him with respect and affection.

“Apart from history (and Latin: at the age of fifty he sat at the feet of A. E. Housman, borrowed his lecture notes when Housman died, and worked for many years on the text of Propertius), Goulding Brown’s great interest was chess. A fine attacking player of the old school himself, he was a tower of strength all his life to town, county, and university chess at Cambridge, and he was a regular participant at chess congresses all over the country until he was over eighty. As was to he expected he was a savant and historian of chess, and (equally characteristically) a doughty and pungent controversialist. His defence of Staunton against those writers who accused him of “funking” a match against Morphy was reminiscent of Housman—though more charitable.

“It is difficult to recapture in words the essence of this remarkable man. Tall, gaunt and spare, he wore all his life clothes clearly fashioned in the style of 1900. His manner, especially on the telephone, sounded abrupt: the bang with which he replaced the receiver made his interlocutors, until they knew him, feel they had unwittingly given mortal offence. The drawing-room in which he taught and played chess was unchanged for forty years; higher and higher piled the books, more and more numerous grew the pipes in the ash-bowl. Nobody could have wished it, or him, different.
All was of a piece. In politics a high Tory, he had no more belief in democracy than in the hyper-modern school in chess. The spiky, angular handwriting conveyed opinions unfashionable nowadays; he had no use for cant or hypocrisy. But he was by no means an uncritical supporter of the Establishment; his rugged individualism, his formidable intellectual integrity gave him sympathy with rebels against authority in quarters where one would least have expected it.”

BCM, December 1965, pps 344-5: “B. Goulding Brown was my oldest and closest Cambridge friend. I started playing with him in 1920, and we have played ever since, though, alas, not nearly so often since the War as in the 1920s and 1930s. Our last games, when he was eighty-three, were played about a year ago in the same book-congested upstairs study at Brookside as all the others had been. Both were cut-and-thrust draws: a Kieseritzky Gambit from myself and a Two Knights’ (with 4 P–Q4 for White) were typical of the openings we adopted. We were planning another this Autumn, but he died suddenly and peacefully at the end of August. I think he would have wished it so: his wife, to whom he was devoted and who was in many ways as remarkable a figure as himself, had died earlier in the year, and although at the age of eighty-four he was mentally as alert and interested as ever, and was hoping to play in more congresses, I think that the mainspring had gone: in the previous year he had given up a lifetime—over sixty years—of continuous teaching for the history Tripos at Cambridge.

“Of his prowess as a history coach, as a lover of English literature, as a Latin scholar, it is not my place to write; his intellectual integrity and distinction, his wide range of knowledge and reading, shone through all that he said and did. It is as a chess-player and a writer about chess history that he would wish to be remembered in the pages of the “British Chess Magazine,” to which he had been a contributor for so many years.

“As a player he was a very strong amateur in an age when strong amateurs were not so common as they now are. He was a fine attacking player of the old school, his favourite openings being the King’s Gambit, Danish Gambit, Scotch and Guioco [sic] Piano (with 4 P–B3). He sometimes played the Queens, never the Lopez. With Black he always answered 1 P–K4 with P–K4, and defended the Lopez very successfully with the Old Classical Defence, on which he was an authority. He did not much like modern chess and hated playing against the Sicilian (a penance he was forced to endure with ever-increasing frequency towards the end of his life.) Indeed, he did not like the close game at all, and the games of Petrosian, for example, were an unintelligible mystery to him. Without doubt he looked upon them as “superior wood-shifting.” But within his limitations, and on his own ground, he was at his best a splendid player. He had a wonderful record as a match-player for two whole generations on behalf of Cambridge Town, County, and University: he and W.H. Gunston, another old Cambridge stalwart and famous mathematical coach, were a formidable pair on the top two boards. If he had had better health, and if he had been able to give more time to chess than his varied and busy life allowed, he would, I am sure, have made his mark in national chess. As it was, he loved congresses, and played his games for enjoyment. In his later years he played rather fast, and with his eye-shade, his pipe, and his book which he read while his opponent was thinking, he was a memorable figure.

“I am not really qualified to speak of his reputation as a chess historian any more than as a historian in any other field. But that he was an authoritative writer with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of chess, there is no doubt, and woe betide any author who by ignorance or prejudice aroused his indignation. G.B. was a formidable controversialist, as those who remember his defence of Staunton against Edge’s aspersions on his courage will testify. But he was much more than a controversialist. He was a lover of chess and everything to do with it. He had a wonderful chess library, and an immense store of knowledge. With Golombek he co-operated recently in a new edition of Murray’s history of chess. And the contributions of B.G.B. to the “B.C.M.” and to The Times (particularly memoirs of the older generation of chess-players – and sometimes, too, of the younger) testified to his kindness as well as to his learning.

“G.B. was a conservative in chess as well as in politics. But he was also a rugged and forthright individualist. You could never be sure of the line he would take. He had his prejudices, and defended them vigorously; but they were not always the prejudices one would expect. He rather liked and admired those who were “agin the Government.” He did not greatly admire the British Chess Federation or the capitation fee; and the grading system aroused his particular ire. Stormy petrels in the world of chess, whether at home or abroad, were liable to find in him an unexpected ally.
In fact, G.B. was quite unlike anybody I have ever met. He looked different, because of his old and unfashionable clothes, which suited his tall spare figure and high-domed forehead. He had rather an abrupt and downright manner, which sprang I suspect from a deep-seated shyness and reserve. But underneath he was one of the nicest and kindest men that I ever knew, and children were devoted to him. Neither Cambridge nor congresses will be the same without him; but I and many others will be grateful to his memory. – P.S.M.-B. [P Stuart Milner-Barry]

Charles Wreford Brown – see Charles Wreford-Brown

George Spencer Brown (2 April 1923 – 25 August 2016). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1948, 1949, 1950. Polymath, author of Laws of Form. Described himself as a “mathematician, consulting engineer, psychologist, educational consultant and practitioner, consulting psychotherapist, author, and poet”. Wikipedia. See Leonard Barden’s post dated 23 June 2018 on the English Chess Forum for his suggestion to George Spencer Brown that he might hypnotise a nervous chess player before an important county match in 1952.

John Brown (? – ?). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1908, 1909. 2nd Class Hons., Mechanical Sciences, 1909. Played in the 1926 and 1950 Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past matches.

Hubert Morgan Brown(e) – see Hubert Morgan-Browne

Frank Colin Bryan (22 March 1891 – 4 May 1972). Jesus College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914. Baptist minister, Bristol and elsewhere. MA at Mansfield College.

Walter William Bryant (9 December 1865 – 31 January 1923). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1888. Meteorologist, author. Superintendent of Magnetical Department, Greenwich Observatory, 1911. 21st wrangler, 1887 Mathematical Tripos; 2nd class, natural sciences, 1888. His son died at Gallipoli, 1915. Hockey player and referee, pianist, singer. (obituary, The Observatory, Vol. 46, p. 75-76 (1923); obituary, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 84, p.211)

Cambridge Alumni: Adm. pens. (age 19) at PEMBROKE, Oct. 1, 1884. S. of William Wear, schoolmaster, of Forthampton, near Tewkesbury. B. there. Matric. Michs. 1884; Scholar; B.A. (21st Wrangler) 1887. Joined the Staff of the Royal Observatory, 1902. Senior Assistant in the Magnetic Meteorological Department. Secretary of the Royal Meteorological Society, 1916-20; Vice-President. Of 38, Blenheim Crescent, Croydon. Author, A History of Astronomy; also Biographical studies of Galileo and Kepler. Died Jan. 31, 1923. (R. F. Scott; The Morning Post, Feb. 1, 1923.)

Sidney James Buchanan (25 July 1864 – 21 January 1938). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1885, 1886, 1887. Educ. Winchester College. B.A., 1887. Occ. clergyman. Vicar of Marshfield, Chippenham (1911). Later rector of Preston, Suffolk. Ordained deacon, 1890, to be curate of St Edmund’s, Sarum. Played chess for Salisbury CC and also for Wiltshire in the 1890s. Grandson of the painter George Richmond (1809-96): was painted by him and wrote an epitaph to him. [link: http://georgerichmondproject.com/sb/] His father Thomas Buchanan became a canon of Salisbury Cathedral. He had previously been chaplain to George Moberly (1803-85), bishop of Salisbury (1869-1885), whose great-great-grandson, Robert Walter Lambert Moberly (born 1952) also represented Oxford in the Varsity chess matches of 1971, 1973 and 1974.

Alumni Oxonienses: Buchanan, Sidney James, 1s. Thomas Boughton, of Wishford, Wilts, cler. New Coll., matric. 12 Oct., 1883, aged 19; scholar 1882.

Benjamin Allen Bull (19 November 1887 – 16 September 1917, near Ypres). Jesus College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1910, 1911. Educ. Rydal Mount School, Colwyn Bay. Exhibition, Jesus College. 1st Class Hons., Mathematical Mods; 1st Class Hons., Final Hon. School, Physiology. Medical training at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, from 1912. WW1, commissioned Capt., Royal Army Medical Corps. Killed in action near Ypres. RAMC in the Great War.

Herbert Somerset Bullock (3 September 1871 – 4 February 1963). Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1892. Educ. Blackheath. Studied law, took degree in 1892. “At Cambridge, in addition to playing tennis and hockey for his College, he obtained his half-blue for Chess, playing for the University against Oxford in 1892.” Lincoln’s Inn but quit law to help his father with editing and publishing various magazines (Home Words, The Fireside Magazine, etc). Became editor when his father died in 1911. Represented Sussex (and later Surrey) at hockey, tennis and badminton (as well as chess). Climbed with “that unpleasant person” Aleister Crowley in the Alps and on Beachy Head. Married twice, to Christina Cardwell in 1902, and to May Morten Bond in 1916. Continued his editorial work, founding Church Standard and continuing Home Words (which continued ‘to the present day’ (1960s). Regular reader of lesson in parish of Stoke, near Guildford. “An ardent photographer and an experienced lecturer, he often gave lectures on what was perhaps his favourite pursuit, mountaineering. The latter liking was inherited by at least one of his sons, Hugh Desmond Bullock, who was tragically killed in July 1949, during the A.C. Meet at Zermatt, when descending from Pollux. (Sourced from the Alpine Journal, 1963, Vol. 68, No.s 306 & 307)

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Bullock, Herbert Somerset, adm. pensioner at Corpus Christi, Oct 1889. Of Worcs., 3rd s. of Charles, B.D., clerk [clergyman], of Bournemouth [editor of The Fireside, Home Words, etc], b 3 Sept 1871, at St Nicholas Rectory, Worcester. School, Blackheath Proprietary. Matric. Michaels. 1889; B.A. 1892; M.A. 1896. Adm. at Lincoln’s Inn, 8 Nov 1890. Gave up the law and joined his father as sub-editor of four newspaper and a weekly church newspaper. Afterwards editor of Home Words; started the Church Standard, c.1907- . A member of the Alpine Club. Married and had issue. Of Woodways, Abbotswood, Guildford, 1939. Half-brother of Charles A.H. (1879) and brother of Reginald W. (1894), etc. (other sources: Authors’ and Writers’ Who’s Who; further info)

Quote from Alpine Journal, 68, 166: “It would be interesting to know whether he played chess, too, at speed. Not with the masters, one would think. Once he dared gently to pull Lasker’s leg. While they were discussing chess standards and whether in games for the championship players ever reached the highest levels, Somerset remarked that he had played higher chess than anyone else in Europe. ‘What do you mean? ‘ said Lasker sharply. ‘Oh,’ said Somerset, ‘I once played a game (blindfold) at the Bertol Hut at over 11,000 feet.'”

Hugh Desmond Bullock (Apr/May/Jun 1922 – 25 July 1949). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity Match 1941. Born Chertsey, died Pollux glacier, Zermatt, Switzerland, in a climbing accident which claimed three lives (he is buried in the Zermatt Mountaineers’ Cemetery alongside one of his climbing companions, Daniel Alan Hanson). The climbing accident is described in detail in the Western Daily Press, 27 July 1949, front page. Worked as a publisher. Read mathematics at Cambridge, in class 3, Tripos Part 1, 1940.

[BCM, Sept 1949, p321] “Guildford C.C. has lost one of its strongest players by the death of Mr. Hugh Desmond Bullock, following a mountaineering accident in Switzerland. Mr. H. D. Bullock, who was a younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Somerset Bullock, was educated at Winchester and Cambridge. He was first introduced to the Guildford club in his schooldays and quickly established himself as a strong player. In 1947-8 he won the club championship, being the youngest player to win this event. His friendliness and personal charm endeared him to all members and his opinions were valued by veterans of the game. He served as an officer in the army during the war and was 27 when he died. Hugh Desmond Bullock was the son of Herbert Somerset Bullock (1871-1963), who played for Cambridge in the 1892 Varsity match.”

Thomas Herbert Bumpus (29 June 1883 – 9 November 1966). St John’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906. Educ. Loughborough Grammar School, won a classical scholarship to St John’s, Oxford. Schoolmaster. Played chess for Leicestershire for some decades up to 1939. Represented GB in a cable match versus US universities in 1903 and won his game. Served as 2nd Lt. during WW1. Won the Bournemough Chess Club Championship in 1952. His father Alfred Adolphus Bumpus was also a chess player and is said to have defeated Emanuel Lasker in a simul in Leicester during his 1908 tour.

William Pengelly Buncombe (3rd qtr of 1856 – 10 June 1942, Japan). Non-Collegiate, Cambridge. Varsity 1882, 1883, 1884. Clergyman, missionary.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: William Pengelley. Buncombe Entered: Michs. 1879 Matric. Non-Coll. Michs. 1879. [School, Church College, Taunton.] B.A. 1883. Ord. deacon, 1883; priest (Rochester) 1884; C. of Kingston Hill, 1883-4. C. of Bristol, 1884-8. Missionary (C.M.S.) at Tokushima, Japan, 1888-94; at Tokyo, 1895-1924; retired. Of 489, Asagaya –3, Suginami, Tokyo, in 1939. (Crockford, 1939.)

The Times: William Pengelly Buncombe (a clergyman).
Eldest dau. Hilda Pengelly Buncombe, “of C.M.S. Mission, Tokyo, Japan” married (28 Apr 1923, Christchurch, Kobe, Japan) to John Ponsonby Trousdell, of Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and Maidstone, Kent. (Times). WP Buncombe took his B.A. at Cambridge, 27 Jan 1883 (Times)

Other report of WP Buncombe working as a missionary in Japan. “There were recent precedents of persons suddenly receiving the capacity to preach in other languages. In 1881, a missionary to India, Miss C.M. Reade, testified of the Spirit’s giving her the “gift of speaking Hindustani” to enable her to preach without a translator. Similar reports came from Jonathan Goforth, the famed Canadian Presbyterian missionary to China, as well as W.P. Buncombe, an Anglican serving in Japan. Yet it is doubtful that Parham knew about them. ” [http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/199903/068_tongues.cfm]… The following extract is from an annual letter for 1918 by Rev W P Buncombe, Japan, Tokyo: “Coming back to Japan after an absence of three and a half years I am struck with a great change in the general atmosphere and in the attitude of the people, Christians and Workers. The position of the foreign missionary is distinctly more difficult than it was four years ago.I am surprised at finding myself up against a kind of opposition and questioning I had not before experienced.The outbreak of almost hostility on the part of many of the younger workers at the Summer School at Gotemba came as the climax of the surprise: with the demand that henceforth the Mission should be ruled and conducted by a Conference or Committee largely consisting of members elected by themselves.” [Church Missionary Society archives]… Eight years later China missionary Jonathan Goforth, a Canadian Presbyterian, said that he gained mastery of Mandarin only after receiving supernatural enablement.( n38) In 1892 an Anglican missionary in Japan, W. P. Buncombe, related that although he could not “speak fluently at all on any other subjects,” yet, “when preaching the Gospel the Holy Ghost makes me forget that I know but little Japanese, and I find, too, that the listeners understand.”( n39)

Robert Wilbur Burgess (25 July 1887, Newport, RI, USA – 27 May 1969, New Rochelle). Lincoln College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1909, 1910, 1911. Graduate, Brown University, 1908. Rhodes Scholar, Oxford, 1908-1911. Ph.D., Cornell, 1914. Occ. mathematics teacher, Purdue (1911-12), Cornell (1912-16), Brown (1916-1923); served in US Army, 1917-1918; worked for Western Electric Company, 1924-1952; served as Director of US Census Bureau, 1953-1961. Author of a work on the mathematics of statistics.

Sir Richard Burn (1 February 1871 – 26 July 1947). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity match 1891. Educ. Liverpool Institute. Nephew of Amos Burn. Occ. civil servant (India), historian, numismatist. Editor, vol.4 of the Cambridge History of India, contributor of four chapters to vol.6 of same. Wikipedia.

Oxford Men and Their Colleges: Burn, Richard, born at Liverpool 1 Feb., 1871 ; 1s. Richard, arm. Christ Church, matric. 11 Oct., 89, aged 18 (from Liverpool institute), scholar 89 (Honours:—2 mathematical mods. 90), assistant magistrate N[orth].W[est].P[rovince]. , India, 91.

The Manchester Guardian, 26 Apr 1907, pg. 6: “The original outlines of the new work [Cambridge History of India] were sketched by Sir Herbert Risley, and the first editor in India was Mr. W. S. Meyer, who drew up the detailed regulations under which the greater part of the work has been executed. He was succeeded a year or two ago by Mr. R. Burn, who has completed the Indian side of the undertaking. Mr. Burn, by the way, is a Liverpool man, and, as befitted a nephew of the greatest English chess master of the day, played for Oxford in the ’Varsity chess match some seventeen years ago.”

(Canon) Ernest William Burnell (14 December 1876 – 4 December 1962). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1900. Rector of Dinder, 1944-56. Was a member and president of Wells CC and played for Somerset in the 1940s and 1950s.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Ernest William Burnell CAIUS Entered: Michs. 1898 Born: 14 Dec 1876 Adm. at CAIUS, Oct. 1, 1898. S. of Charles Richard, brewer, of Shepton Mallet. B. there Dec. 14, 1876. School, Bath College. Matric. Michs. 1898; Scholar, 1901; B.A. 1901. Ord. deacon, 1902; priest (Manchester) 1903; C. of Bury, Lancs., 1902-7; V. there, 1919-38-. Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of Wakefield, 1907-9. C. of Swinton, 1909-12. C.-in-charge of St Cuthbert’s, Grimscar, 1912-15. Chaplain to the Forces, 1915-19. (Crockford, 1938.)

Harold Tetley Burt (23 June 1897 – 19 February 1923). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1920, 1921. Born Shantung, China, where his father Ernest Whitby Burt was a baptist missionary (his father also educ. at Balliol). Educ. Bristol Grammar School (1909-16). Awarded a scholarship in Classics, Balliol, 1915. 2nd Lieutenant, RFA (1916), Lieutenant, RAF (1918). First-class degree in Literae Humaniores [Classics] in 1921, Oxford, and divided with another candidate the John Locke scholarship in mental philosophy, being also elected to a Jenkyns Exhibition at Balliol (The Times, 17 March 1921). Assistant Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Manchester. Project Gutenberg has some of his war poetry, published in Oxford Poetry 1919: From Their Dust • Pilots and Clouds. Played chess for Oxfordshire, 1920. Photo as part of the 1921 Varsity team.

The Times, 20 February 1923, p9: “Mr. Harold Tetley Burt, B.A., who was elected a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, last November [see The Times, 4 November 1922, p7], was found dead in his rooms yesterday. He was hanging by a piece of rope. An inquest will be held to-day.”

Manchester Guardian, 20 February 1923: “Mr. H. Tetley Burt – Tragic Death at Oxford – We regret to announce the death of Mr. Harold Tetley Burt, assistant lecturer in Philosophy at the Manchester University. he was found dead yesterday morning in his rooms at All Souls College, Oxford. The discovery was made by a servant, who, unable to get an answer to his knocks, tried the door and found it locked. When it was forced open Mr. Burt was found hanging by a rope from a beam. Mr. Burt was appointed assistant lecturer in Philosophy at Manchester in September 1921. It had been his custom to go to Oxford for the weekend and return to Manchester for his lectures. He was expected at the University yesterday afternoon, and the news of his tragic death came as a great surprise to his many friends. While in Manchester Mr. Burt had been a frequent and valued contributor to the Manchester Guardian. A correspondent writes:—’The death of Mr. Burt comes as baffling and altogether heart-rending news to his friends in Manchester, Oxford and Bristol. He was a young man who, through a career of unbroken public service, had retained sincerity and simplicity [illegible] and utter lack of affectation. Every competent authority who saw anything of his [illegible] was struck at once by his exceptional level-headedness and by his shrewd sense of [illegible] and at the same time he was gay as became his age. On the football field or on the dance floor he seemed as happy as in the lecture room. On the surface he had gone through a great part of the war without becoming pessimistic or embittered, and he had passed through Oxford without picking up a single affectation. He won a classical scholarship to Balliol from Bristol Grammar School, but went into the Royal Field Artillery before going up. From there he transferred to the Royal Air Force. In 1919 he began his undergraduate career, and was from the first regarded as a certainty for the highest honours, which he took in 1921, when he graduated with a ‘First’ in ‘Greats’. Even before the result of the schools was published he was chosen for a lectureship at Manchester. His ultimate return as a don to Oxford was thereafter regarded as certain, but he anticipated matters by winning a prize fellowship at All Souls last November. Since then he has been lecturing in Manchester and spending the week-ends in Oxford. Those who knew him had certainly noticed lately an unusual quietness, but they had put it down to physical exhaustion produced by the very tiring life he was leading and to worry about his future. Several careers seemed open to him, and he was puzzling a good deal as to which would suit him best. But whether he had become a man of learning, a journalist or a politician he would certainly have succeeded. His end cannot be accounted for by mere material reasons. Besides his deep religious sense, his sense of duty would have saved him from giving up in the face of any positive misfortune. He was, there is no doubt, shaken very deeply by the war and by his brooding over it since. His love for civilisation and his fears for its future, of which he would talk freely and with pessimism, evidently was deeper in his case than among young me of his type and generation. No other cause known to his friends explains the lamentable affair, in which his mother, who is in Manchester, and his father, who is a missionary in China, deserve the most sincere sympathy.'”

Manchester Guardian, 21 February 1923: “INQUEST EVIDENCE AT OXFORD.
(From our Correspondent.) Oxford, Tuesday. The inquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of Mr. Harold Tetley Burt, aged 25, Fellow of All Souls’ College, who committed suicide by hanging in his room at the College on Monday, was held today by Dr. W. T. Brooks, University coroner. The Warden of All Souls’ was foreman of the jury. Mr. Samuel Burt, of Yeovil, uncle of the dead man, said he was aware that Mr. Burt had been in a depressed state. Mr. Idris D. Jones (Merton College) said he dined with Mr. Burt on Sunday, parting from him at about eleven o’clock at night; Mr. Burt was not more depressed than he had been for the last month. He was a level-headed man and generally remarkably calm, and was the last person the witness would have thought would take his life. Mr. Burt had complained of the Oxford climate. He had served in the Royal Artillery and Royal Air Force in the war, and was wounded in the leg. He had complained of the difficulty he had in obtaining a house for his mother. Ernest F. Wellstood, Mr. Burt’s servant, said he noticed nothing unusual with him on Sunday evening. In the morning he had to force the door of the bedroom, and then saw him hanging by a piece of cord attached to a staple in a beam. Evidence of complaints by Mr. Burt of sleeplessness was given. Professor S. Alexander, Professor of Philosophy at Manchester University, with whom Mr. Burt had worked as assistant lecturer, said he considered Mr. Burt had undertaken a great deal of work. Mr. Burt was not a strong man, and last term appeared to have been overworked. He had not, however, complained of ill-health, and was usually cheerful and gay. But from time to time there were signs of mental depression. He had various worries and all sorts of questions to decide for himself. One was whether he should stay at Oxford or go back io Manchester. He appeared at times to have lost confidence in his power to do his teaching, but this was not justified. He had considerable responsibilities for a young man, and they weighed rather heavily on him. He was so absolutely devoted to his mother and sisters and so happy in his family life that nothing could explain his action except that sudden impulse had destroyed his self-control. A verdict of suicide whilst temporarily insane was returned.”

Roger Francis Busby (July 1937 – 8 May 2019). Oriel College, Oxford. Varsity match 1959. Educ. Eastbourne College. Matric. Oriel, 1956. Played chess for Hampshire, 1950s, and also Oxfordshire.

Colin Edmund Campbell (10 January 1871 – 21 September 1951). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity match 1893. Occ. merchant; private means.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Colin Edmund Campbell TRINITY HALL Michs. 1890 Born Jan. 10, 1871 Adm. at TRINITY HALL, 1890. S. and h. of Colin Glencairn, Esq., of 47, Hertford Street, Mayfair, London, W. B. Jan. 10, 1871. School, Charterhouse. Matric. Michs. 1890; Exhibitioner; Scholar, 1891; B.A. (Class. Trip., 1st Class, Pts I and II) 1893; M.A. 1897. Fellow, 1896-1902. Of Ardpatrick; present representative of the family. Of 9, Lower Belgrave Street, London, in 1938. (Burke, L.G., sub Campbell of Ardpatrick; Univ. Parl. Reg, 1938.)

Henry Clifford Care (2 February 1892 – 10 November 1979). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1914. Wrangler, Mathematical Tripos Part 2, 1913. From Sheerness, Kent. Educ. University College School. Clerk of the Higher Division, War Office, 1915. Director of Finance, War Office (1940s). C.B., New Year’s Honours, 1948. Drew with Blackburne in a simul, Cambridge, 21 November 1914. Played correspondence chess for Middlesex, 1920s.

Francis Parker Carr (13 June 1860 – 15 June 1945). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1879, 1880, 1881 and 1882. Worked in family business, Carr’s Inks. Born in Southwark, died in Worthing. Father of Edward Hallett “Ted” Carr (1892-1982), history professor and author. Defeated Zukertort in a simul, 1885. Played for Athenaeum CC, 1890s and 1900s, and also for Middlesex.

Alumni Oxonienses: “Entered Lent, 1879, Adm. pens. at St Catharine’s, Jan. 25, 1879. S. of Robert. B. in London. [School, City of London.] Matric. Lent, 1879; B.A. 1882. Brother of Edward R. (1871).”

George Carruthers (29 July 1891 – ? December 1914). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1912, 1913, 1914. Educ. Wilson’s Grammar School, Camberwell. Read Natural Sciences (Chemistry), 1910-13. 2nd Class hon., Final School, 1913. Played chess for Oxfordshire.

Edward Winter’s Chess Note CN3351 about the chess and games book author Hubert Phillips (1891-1964) has some info about Carruthers who was at college with him. Carruthers read chemistry, got a 2nd class degree and Phillips wrote that “a few weeks before the war began he died of erysipelas [bacterial skin infection]… aged 22… he must have been the hardest-up man in college.”

Another Chess Note – CN3557 – provides further data: “From Julia Walworth (Research Fellow and Librarian, Merton College, Oxford):

‘The information in the Merton College Register is rather sparse: George Carruthers was born on 29 July 1891. He was educated at Wilson’s Grammar School in Camberwell; he was a student in Chemistry at Merton from 1910 to 1913, and was a Postmaster (the Merton equivalent of Scholar). In 1913 Carruthers received his B.A. A date of death is not recorded.’

Winter also communicated with Alice Millea, Assistant Keeper of the Archives, Bodleian Library, Oxford, who wrote:

‘George Carruthers matriculated (was admitted to the University) on 18 October 1910 from Merton College. According to the form which he completed at matriculation, he was born on 29 July 1891 in Camberwell, Surrey, the first son of Francis James Carruthers, a “cashier” by that time deceased. He was educated at Wilson’s Grammar School, Camberwell. He obtained his B.A. on 2 August 1913, achieving second-class honours in Chemistry. Deaths of University members were (and are) published in the University Gazette. I have checked the Gazette for 1914 but have found no record of the death of Carruthers.’

Ancestry.com provides further info in the shape of a user-generated family tree. I found a George Carruthers born in Camberwell on 29 July 1891 to Francis James and Frances (Fanny) Carruthers, both from Scotland, the father being a publisher’s bookkeeper who died in 1906. George Carruthers died in the 4th quarter of 1914 in Kendal, Westmorland, England, and was buried on 4 December 1914 in Heversham in the same county. (Later: one user-created family tree records the d.o.d. as 14 December 1914 but this looks wrong. Two others have 1 December 1914 which looks more likely; they make a reference to “Haversham school” being the place of death – should probably be “Heversham” – JS.)

Thomas Ivor Casswell (30 May 1902 – 2 August 1989). Pembroke College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity chess match but represented Oxford Past in matches vs Cambridge Past. Was a legal assistant in the Land Registry. Chessgames.com has a game he lost to RD Keene in the 1962 London League. Seems to have been an active correspondence player.

William John Chalk (24 January 1899 – 24 September 1960). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1920. Secretary, CUCC, Michaelmas 1920. Occ. schoolmaster (mathematics), King Edward VII School, Lytham, Lancashire, 1922. Was a ham radio buff in the 1920s, and also in the 1940s/1950s in Lytham. He and his wife (Selina Ellen) played badminton and tennis at a high level, sometimes as a mixed doubles pair, 1930s. “The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a secret British World War II organisation. It was officially formed on 22 July 1940 under Minister of Economic Warfare, Hugh Dalton, from the amalgamation of three existing secret organisations… [amongst the list of named SOE operatives] … William John Chalk (1899-unk)” (Wikipedia). Commissioned 2nd Lt., Royal Signals Corps., 20 January 1940. Mentioned (as ‘Bill Chalk’) in a book Between Silk and Cyanide: A Codemaker’s War, 1941-1945 by Leo Marks, p368, working in Cairo with SOE/Signals. “Mrs Chalk has presented ten guineas in memory of her husband, William John Chalk (1919), who died on 24 September 1960.” (Queens’ College 1959-60, March 1961, p5)

Malcolm Alfred Chamberlain (27 September 1919 – 23 March 1999). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics. Did not take part in a Varsity chess match but played for Bletchley vs Oxford University in 1944. Born Fulham, London, died Cheltenham. Known as ‘Mac’ (probably because of his initials). Educ. Manchester Grammar School. Worked at Bletchley Park during WW2 (1940-45), secretary of Bletchley Park Chess Society. Worked subsequently at GCHQ, Cheltenham. A member of Cheltenham Chess Club, graded up to about 165 in the 1980s, captain of their 2nd team [reference].

James Frederick Chance (9 April 1856 – 18 October 1938). Trinity College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1923 Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past match.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Adm. pens. at TRINITY, May 25, 1875. 3rd s. of James Timmins (next), of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. B[orn]. Apr. 9, 1856, at Birmingham. School, Eton. Matric. Michs. 1875; B.A. 1879; M.A. 1883. Entered the family firm of Chance Brothers and Co.; partner, 1884-90. Gave up business and devoted himself to history, making a special study of the politics and diplomacy of the Baltic countries in the eighteenth century. Editor of the Royal Historical Society’s publications entitled, British Diplomatic Instructions./I F.R.Hist.S.; Vice-President, 1935-8. Considered to be ‘the greatest English expert on Baltic policy in the eighteenth century.’ Hon. Secretary of the Eton War Memorial Fund. Of 30, Lennox Gardens, London, S.W. Author, George I and the Northern War; The Alliance of Hanover; A History of the Firm of Chance Brothers and Co.; The Pattinsons of Kirklinton, etc. Died unmarried Oct. 18, 1938, aged 82, in London. Brother of George F. (1874), etc. (Burke, IP. and B.; Who’s Who/I, 1939; IThe Times/I, Oct. 19, 1938.

[BCM, November 1938, p500] The President of the Imperial Chess Club, J. F. Chance, died peacefully in his sleep on October 18th, aged 82. The third son of Sir James Chance, the first baronet, he was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was the greatest authority on Baltic policy in the eighteenth century, and wrote many scholarly and painstaking volumes—George the First and the Northern War, The Alliance of Hanover, etc. He was a most popular Secretary of the Eton War Memorial Fund. As a chess player he was of medium strength, but was most generous in his support of tournaments and matches.

Charles Chapman (25 November 1855 – 11 May 1901). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1878, 1879. Clergyman and missionary.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: “Adm. pens. at ST JOHN’S, Apr. 25, 1876. S. of Charles, oil-merchant. B. Nov. 25, 1855, at Sydney, Australia. Bapt. June 3, 1856. School, Rugby. Matric. Michs. 1876; B.A. and LL.B. 1880; M.A. 1883. Ord. deacon, 1880; priest (Carlisle) 1882; Missionary (U.M.C.A.), 1880-1. C. of Millom, Cumberland, 1882-3. Held other curacies for short periods, 1883-5. C. of Lynsted, Suffolk, 1889. C. of Maindee, Monmouth., 1891. Chaplain to St Mildred’s Home, Bexhill-on-Sea, 1894-9. Died May 11, 1901, at Bath. (R. F. Scott.)”

Kenneth Preston Charlesworth (29 December 1918 – 8 October 2011). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1939, 1946, 1947 and also the unofficial match of 1940. Beat Znosko-Borovsky in brilliant fashion in the 1947 BCF Premier Tournament, Harrogate, while scoring 3½/11. Finished 3rd= in the 1946 BCF Major Open, Section 2.

James Thomas Chipperfield Chatto (30 April 1854 – 11 February 1907). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1876, 1877 and 1878. Clergyman. No BCM obit.

[https://www.westlondonchess.com/history]: “The West London Chess Club was founded in 1893 by the Reverend James Thomas Chipperfield Chatto… J.T.C. Chatto also produced the Amateur Chess Magazine from 1872* onwards – nearly 10 years before the arrival of the BCM. He left the [West London] club at the end of May 1897 to become the Vicar of East Kennett in Wiltshire, then in 1900 he became the rector of Blunston St. Andrew (slightly further north) until his death in 1907. He retained the [club] presidency until 1898, when it was taken over by Mr Atherley-Jones QC MP.”

BCM, Quotes & Queries, Feb 1954, p54: “The Amateur Chess Magazine was first issued on June 1st, 1872. the last number on June 1st, 1874. The editor was J. C. T. [sic] Chatto.”

Alumni Cantabrigienses: “Adm. pens. at TRINITY, Oct. 7, 1874. Of 7, Granville Square, London. S. of Robert [V. of Rockfield, Monm., 1845; died Feb. 9, 1867, in London]. B. Apr. 30, 1854, in London. [School, Wellington College.] Matric. Michs. 1874; B.A. 1878; M.A. 1881. Ord. deacon, 1875; priest (York) 1879; C. of Coatham, 1878-81. Assistant Master of Coatham High School, 1879-81. V. of Caundle Stourton, Dorset, 1880-6. C. of St Columb Major, Cornwall, 1884-5. V. of Ramsgill, Yorks., 1886-7. V. of St Cuthbert’s, Thetford, Norfolk, 1888. R. of Kirklington, Cumberland, 1889-91. V. of East Kennett, Wilts., 1896-1900. R. of Blunden St Andrew, 1900-7. Resided latterly at Swindon. Editor of several Chess Magazines. Died Feb. 11, 1907, aged 51. (Crockford; The Times, Feb. 13, 1907; Wellington Coll. Reg.)”

Claude Herries Chepmell (2 June 1864 – 18 November 1930). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1885. Educ. Marlborough. Occ. soldier (Major). Played in the 1904 British Championship, scoring 1½/11 (12th out of 12). Played county chess for Sussex, 1920s.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Claude Herries Chepmell TRINITY Entered: Michs. 1883 Born: 1864 Died: 18 Nov 1930 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 16, 1883. 2nd s. of Isaac, of 6, Brook Street, London. B. June 2, 1864, in Paris. School, Marlborough. Matric. Michs. 1883. In the Army, Royal Artillery, 1886; Major, 1904; retired, 1907. Served in the Great War (Major, R.G.A., Reserve of Officers). Died Nov. 18, 1930, aged 66, at Bristol. (Marlborough Coll. Reg.; The Times, Nov. 22, 1938.)

BCM, Jan 1931, p11: Major Claude Herries Chepmell died on November 11th [1930] and another veteran is gone. As far back as January, 1896, his picture as a lieutenant, appeared in Hoffer’s Chess Monthly where he was described as one of the most promising young players of the day. He was born in Paris in 1864, and was the son of a prominent London physician. Educated at Marlborough and Trinity College, Cambridge, he won a commission in the Royal Artillery in 1885. Two years before this he had met Lord Randolph Churchill at Bournemouth, and a series of games between these two decided him to try and become proficient as a chessplayer. How well he succeeded is proved by his long record for St. George’s Chess Club, Hants, and Sussex county. He won the Lowenthal cup in 1894, and the championship of Hong Kong in 1899. He always described himself as a pupil of Bird and was a strong attacking player. He took a great interest in problems latterly and also gave special prizes for tournaments for the boys’ and girls’ championships.

In an interesting letter, written a few years before his death, Major Chepmell says :-

A point affecting the young players of my generation, notably Locock and Wainwright: I think we placed the Queen’s sacrifice in the “ordinary player’s” hand as an effective weapon and that in so doing we brought the Queen’s power into much more correct perspective.
Before the ‘eighties the Queen was over-estimated, and even in ‘eighty-six J. H. Blackburne told me that he thought “the Queen was too strong for the board.”
Footnotes to games used to mention “Mates or Wins the Queen” as if they were absolute synonyms. (I think that one edition, Capt. Crawley’s Handbook of Games had some allusion to this.)
And the Queen sacrifice was looked on as something occult, and only permissible to Masters!
By the middle ‘nineties everybody was sacrificing Queens quite joyfully. (I remember Wayte commenting to me on the matter.) I am inclined to claim that change for my generation-though perhaps we were inspired by Howard Taylor to some extent.
This is scarcely meat for Who’s Who, but may be useful to anyone who is daring enough to write a history of the game from the tactical point of view rather than the antiquarian.

Ralph Nicholas Chubb (8 February 1892 – 14 January 1960). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1912, 1913. Poet, painter and artist. Wikipedia entry.

Francis William Clarke, O.B.E (26 May 1879 – 11 January 1935). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1901, 1902. Educ. Harrow. Occ. university professor, colonial office civil servant (WW1). Played at the 1908 BCF Congress (First-Class Amateur, Section B).

BCM, March 1935, p121: “Professor F. W. Clarke, M.B.E., died at his residence, St. Andrews, Worcester Park, Surrey, on January 11. He was a good chessplayer and for some years a member of the Imperial Chess Club. He was educated at Harrow and Pembroke College, Cambridge, and was a professor of English Literature, holding a position for some time at Bangor College before going to Poona, Bombay, which was his last professional appointment. He did some important work at the India Office, for which he received the M.B.E. during the war. He was a great walker, and was fond of climbing in the Dolomites; his other hobbies being mathematics and chess.”

BCM, April 1935, ppn 173-174: “In addition to, and in correction of, the obituary of Professor F. W. Clarke, M.B.E., on p. 121, we have been sent the following :—

F. W. Clarke was head of the Modern side at Harrow, and went up to Cambridge in 1898 with a scholarship at Pembroke. A good mathematician, he was forced by his college to read for the Mathematical Tripos, though his heart was with Shakespeare and the Elizabethan dramatists, or to surrender his scholarship. But in his fourth year he pleased himself, and got a first in the English section of the old Medieval and Modern Languages Tripos, a brilliant feat. No mathematical book was now allowed in his rooms : friends calling, after a mathematical lecture, had to leave in the gyp-room all that might recall the detested subject. He was successively Professor of English Literature at Poona, and Lecturer at Manchester and Bangor: he also once filled a gap at Birmingham. He left Bangor for the Colonial Office during the war, and retired with the M.B.E. shortly after it. He did not re-enter academic life. An only son, he had never been in anxiety about the future; and he spent the rest of his life with his mother, another striking character, who only survived him a few days, in his old home at Worcester Park.

“In India he had published a volume of introduction and notes to J. R. Green’s selections from Addison. When he returned to England, he edited, with Dr. Furnivall, the Old Spelling Shakespeare; and did much work for A. H. Bullen’s Variorum Beaumont and Fletcher. Unfortunately this great edition was a financial failure, and only the early volumes were published : so none of Clarke’s work for it was ever printed.

“Clarke had played chess at Harrow, among others with L. M’Lean, to whom he could give a good game—he said that his score was in the proportion of about 6 wins to 10 losses. But at Cambridge he did not discover the existence of a chess club till his third year. Then the formation of a college club led him to a knowledge of the University club. He joined it in the Lent Term, and walked straight into the team. He made a clean score in the London week, winning against Hastings, Metropolitan, British, City, Oxford, St. George’s, Ladies. In his fourth year he was secretary. After going down he was for a short period a member of the Metropolitan, while it met in a magnificent room at the Criterion: and later in life he was for a time a member of the Imperial, winning its championship. But he did not much care for the London chess resorts of the early nineteen hundreds, “those underground cellars” he called them. And he could be amusing about the amenities of a third club, where the barman, in his shirt sleeves, entered with a shout of “Any drinks, gents?” But, till the last six years of his life, he played a good deal in private, and at the Oxford and Cambridge Club, sometimes with the late H. D. Roome; and, at intervals, took part successfully in correspondence tournaments. One short correspondence game, with the late P. R. Gibbs, was published in no less than three chess columns. Could not someone disinter it, and republish it in the B.C.M.? He made only one appearance as a competitor at congresses—at Tunbridge Wells; and did well in the real First Class of the days before the Major Open.

“He was a strong and ingenious attacking player of the old school, with a deep knowledge of the openings, especially of the Giuoco Piano, Vienna, and Allgaier Gambit. A marked characteristic of his game was that, unless he pinned the King’s Knight, he was in no hurry to develop his Queen’s Bishop. This will interest amateurs who have played or talked with the late Amos Burn.

“Clarke was a man of many interests: cricket (he was in his house eleven at Harrow); walking among mountains, which led later to real climbing; music; the theatre; languages. His favourite haunts were, in succession, the Shakespeare country, Ootacamund, the Lake District, Skye, Italy, and the Dolomites. Italy was a late discovery, and became his second country: just as in Skye he had learned Gaelic and read “Ossian,” so now he threw himself into the study of Italian literature; and the Italian poets seemed to displace even the Elizabethans.

“He did not suffer fools gladly. At times, indeed, he did not suffer anyone gladly. He knew the value of time, and crowded into his not very long life the work and recreation of at least two ordinary men. But to his friends he was a most winning personality, his waywardness part of his charm. To them his hospitality was unbounded; and he gave them the benefit of his connoisseurship of the drama, as well as of food, wine, and tobacco. In conversation he was a master of satire. His stories had real flavour. And they feel that there has passed from among them a being utterly unlike anyone else, B.G.B.[Bertram Goulding Brown]

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Francis William Clarke PEMBROKE Entered: Michs. 1898 Born: 26 May 1879 Adm. at PEMBROKE, Oct. 1898. S. and h. of John F., accountant, of St Andrew’s, Worcester Park, Surrey. B. there May 26, 1879. School, Harrow. Matric. Michs. 1898; Scholar; B.A. 1901; (Med. and Mod. Lang.Trip., 1st Class, 1902); M.A. 1905. Sometime Professor of English Literature at Deccan College, Poona, India. Professor of Literature and Fellow, Bombay University. Assistant Lecturer in English at Victoria University, Manchester, till 1912. During the Great War, clerk in the Colonial Office, 1914-18. M.B.E. Of University College, Bangor, in 1934. [Died Oct. 2, 1935, aged 56, at Ulva, Argyllshire, which island he owned.] (Harrow Sch. Reg.; Burke, O.B.E.; Kelly, Scotland, 1928; The Times, Oct. 4, 1935.)

… but I have struck out the reference to Ulva – see the following, which seems to be about a completely different person …

The Scotsman – Thursday 03 October 1935: “DEATH OF MR FRANCIS W. CLARK OF ULVA.
The death occurred at his home on Tuesday [1 October 1935] of Mr Francis William Clark, of Ulva, Mull. Mr Clark had been a member of the Argyll County Council since its inception in 1900, and he retired from this body in 1932. His father was for many years Sheriff-Principal of Lanarkshire, and he was a nephew cf the late Sheriff Maclachlan. Oban. He held a scholarship at Balliol College, and was called to the English Bar, but did not practice. During the Great War he acted on the Tribunal for Mull. His only son holds a commission in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and is at present in India. The funeral takes place to the family burying-ground at Dunvormie, Ulva.”

(Sir) Richard William Barnes (“Otto) Clarke (13 August 1910 – 21 June 1975). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1930, 1931, 1932. Wikipedia. Senior civil servant, inventor of the original BCF grading system. OBE in 1944, CB in 1951, and KCB in 1964. Following his retirement from the civil service in 1971 he accepted directorships in a number of large companies, both in industry and finance. One of his sons, Charles, became Home Secretary in the Labour government of 2004-6.

Ken Whyld, in BCM, Jan 1978, p16-17, following an article on the 100 Best Chess Tournaments to 1960): “… virtually all of that work was done by a man to whom full tribute has not been paid in these pages. Sir Richard William Barnes Clarke, known from his youth as ‘Otto’, was born on 13 August 1910. He became a Wrangler while at Clare College, and played chess for Cambridge University in the three seasons 1930-1932 as second board to C.H.O’D.Alexander. (Third board was another brilliant man who died recently, Jacob Bronowski). After leaving Cambridge he gave up playing and yet, from behind the scenes, had a much greater influence on British chess than most who are better-known, just as he altered the shape of the nation without ever becoming a public figure.”

“Clarke worked for the Financial News from 1933 to 1939, and there, with H. Parkinson, devised what is now the Financial Times Index. Under the pseudonym ‘Ingot’ he wrote ‘Reorganization of the Iron and Steel Industry’, published by the Left Book Club. This was the blue-print for the nationalization of that industry.

“He became a ‘temporary’ Civil Servant at the outbreak of war, and stayed to reach the top, as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Technology. He was greatly concerned with the long-term control of public spending, and, with Lord Armstrong, reorganized the Treasury. It was his vision and energy that launched the forward survey recommended by the Plowden Report in the early 60s. After retirement from the Civil Service he became non-executive director of a number of companies, perhaps the best-known being E.M.I., G.K.N., and Courtaulds. The present British Ambassador to the U.S.A. called him the ‘paradigm of a Treasury knight’.

“Clarke had a fine understanding of statistics – he was Francis Wood prizeman of the Royal Statistical Society – and this may have led him to seek ways of evaluating chess performance. He was not only the originator, but also the backbone of the BCF grading system. This system has been one of the handful of reasons for the impressive rise in the strength of British chess in the last decade. Among the others, are the Slater Foundation and The Friends of Chess. Clarke was a founder and enthusiastic protagonist of the latter, as well as being a stalwart of the British Chess Education Trust. On each of these he worked hard without seeking publicity. When he died, on 21 June 1975, the chess world failed to give him the honours that were his due.”

“Those who, for example, have ever served on the Grading Committee know that Clarke had a fine grasp of detail while keeping policy objectives firmly in perspective. In this instance the knowledge of detail came from the huge amount of minute analysis he made himself. Among his papers, which Lady Clarke allowed me to examine, were many big files of rating calculations for all major players from the middle of the 19th century onwards. They were used by Clarke as the basis for articles, on the strength of players in former times, that appeared in BCM in 1953, 1960 and 1973, as well as for unpublished investigations…”

Edwin Darnley Clements (15 March 1923 – 23 October 2012). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1944. Worked in Meridian and Astronomy departments of the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Herstmonceux Castle from 1955 to 1982, retired to Guildford. Played chess for Hampshire, then for Guildford after retirement, “before encountering an age-old problem: ‘I couldn’t get to sleep after playing'” (obit online). Keen hill-walker.

Hubert Michael Close (22 December 1914 – 18 October 1999). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1936. Educ. University College School, Hampstead. 2nd in Part 1 of the History tripos, 1st in Part 2 of English (1936). Emigrated to India in 1937 to take up a post teaching English in Delhi. Served with the Rajputana Rifles during WW2, and moved to Peshawar in 1947, where he taught English and history at Islamia College before moving to Edwardes College. Author of A Pathan Company (1994) and Attlee, Wavell, Mountbatten and the Transfer of Power (1997). OBE, 1984. Memoir of him.

Eric Augustus Coad-Pryor (13 March 1890 – 18 October 1958). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914. Research chemist and chess administrator. Born in Dorchester, Dorset, died in Bromley, Kent.

[BCM, Dec 1958, p325 – obituary by D.J.M[organ]: “The tragic death of Mr. Coad-Pryor, as the result of a road accident near his home in Beckenham, means an irreparable loss to the chess life of this country, and a brief outline of his career will be of interest to our readers.

“Eric Augustus Coad-Pryor was born at Dorchester in 1890. He was educated at Haileybury and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with honours in the Natural Science Tripos. Leaving the university, he entered the metallurgical department of the National Physical Laboratory. In 1921 he became director of the research laboratories of the United Glass Bottle Manufacturers, and in this capacity served on a number of national and international technical committees. In 1931 he was invited to join the John Lewis Partnership, with which he had remained ever since, being, in the end, the Assistant Chief Inspector.

“His accomplishments were varied and many: in photography he was outstandingly skilful; he was an enthusiastic member of more than one dramatic society; he was a Kent county tennis player, and as a musician he was an excellent pianist. Chess was a dominant interest in his life. He played in the universities’ match, and amongst much else was a vice-President of the Kent County C.A., and one-time Champion, a vice-President of the British Chess Federation, where, in particular, his liaison work in connection with the National Chess Centre will be sadly missed; and a vice-President of the London Commercial Chess League. In his later life, he had given great encouragement to junior players: he was Deputy President of the Chess Education Society and had shown much practical interest in its work for many years.

“Above all, there remains the abiding impression of a personality of great charm, quiet but decisive in his deliberations on committee, and always showing outstanding zest and loyalty in work, in play, and in companionship. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife and daughters.” – D. J. M[organ].

Victor Arthur Coates a.k.a. Arthur Cootes (1 February 1907, New York, USA – 1 December 2002, Ireland). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1926, 1927. Educ. prep school (Wales); Uppingham. B.A., 1929, M.A. 1933. Teacher, later timber expert, charcoal manufacturer. Took part in the 1925 BCF Congress whilst still at Uppingham, and also a subsidiary section at the 1936 Nottingham Congress. Later in life, after he had assumed the name Arthur Cootes as his chess persona, he took part in the 1970 and 1971 BCF 1st Class tournaments, and the 1983 British Veterans Championship. Ulster Chess Union President, 1974-1977. Obituary, Ulster Chess Union website. Chessgames.com.

John Crowle Cock (31 December 1932, Falmouth – ?). Jesus College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1956. Played for Cheletenham CC, county chess for Cheltenham. Regular player at Paignton. Grade 4b (187-192), 1956 BCF grading list; 3b (201-208), 1958 BCF grading list. Also took part in go competitions (1st dan).

Laurence Jonathan Cohen (7 May 1923 – 26 September 2006). Balliol College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity matches 1941 (one source gave this as a win by default), 1942. British philosopher, usually referred to as L. Jonathan Cohen. Fellow, Queen’s College, Oxford (1957-1990). Codebreaker, Bletchley Park. Served in naval intelligence in the Far East from 1942-1945. Wrote an article (‘Chess as a Model for Language’, Philosophy 11, 1982, p51-87). No other chess references found. Wikipedia.

Rev. John Coker (28 July 1821 – 30 July 1901). New College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1887 Oxford Past v Oxford Present match. Educ. Winchester.

Alumni Oxonienses: Coker, Rev. John, 2s. Thomas Lewis, of Cheltenham, arm. New Coll., matric. 27 July, 1839, aged 17; fellow 1839-56, B.A. 1843, M.A. 1847, dean of divinity 1850, bursar 1851, sub. warden 1853, dean of arts 1852, rector of Tingewick, Bucks, 1855. [10]

Stanley Norman Collings (1 November 1919 – 2 November 1987). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity Match 1942. Author of Theoretical Statistics: Basic Ideas (Transworld 1971). Reader in mathematics and statistics at the Open University, which has an annual Stanley Collings prize, awarded by the School of Mathematics and Statistics to the student whose Mathematics Education assignment best combines innovation in devising materials suitable for learners and insightful analysis of their learning. Receives an acknowledgement from Margaret R B Clarke in her book Advances in Computer Chess: Pergamon Chess Series, Volume 3 for “providing the original inspiration for this project, an inexhaustible supply of intriguing problems and valuable comments on Example 5.” Problemist.

Francis George Tims Collins – see under Francis George Tims Collins

Malcolm Frank Collins (born 1935, Cheshire). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958. Educ. Sandbach School, Crewe. Emeritus professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. After eight years as a staff member of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell in England, he moved to McMaster University in 1969. Played for Oxfordshire on a high board, 1960s. President, Canadian Federation of Chess, 1976/77.

Thomas Basil Collins (24 May 1873 – 5 July 1927). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity match 1895. Educ. Newport School. 3rd in mathematics, 1893; 3rd Natural Science (chemistry), 1895. Occ. schoolteacher. Member of City of London CC. Chess for Shropshire, 1900.

Oxford Men and Their Colleges: Collins, Thomas Basil, born at Newport, Salop, 1873 ; o.s. Tom, gen. Christ Church, matric. 16 Oct., 91, aged 18, from Newport school.

Eugene Ernest Colman (11 October 1878 – 20 July 1964). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1900, 1901. Wikipedia entry. Colonial servant, Malay States. A variation of the Two Knights’ Defence was named after him: he analysed it whilst a prisoner of war in Changi Prison during WW2. Played in the 1933 BCF Premier. A member of Wimbledon CC after the war. See also Chess in Changi, BCM, January 1946 p13-14.

Excerpts from his obituary, BCM, October 1964, p298-300: “E. E. COLMAN [by Bruce Hayden] With the death of Mr. E. E. Colman of Wimbledon, Surrey, on July 20th, at the age of eighty-five, there passes one of the few remaining links with British chess at the turn of this century and a notable figure who has left his imprint on present-day play with the Colman Variation of the Two Knights’ Defence which he discovered while suffering the privations of a notorious Japanese concentration camp in World War II… From St. Paul’s School, London, he went up to Cambridge University, entering Trinity where he took First Class Honours in Classics and a fourth-year Second Class in History… won on top board in the annual match against Oxford University and later that year he gained the special commendation of the great American grandmaster H. N. Pillsbury for his win on top board for the Combined Universities team against the team of four leading U.S. universities in the series of annual cable matches… in 1902 he left for service in Malaya… he entered for the British Championship at Oxford in 1910 but obviously suffering from lack of hard practice he finished in sixth place out of twelve players but drew with Blackburne who was one point below the winner, Atkins… in the Kent and Sussex Congress at Tunbridge Wells [1911] he took third prize below Yates… during a visit to Paris he acquitted himself well in a series of games with Frank Marshall, who had inherited Pillsbury’s crown as U.S. Champion.

“On his retirement in 1933, Colman stayed on in [Malaya] and carried out a number of important functions, among them as a member of the Commission which periodically reviewed the civil and criminal code… [as a POW of the Japanese] To keep his fellow prisoners’ minds off the dread summons he taught them chess and wrote out opening variations on scraps of paper. Meanwhile he himself studied an old variation of the Two Knights’ Defence: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8.
Qf3. Colman’s move was 8…Rb8, with the point that after 9. Bxc6+ Nxc6 10. Qxc6+ Nd7, with a formidable attack… Eventually his weight had fallen to six stone and he was reduced to a skeleton unable to walk. Rehabilitated and settled in Wimbledon, Colman tried out his variation in the London League. Its success was immediate. It was used in master play and given in opening textbooks with the title of the Colman Variation. But Colman himself wished for another name to be added; that of Dr. Yeoh Bok Choon of Singapore. Dr. Yeoh, himself a strong player, was a close friend who had smuggled in the set of chessmen Colman used in the camp in addition to food.”

Alexander Richard Campbell Connell (4 December 1851 – 26 May 1895). Trinity College, Oxford. Varsity match 1874. 4th s. of James Connell, of Nutfield, co. Lancaster, cler. Trinity College, matric. 25 Jan 1871, B.A. 1876. b 4 Dec 1851, bapt. 13 April 1852, Nutfield, s. of James and Elizabeth Connell, died 26 May 1895, Beacon View, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight. Father was a clergyman, vicar of Hammersmith in 1871. Charterhouse memorial in Latin, says 4 Dec 1861, but must be 1851, gives date of death as 26 May 1895. Played cricket for Charterhouse and Old Carthusians, appears in cricket stats databases, played a few games at Lords, including one for MCC v Northamptonshire in 1881.

Henry Gosse Winfield Cooper (1 April 1872 – 15 August 1922). Oriel College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896. Educ. Haileybury. Hon. Mods., Classics (Class 3, 1893); B.A (Class 4, Classics, 1895), M.A. Clergyman (after Oriel, studied at Wycliffe Hall; ordained deacon, 1896, St Albans; priest, 1897, St Albans). Vicar of Hampstead Norreys, Newbury, Berkshire, at the time of his death; he died in Mont-Dore-les-Bains, Puy de Dôme, Clermont Ferrand, France. His father Rev. Winfield Cooper played in the 1892 Oxford Past v. Cambridge Past match.

Oxford Alumni: “Cooper, Henry Gosse Winfield, born at Redhill, Surrey, 1 April, 1872; 1s. Winfield, vicar of Crawley, Sussex. ORIEL, matric. 27 Oct., 91, aged 19, from Haileybury.”

(William) Arthur Cooper (20 March 1883 – 29 October 1943) King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1908, 1909. Educ. Friends’ School, Wigton; Ackworth School; M.Sc., Leeds University. King’s Cambridge from 1905: 1st Class Hons (20th Wrangler), Mathematics Tripos Part 1, 1908. Price Exhibition, 1907 and 1908. 2nd Class, Mathematics Tripos Part 2, 1909. Occ. teacher: taught Ackworth School, Manchester Grammar School, Edinburgh Academy and Tettenhall School (where he was in 1916). WW1, conscripted as private, South Staffordshire regt, 1916, but was eventually exempted from military service as a conscientious objector, working as a power plant assistant at the York Cocoa Works for the rest of the war. From 1919, resident master & mathematics master, Bootham School, York. Appointed headmaster, Friends’ School, Ackworth, 1929. Was also a keen cross country runner, mountaineer, football and hockey player. Continued to play club chess after Cambridge, e.g. while teaching in Edinburgh in 1910, York in 1920s, 1930s.

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Wednesday 17 June 1908 (citation for his Wrangler result in the 1908 Mathematics tripos at Cambridge): “William Arthur Cooper was born at Cockermouth, Cumberland, on March 20th, twenty-five years ago, being the son of Mr. William John Cooper. Leaving a private school, he went to the Friends School, Wigton then on to Ackworth and then to Leeds University, arriving at King’s College three years ago, where last June he obtained the Price Exhibition. He has been coached by Mr. J. G. Leatham1, St. John’s, with Mr. W. H. Richmond as the college tutor. He is well known as a cross-country runner, and has obtained his half-Blue for chess.”
1 John Gaston Leathem was the brother of George Leathem who also played in the Varsity chess match and was a Wrangler.

Staffordshire Advertiser – Saturday 01 July 1916: “CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS – RE-APPEARANCE BEFORE LICHFIELD CITY TRIBUNAL Five conscientious objectors appeared before a district court martial at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, on Wednesday, charged with disobeying the lawful commands of superior officers by not parading for medical inspection… the accused again appeared before the Court, together with [Ronald Edward Pond and] William Arthur Cooper, Tettenhall. Pond and Cooper are both graduates of Cambridge University, and prior to being conscribed as soldiers were house masters at Tettenhall College, Wolverhampton. Cooper, in a written statements, said he yielded to no one in his admiration for those who, hating war, had yet felt that it was their duty to go out and avenge the wrongs of Belgium. But however much he admired them, he could not but feel that they were mistaken, for never by crushing a people could we crush a spirit in that people, and he feared that in trying to crush German militarism we had already taken some steps to plant that militarism in our own land. At York Castle, the accused added he spent a day and night in irons on bread and water, but even that did not destroy his conscientious objection to the life of a soldier.”

Rev. Winfield Cooper (3rd qtr of 1843 – 11 February 1896). Wadham College, Oxford. Did not play in a varsity match but took part in the 1892 Oxford Past v. Cambridge Past match. Father of Henry Gosse Winfield Cooper who played for Oxford in the 1893-1896 Varsity matches.

Alumni Oxonienses: Cooper, Winfield, o.s. John, of Dunstable, Beds, arm. Wadham Coll., matric. 16 Oct., 1863, aged 20; B.A. 1866, M.A. 1870, vicar of Copthorne, Sussex, 1881.

Arthur Cootes – see Victor A Coates

Peter Fairbairn Copping (12 October 1922 – 18 December 1989). St Catherine’s College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity matches 1941, 1942. Solicitor, based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Played in the 1954 British Championship, scoring 5/11. Also played at Paignton and in the West of England (WECU) Championship, winning the WECU title in 1956. High board for Wiltshire. Was also a published problemist.

Sir John Warcup Cornforth (7 September 1917 – 8 December 2013), AC, CBE, FRS, FAA. St Catherine’s College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity matches 1941, 1942. Australian–British chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975. Completely deaf by the age of 20. Gave a blindfold simul against 12 players whilst still an undegraduate in Australia in 1937. Played in the 1936 Australian Championship in Perth and the inaugural (1937) Australian Correspondence Chess Championship. Member of Hampstead CC in the 1950s, winning their club championship in 1953, 1956 and 1957. Played on a high board for Sussex for many years, with a playing strength equivalent to 2300 at his best. Was a student and academic colleague of Sir Robert Robinson, also a Nobel laureate and chess player. Wikipedia. Chessgames.com.

Giovanni Marie Denis George Costigan (15 February 1905, Kingston-upon-Thames, England – 24 March 1990, cruise ship, Mediterranean). St John’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1926, 1927. History professor and author, peace activist and humanitarian. PhD, University of Wisconsin. History department, University of Washington. Wikipedia. Biography.

Charles Alfred Coulson (13 December 1910 – 7 January 1974). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1931, 1932. Twin brother of John Metcalfe Coulson who played alongside him in the 1932 Varsity match (see below). Professor of Theoretical Chemistry. Educ. Clifton College, maths scholar, Trinity, 1928. PhD, 1936. Senior lecturer in maths, University College, Dundee, 1938. Conscientious objector, WW2. Lecturer, Oxford, 1945. Prof. of theoretical physics, King’s College, London, 1947. Rouse Ball prof. of maths, Oxford, 1952. Prof. of theoretical chemistry, Oxford, 1972. Methodist; chairman of Oxfam, 1965-71.

John Metcalfe Coulson (13 December 1910 – 6 January 1990). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1932. Twin brother of Charles Alfred Coulson who played alongside him in the 1932 Varsity match and also in the 1931 match (see above). Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Newcastle upon Tyne (formerly University of Durham), 1954-75 (on leave of absence to Heriot-Watt University, 1968-69). Educ: Clifton Coll.; Christ’s Coll., Cambridge; Imperial Coll. Work: Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, 1935-39; Asst Lectr, Imperial Coll., 1939; Ministry of Supply (Royal Ordnance Factories), 1939-45; Lectr in Chem. Engineering, Imperial Coll., 1945-52; Reader, 1952-54. Hon. DSc Heriot-Watt, 1973. Davis Medal, IChemE, 1973.

John Rycroft Coward (2nd qtr, 1929 – 19 May 2012, Harrow). Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1950. Played in the 1949/50 Hastings, Premier Reserves C. Was a civil servant – graded 4b (185-192) on the 1956 BCF Grading List. Selections editor for The Problemist magazine, 1990s. Solver and competitor in the British Chess Solving Championships. Obituary in The Problemist.

William Robert Cox (2 January 1922 – 27 June 1981). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1944 Bletchley vs Oxford University match. Bletchley Park 1941-45. Sir (William) Robert Cox, KCB 1976 (CB 1971) Born 2 Jan. 1922; s of late William Robert and Berthe Marie Cox, Winchester; m 1948, Elizabeth Anne Priestley Marten; (from his Times obit): “… educ. Peter Symonds School, Winchester and at Christ’s College, Cambridge. After entering the Civil Service in 1941¶ he transferred to the Foreign Office and then joined the Ministry of Town and Country Planning in 1950.” Eventually became chief executive of the Property Services Agency. (¶ i.e. recruited to the Civil Service aged only 19.)

James Marston Craddock (4 June 1913 – 27 December 2001). Magdalene College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1933, 1934, 1935. Educ. Cardiff High School and later King Edward’s School, Birmingham. After university, became a civil servant (Inland Revenue) but later became a meteorologist (with the Met Office, Bracknell), published a book (The Place of Statistics in Meteorology, 1972). British Boys (U18) champion in 1929, 1930 and 1931, winning the first two championships with 100% scores. Scored 3/11 in the 1937 British Championship. Represented the Civil Service in matches. In the 1930s played county chess, firstly for Warwickshire, then for Surrey. Later, when living in Dunstable in the 1950s, he played on top board for Bedfordshire, and in the 1960s played for Berkshire (and the local club Premier Precision), into the 1970s. He had a grade of 200 in 1968 (Elo equivalent 2200).

Rev. William Alban Cunningham Craig (15 November 1872, Edinburgh, Scotland – 25 March 1922, London). St John’s College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1922 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match. Casberd exhibition, St John’s, 1894. B.A., 1895. Played in the 1919, 1920 and 1921 BCF Congresses. Curate, St Paul’s, Dundee, 1897. Curate, St Andrew’s, Earsfield, 1900. Vicar of St Sepulchre’s, Holborn, from 1913.

Alumni Oxonienses: Craig, William Alban Cunningham, born at Edinburgh 15 Nov., 1872;1s. Edward Cunningham, deceased. St. John’s, matric. 17 Oct., 91, aged 18, from university of Glasgow.

Pall Mall Gazette, 29 March 1922: CITY VICAR’S DEATH.
KILLED BY A SKIDDING STEAM WAGGON.
A City coroner’s jury this afternoon returned a verdict of accidental death at an inquest on the Rev. William Alban Cunningham Craig, aged forty-nine, vicar of St. Sepulchre’s, Holborn.
On Wednesday afternoon last Mr. Craig left his residence in Charterhouse-square, E.C., and ten minutes later stepped off the kerb in St. John’s-street in front of a steam waggon, which skidded and knocked him down. It was stated that he was blind in one eye. and did not look to see if any traffic was coming before leaving the pavement. He died in St. Bartholomew’s Hospital on Saturday from the effects of gas gangrene, the result of the injury.
The jury exonerated the driver of the steam waggon.

Westminster Gazette – Thursday 30 March 1922: KILLED IN STREET.
INQUEST ON PARTLY BLIND VICAR.
A verdict of accidental death was returned at the inquest at the City Coroner’s Court yesterday on the Rev. William Alban Cunningham Craig, aged 49, the partially blind vicar of St. Sepulchre’s, Holborn, who, run over by a steam-wagon in St. John-street. E.C., on Wednesday week, died from his injuries in St. Bartholomew’s Hospital on Saturday. The evidence showed that Mr. Craig, who was blind in the left eye, left his residence, 5, Charterhouse-square, at 2.30p.m., and the accident happened ten minutes later. The fireman of the steam-wagon said Mr. Craig stepped off the pavement two feet in front of the vehicle, and did not keep a proper look out for traffic.
The scene of the accident, it was said, was a few yards outside the City boundary, so a Metropolitan police-constable who was called telephoned for the London County Council ambulance instead of sending for the City ambulance stationed near St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Mr. Craig lay in the roadway covered with a coat for about 20 minutes before the ambulance arrived from near Russell-square, Holborn, and he was admitted into hospital at 3.2 p.m. The constable explained that he was not aware that there was a City ambulance within 200 or 300 yards of the accident.
Edward Thorpe, of 30, West Smithfield, said be arrived ten minutes after the accident and was surprised to find the vicar in the centre of a large crowd. Mr. Craig asked him to go and tell his wife that he had met with a slight accident, but a policeman said. “Don’t do anything of the sort.” The crowd shouted “Shame” when nothing was done to relieve Mr. Craig.
Medical evidence was given that death was due to gas gangrene following a lacerated wound of the left thigh.

Robert Edward Harold Crosbie, C.M.G., O.B.E (24 January 1886 – 4 August 1950). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1907. Educ. Cheltenham College. Open scholarship for Classics, 1904. 2.2 in Classical tripos, 1908. WW1, Capt. Royal Army Service Corps. Civil servant, Mandatory Palestine, 1921-1948, and Transjordan, 1926-1928. O.B.E., 1927. C.M.G. for Colonial Administrative Service as a District Commissioner in Palestine. Also played chess for Builth Wells, 1905.

Edward Chorley Crosfield (21 September 1918 – 17 December 2000). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1945, and the 1944 Oxford University vs Bletchley match. Born Beaconsfield, Bucks, died Brighton, Sussex. Known in family and at Oxford as ‘Ned’ (Times obit, 20 December 2000, et al.). From a Quaker family (Cadbury in his maternal line). Educ. Leighton Park School, Reading. Civil servant; assistant commissioner, National Savings (1950s); later HM Treasury (Senior Information Officer, Principal Information Officer, Deputy Head, Information section). (In reporting the 1944 Bletchley match, BCM erroneously gives EC Corfield, CHESS gives EC Crossfield.)

(Sir) Alfred Rupert Neale Cross (15 June 1912 – 12 September 1980). Worcester College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934. Jurist, academic lawyer, blind chess player (went blind at the age of one). Known as Rupert Cross. Wikipedia • Chessgames.com

Obituary, BCM, Nov 1980, p576: “Professor Sir Rupert Cross, who died on September 12th [1980], aged 68, was an outstanding authority on law and a Fellow of the British Academy, and was a distinguished chess player in his earlier days. He vied with Sir Theodore H. Tylor as the strongest blind player of his generation. He was educated at Worcester College for the Blind and Worcester College, Oxford, and he played chess for Oxford against Cambridge in four successive years 1930-33 [actually 1931-34 – JS],winning three times on 1st or second board, and losing only to C.H.O’D. Alexander. [In 1934] he was fourth [fourth equal – JS] in the British Championship.
After he came down from Oxford he qualified as a solicitor in 1939, and worked for many years with a London firm of solicitors. He then became interested in law teaching, and joined the Law Society’s School of Law in 1944, afterwards joining the Law Faculty at Oxford, where he became a Professor at All Souls in 1964. He wrote a number of books on Law, of which Cross on Evidence is still a leading authority. The cheerfulness and good humour which characterised his teaching was readily apparent in his student days, and it was a great loss to British chess when he gave up serious competition in pursuance of his career. He still counted chess, however, as a recreation, which too often nowadays it ceases to be.
To his widow, Heather, we extend our appreciative sympathy. A. Perkins.”

Rev. Edward Ilbert Crosse (2nd qtr of 1853 – 6 May 1896). Exeter College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1894 Oxford Past v Cambridge Past match. Occ. solicitor, 1878-1882; ordained priest, 1883. Vicar of Long Wittenham, 1887-1890. Hon. sec. of the Sussex Chess Association.

Alumni Oxonienses: Crosse, Rev. Edward Ilbert, 1s. Robert Jennings, of South Molton, Devon, gent. Exeter Coll., matric. 19 March, 1872, aged 18; B.A. 1875, M.A. 1878, a solicitor 1878-82.

BCM, 1896, p244-245: Rev. E. I. Crosse.—Chess in the Southern counties has sustained a severe loss in the death, under tragic circumstances, of the Rev. Edward Ilbert Crosse, so widely respected and esteemed as the hon. sec. of the Sussex Chess Association. About a year ago Mr. Crosse suffered a severe accident, resulting immediately in the loss of one of his eyes, and ultimately, it is believed, in the complete breakdown of his health. In January he went to Bournemouth, where, under the care of his doctor and of his devoted wife, he was rapidly regaining health and spirits. On Tuesday, May 5th, he went out after breakfast, bought a morning paper, and strolled up the West Cliff to read it. It is supposed that in his partially blind state he lost his footing; he was found terribly shattered at the bottom of the cliff, and died the following day in the hospital, without ever regaining consciousness.

“Mr. Crosse,” as an evidently well informed correspondent in the Guardian writes, “was the son of the late Robert Jennings Crosse, head of a well-known firm of county solicitors, at South Molton, in Devon shire; and eventually, after having taken honours in the Law School, he became a partner in his father’s firm. He did not, however, find the law a very congenial profession, and about thirteen years ago offered himself as a candidate for holy orders, and was ordained by the then Bishop of Oxford to the curacy of Waddesdon, Bucks. Here he remained about three years, and whilst here he was married ; here, too, he delighted to have with him, from time to time, the many friends he had made either at Clifton College as a boy, or as an undergraduate at Oxford. He was possessed of a wondrous and incredible energy, which came out alike in the enthusiasm he threw into his pastoral work among the rustics of Oxfordshire or Sussex, and in the passionate interest he displayed in the two great hobbies of his life, music and chess.

In 1884, he took charge of the little village of Shipley, near Horsham, and there, so far as his ministerial labours were concerned, was done the best work of his life. No one who has ever stayed with him there can forget the intensity of his zeal, the vigour with which he drilled into first-rate order his little choir of village boys, the ceaseless rush of his cheery visitations from house to house, and the fresh vitality which he brought to every department of Church life in the parish. His post at Shipley was not a permanent one, and in 1887 he accepted from the fellows of his old college the living of Long Wittenham, in Oxfordshire. It was here that he first began to show signs of that nervous disorder which was to overshadow many of the remaining years of his life. He suffered from violent pains in the head, accompanied by great depression of spirits; it was difficult for his friends to recognise in the dejected vicar of Long Wittenham the energetic parish priest they had known at Shipley.

Eventually he gave up his living, and settled down at Henfield, in his beloved Sussex. In this breezy healthy spot he recovered his old self greatly, and though he never again took a permanent charge, he did a great deal of preaching and parochial work for his neighbours in the county.”

The Guardian correspondent does full justice to Mr. Crosse’s enthusiastic devotion to the popularisation of chess io Sussex, but here writes, perhaps, with less knowledge of his subject. Mr. Crosse had been three years hon. sec. of the Sussex Chess Association, and was match secretary for one year previously. He was a strong believer in county chess, and he worked most ungrudgingly to realize his ideal, keeping well in touch with the members of the larger clubs, while paying frequent visits to those village organizations in which West Sussex particularly abounds. He was not himself among the strongest players of the county, though decidedly skilful in simultaneous games, a faculty he made good use of in all parts of Sussex. His gift for chess organization, however, amounted almost to genius.

He knew personally almost every chess player in Sussex, and gauged their strength with wonderful accuracy; hence his success in the selection of teams for the county, and it may be added that, when once a man was chosen for a place, a succession of letters and telegrams left him little chance of declining the honour. Owing to ill-health he was not present at any of the matches of the County during the past season, and at the end of the year he gave up all chess work, including the publication of the Southern Chess Journal, and sent in his resignation to the committee. Mr. Crosse was a genial and entertaining companion, and was very popular both in his own county and among opponents. He was a member of the Oxford University Chess Club and of the St. George’s.

Alan Hamilton Crothers (2 February 1903 – 22 May 1988). Queen’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1923, 1924. Attended Manchester Grammar School. Played at Hastings and BCF congresses in fairly high sections. College secretary, Oxford, 1939.

Edward Alexander (Aleister) Crowley (12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1896, 1897. “English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, painter, novelist, and mountaineer” (Wikipedia) President of Cambridge University Chess Club but ousted in 1897 and later, in 1898, forced to resign from the club after committing an assault on his presidential successor, Cecil Tattersall. He played some chess in later life, after moving to Hastings.

Rev. William Alban Cunningham-Craig – see Rev. William Alban Cunningham Craig

Sir Henry [Harry] Ashbrooke Crump (31 December 1863 – 16 September 1941, Lisbon, Portugal). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1885. Occ. Indian civil servant. Elder brother of Louis Charles Crump who played in the 1890 Varsity chess match.

Alumni Oxonienses: Crump, Harry Ashbrooke, 2s. Charles, of Yeohampton, Devon, arm. Balliol Coll., matric. 17 Oct., 1882, aged 18 ; B.A. 1885.

Who Was Who: KCIE [Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire], 1921; CSI [Companion of the order of the Star of India], BA (Oxon);
b 1863; s of Charles Crump, Barrister-at-law; m Frances Gertrude, 2nd d of late E. J. Kennedy-Gleason, Limerick; three d. Educ: Balliol College, Oxford. Work: Joined the Indian Civil Service, 1885; served in the Central Provinces as Assistant-Commissioner, Commissioner of Excise, Deputy Commissioner; Chief Secretary to Chief Commissioner, 1901-02 and 1906-07; Officiating Chief Commissioner, 1912; Financial Commissioner, Central Provinces, India, 1913-20; retired, 1920. Recreations: shooting, motoring. Address: Villa Francesca, Alassio, Italy. Club: Royal Automobile. Died 16 Sept. 1941.

BCM, June 1926, p283: “Sir Henry Crump was born in Devonshire and learnt to play chess at home as a boy. He played for his college (Balliol) in 1885 and for Oxford University 1882-5. He returned from the Indian Civil Service some time ago and came to live at Alassio.” (BCM, June 1926, p283)

The Times, 17 September 1941: Sir Henry Ashbrooke Crump died in the English hospital in Lisbon yesterday, states Reuter. He was 78 years old. In 1920 he retired from the Indian Civil Service and had been living at Alassio, Italy. He went to Portugal recently as a refugee.

Sir Louis Charles Crump (2 January 1869 – 16 March 1960). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1890. Younger brother of Henry Ashbrooke Crump who played in the 1885 Varsity chess match. Occ. Indian civil servant, Bombay high court judge

Alumni Oxonienses: Crump, Louis Charles, born at Paignton, Devon, 2 Jan., 1869; 4s. Charles Ashbrooke, arm. Balliol, matric. 18 Oct., 88 (aged 17?), assist, collector and magistrate Surat [18]90.

The Times, 18 March 1960: Sir Louis Crump – Judicial Work in Western India – Sir Louis Crump died on Wednesday [16 March 1960] at the age of 91. He joined the Indian Civil Service in Bombay as far back as 1890, and in the last eight years of his service was a judge of the Bombay High Court. Louis Charles Crump, a son of C.A.W. Crump, barrister-at-law, was born on January 2 1869. After private education he passed the Indian Civil Service examination of 1888 and spent his two years’ probation at Balliol College, Oxford. He was posted to Bombay and after the customary early experience was assistant magistrate and collector, he was made under-secretary in the judicial, political and legislative departments in March 1899. Later he had brief experience as a political officer in the Kathiawar Agency. In 1904 he elected for the judicial side, and returned to district work as a judge. Early in 1909 he was appointed Secretary of Government and Legal Remembrancer. In 1918 he went to Karachi to be additional Judicial Commissioner in Sind. He returned to Bombay in 1919 to act on the Executive Council of the Governor for a short spell. He then went back to Karachi, this time to be head of the Judiciary of the sub-province. His tenure of the Judiciary Commissionship was brief, for early in 1921 he was made puisne Judge of the Bombay High Court. He was held in general esteem as a thoroughly competent and learned judge. He took little part in public affairs outside the High Court and found his recreation largely in bridge, billiards, and chess. He was knighted in January, 1928, and retired a year later. He married in 1893 Alice Clare, daughter of R. Russell, Auditor-General of Trinidad, by whom he had a son.

Harold Rigby Cullen (3 June 1873 – 20 August 1942). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1898. Occ. Principal, Marine School, South Shields (1907-1942). Obit., Shields Daily News – Friday 21 August 1942.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Harold Rigby Cullen CAIUS Entered: Michs. 1895 Born: 1873 Died: 20 Aug 1942 Adm. at CAIUS, Oct. 1, 1895. S. of James, deceased. B. June 3, 1873, at Manchester. School, Royal College of Science, London. Matric. Michs. 1895; Scholar; (Mech. Sci. Trip., Pt I, 1st Class, 1897; Pt II, 1st Class, 1898); B.A. 1898; M.A. 1903. Assistant Lecturer at Nottingham University College, 1898-1901. Senior Lecturer in Engineering at Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 1901-7. Principal of the Marine School, South Shields, 1907-42. Died Aug. 20, 1942. (Venn, II. 543; Univ. Cal., 1938-9; H. M. F. Gray; The Times, Aug. 22, 1942.)

Arthur Henry Augustus Currie (10 December 1874 – 22 June 1906). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity match 1898. Educ. Radley College. B.A., 1899 (law). Barrister, Inner Temple, 1901. Found dead from cocaine, self-administered, Noon’s Hotel, High Holborn. “Colonel Currie [father] stated that his son had suffered from mental aberration, and had been under the care of a doctor up till Thursday. He had been in the habit of taking very large doses of drugs.
A verdict of death from misadventure was recorded.” [Lancashire Evening Post – Monday 25 June 1906]

Charles Dalton (20 October 1900 – 1st qtr 1979). Hertford College, Oxford. Varsity match 1919. Educ. Huddersfield College (where HE Atkins was headmaster at the time). Top marks in (equivalent of) GCSE O-Level, mathematics and science, 1916. Open scholarship in mathematics to Hertford, 1917. 1st in Mathematics & Physics finals, 1922. Occ.journalist, political sub-editor. Managing editor of the Welwyn Hatfield Times.

Mark Daniels (22 February 1892 – 2 July 1973). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1913. Educ. LCC elementary school; Central Foundation School. Mathematical scholarship to Sidney Sussex. Wrangler, Mathematical Tripos, 1913. WW1, 2nd Lt., Royal Garrison Artillery. Occ. civil servant (India); controller, India Store Department, London.

India Office Register: DANIELS, Mark, O.B.E., B.A., Office of High Commr. for India (controller, store dept.) (b. 22nd Feb., 1892).—Educ. at Central Foundation School, London, and Sidney Sussex Coll., Cambridge (wrangler; scholar, 1910-14) ; apptd. temp. junr. clerk, finl. dept., 16th March, 1915; resident clerk (temp) Sept., 1915, to Dec., 1916; junr. clerk, store dept., 1st Nov., 1913; on mil. service from Dec., 1916 to Feb., 1919; transfd. to office of high commr. for India, Oct., 1920, as asst. controller, store dept.; senr. clerk, Dec., 1921, contr., April, 1922 ; O.B.E., June, 1934.

Geoffrey Clendon Daukes (12 December 1924 – December 1990). Trinity College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity match 1945. Educ. Charterhouse School (where he played on a high board for the chess team, early 1940s). In Coldstream Guards at some stage. “Was a member of Moral Re-Armament and lived many years in India” (British Museum website). Played in a Third Class Section, Hastings 1936/37, scoring half a point more than Grace Alekhine. Also played at Hastings 1935/36, as did his brother Tony Clendon Daukes (1920-78).

Harold Francis Davidson (14 July 1875 – 30 July 1937). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1901 (president), 1902, 1903. Educ. Whitgift School, Croydon. Played in the GB-USA universities cable matches, 1901, 1902, 1903. Occ. actor, entertainer, clergyman, showman. B.A, 1903. Ordained, 1903. Curate, Windsor, then at St Martins-in-the-Fields, London. Rector of Stiffkey, Norfolk, 1906. Became well-known for his social rescue work on behalf of “fallen” women and even styled himself the “Prostitutes’ Padre”. In the glare of national publicity he was found guilty of immorality by a consistory [clerical] court and ‘defrocked’ as a clergyman in 1932. Thereafter worked as a fairground showman and entertainer. In 1937 died as a result of injuries received from a lion at a fairground in Blackpool. Wikipedia.

Godfrey Davies (13 May 1892 – 28 May 1957). Pembroke College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914. English historian specialising in the 17th century. Assistant professor, University of Chicago, 1925. Chairman, Huntington Library, 1949-51. Lecturer in history, University of California, Los Angeles, 1938-45. Wikipedia.

Michael Davis, FRACI (12 April 1935, St Albans – 8 April 1998, Melbourne, Victoria). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960. Educ. Bexhill Grammar School. Foundation member and eventually Professor of La Trobe University’s Department of Organic Chemistry. He was involved in the first ever synthetic production of penicillin. State Scholarship, Natural Sciences, 1953. National Service, RAF. Represented England in the 1951 and 1952 Glorney Cup. Finished 1st= in the 1953/54 Hastings Premier Reserves A, then 1st in the 1956/57 Hastings Premier Reserves A. Drew a three-game match with former British champion William Winter, 1954. Represented England Students in 1957, 1960 and 1961 events. Grade 2b (217-224), 1958 BCF grading list. Biography by Brian Denman at the Hastings CC website.

John Dean (5 September 1917 – 23 July 1983). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939. Paediatrician, University of British Columbia, Canada, from 1955. MA, MB, BChir Cantab (1942), MRCP (1947) FRCP (1973). Educated at Wednesbury High School, obtaining an exhibition in natural sciences to St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where he was awarded first class honours in Part I of the natural sciences tripos in 1938. He received his education in clinical medicine at the Westminster Hospital medical school. Commissioned as temporary surgeon lieutenant RNVR and served in the Royal Navy, in HMS Ready, for three years.
Emigrated to Vancouver, Canada, in 1955. Took part in the 1935 British Boys’ Championship at Hastings, winning his preliminary section ahead of JF O’Donovan, who played a board below him in the 1939 Varsity match – but lost to Frank Parr in the final section to finish 3rd. Also played in post-war Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past matches. [primary biographical source]

William Stanley Deeth (born 1938). St Peter’s Hall, Oxford. Varsity matches 1957, 1958. Educ. Harrow County Grammar School for Boys. London Schoolboys Champion, 1955. SCCU Under-18 Champion, 1956. Represented England in the 1955 and 1956 Glorney Cup. Graded 4b (185-192) in the 1956 BCF grading list. Occ. clergyman; vicar of Byker and Morpeth, later vicar of Seahouses, Northumberland. [2012 article in the Northern Echo, with a photo]

Dr Frederick Deighton (20 April 1854 – 29 September 1924). Peterhouse, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1892 Cambridge Past v. Oxford Past match. Educ. Bishop’s Stortford Grammar School.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Frederick Deighton PETERHOUSE Michs. 1873 Born: 20 Apr 1854 Died: 29 Sep 1924 Adm. pens. at PETERHOUSE, Oct. 3, 1873. S. of John, surgeon, of Cambridge. B. Apr. 20, 1854. School, Bishop’s Stortford Grammar. Matric. Michs. 1873; B.A. 1877; M.A. 1884; M.B. 1888. Ophthalmic and Orthopaedic Assistant at St George’s Hospital, London; sometime Surgeon there. M.R.C.S.; L.R.C.P., 1883. Practised at Cambridge. Surgeon in charge of Addenbrooke’s Hospital; on the staff for nearly 30 years; retired, 1922. President of Cambridge Medical Society; of the Cambs. and Hunts. Branch of the B.M.A. University Lecturer in Vaccination, 1902. University Teacher, 1912. During the Great War, 1914-19, Lieut-Col., R.A.M.C. (T.F.). Of St Bernard’s, Hills Road, Cambridge. Died Sept. 29, 1924, aged 70. Brother of William G. (1874). (Medical Directory, 1924; Who was Who, 1916-28; Scott, MSS.; Cambridge Chronicle, Oct. 1, 1924.)

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Joseph Francis Palmer Deller (18 August 1894 – 18 June 1967). Lincoln College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1921, 1922. From Battersea, London. Educ. Battersea Polytechnic Boys’ Secondary School (later known as the Henry Thornton School, Clapham). B.Sc. (King’s College, London University, 1915); B.A. (Oxford, 1922). Teacher by profession. With the RNVR (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) from September 1916 to October 1917, working as a wireless operator, when he was transferred to Naval School as a master. Was a schoolmaster, head of science, in Battersea, 1939. Played corr. chess for Surrey, 1913. Photo as part of the 1921 Varsity team.

Albert Frederick Devonshire (30 October 1911 – 27 April 1983). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity match 1933. Mathematics lecturer in Cambridge, 1939. Academic specialising in ferroelectrics. 1938 photo.

Michael James Steuart Dewar (24 September 1918 – 10 October 1997). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1948 and the unofficial 1940 match. Organic chemist, wrote The Electronic Theory of Organic Chemistry. Born in Ahmednagar, India, on September 24, 1918, where his father was a civil servant. After Winchester, received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from Oxford. Professor of Chemistry at Queen Mary College, London, 1951. Kharasch Chair at the University of Chicago in 1959. University of Texas at Austin, Robert A. Welch research chair, in 1963. University of Florida as Graduate Research Professor, 1989. At Oxford he played chess with JW Cornforth who described him as “an excellent strategist though a poor tactician, and he was immensely proud of a contribution he made to the theory of a chess opening.” (John. N. Murrell. “Michael James Steuart Dewar. 24 September 1918-11 October 1997.” Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, vol. 44, 1998, pp. 129–140. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/770235.) From his autobiography A Semiempirical Life (American Chemical Society, 1992): “Oxford was a good place for chess during the war… [Sir Robert Robinson] was also an enthusiastic chess player. One of my many happy memories is an epic match Robert and I played one year in the Oxford County Championship, a titanic struggle that ended in a draw after more than 80¶ moves. It was published in The British Chess Magazine… my excursion into chess ended when we left Oxford because there was no chess club in Maidenhead.” (Robinson game ref. BCM, Nov 1941, p293, though the game was in fact only 55 moves long) Wikipedia. (¶ Game given below – BCM’s score has considerably fewer than 80 moves)

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Francis Ramsay Dinnis (25 May 1870 – 27 August 1929). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1891. Educ. King’s School, Peterborough. Occ. journalist. Was a member of Imperial CC and previous to that, Chess Bohemians and Lud-Eagle.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Francis Ramsay. Dinnis ST JOHN’S Michs. 1888 Born: 25 May 1870 Died: 27 Aug 1929 Adm. sizar at ST JOHN’S, 1888. S. of Francis Henry (above), V. of St Peter’s, Mile End, London. B. May 25, 1870, at Paddington. School, King’s, Peterborough (Rev. E. J. Cunningham). Matric. Michs. 1888; B.A. 1891. Journalist; for many years on the staff of the Evening News. A noted lawn tennis player and golfer. Resided in Jersey Road, Osterley, Hounslow. Died Aug. 27, 1929, aged 58, through being knocked down by a motor-cycle. (The Times, Aug. 28, 1929; Scott, MSS.)

BCM, December 1929, p440: “F. R. Dinnis was 58 years of age when he was knocked down by a motor cycle near his home at Osterley, being taken to Hounslow Hospital, to die without regaining consciousness. He was at St. John’s College, Cambridge, and played chess for his University in 1891. Apart from chess, he was good at lawn tennis and golf, while in the workaday world he was connected with journalism, being on the staff of The Evening News since 1899. In the obituary notice in that paper he is described as a quiet, learned, and polished man, with a whimsical humour.”

Capt. Ralph Carlyle St John Dix, M.C. & bar (29 December 1895, Chicago, Illinois – 3 December 1962, California, USA). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1919. Educ. Bedford Grammar School. WW1, 2nd Lt., 1/25 Cyclist Bn., London Regt.; Capt., RFC/RAF, 35th Squadron. Rec’d Military Cross and Bar from the King, 22 June 1918. D.o.b. sometimes recorded as 29 December 1894; he often dropped the ‘Carlyle ‘ component of his name. Flight details from 19 May 1918. Played cricket for his school and tennis at a high level after the war (Queen’s Club, etc). After WW1, occ. agent. Worked for Pacific Bridge Company, Alameda, California.

M.C. citation: Lieut. Ralph St. John Dix. London Regt. and R.F.C. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on a reconnaissance which lasted four hours he attacked enemy infantry with machine-gun fire and bombs. Though he was attacked by eight enemy scouts, one of which he shot down out of control, he obtained very valuable information. He did excellent work throughout the operations, flying at very low altitudes, and never spared himself in his determination to obtain accurate information and to inflict losses on the enemy. [from Flight Magazine, 27 June 1918, p708]

M.C. bar citation: Lieut. Ralph St. John Dix. M.C., Lond. R. and R.A.F.— for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in co-operation with artillery and reconnaissance at low altitudes. While on contact patrol, he observed two hostile T.M.’s in action, and getting no reply from the artillery, he dived at them, silencing both after firing about 200 rounds. Later, he drove off two hostile two-seaters. After this he was wounded in the arm, attacking a T.M. battery, but got safely back to his aerodrome, making an excellent report before being taken to a casualty clearing station. His energy and courage inspired his flight to a firm sense of duty. (M.C. gazetted June 22nd, 1918.)

Rev. Llewellyn Theodore Dodd (4 July 1878 – 3 February 1913). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity match 1898. Educ. St Paul’s School. 2nd class, modern history, 1900. “One of the first undergraduates to take an interest in the then newly-established Ruskin Hall.” (Evening Mail – Monday 10 February 1913) Vicar of Acocks Green, Birmingham, 1907-1913 after previously being curate of St Mary’s, Bryanston Square, London for six years. Having travelled to Hull for the funeral of his father on the Saturday, he was taken ill with appendicitis and died on the Monday without being able to attend the funeral.

Wordsworth Donisthorpe (24 March 1847 – 30 January 1914). Trinity College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1894 Cambridge Past v Oxford Past match. Educ. Leeds Grammar School. Occ. barrister, inventor, cinema pioneer, writer. Co-founder of the British Chess Association and the British Chess Club. Wikipedia.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Wordsworth Donisthorpe TRINITY Michs. 1866 Born: 24 Mar 1847 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, Oct. 28, 1865. S. and h. of George Edmund, of Moor Allerton, Leeds. B. Mar. 24, 1847, at Leeds. School, Leeds Grammar (Mr Barry). Matric. Michs. 1866; B.A. (Mor. Sci. Trip., 1st Class, 1869) 1870. Adm. at the Inner Temple, Nov. 22, 1870. Called to the Bar, 1879; only s. of the late George Edmund, Esq., of Harrogate, Yorks.’ Author, Principles of Plutology, Liberty or Law, etc. (Foster, Men at the Bar.)

From Chess Monthly, December 1890

Chess Monthly, 1890-1891, p98: “Wordsworth Donisthorpe, a Yorkshire man, was born on the 24th of March, 1847.
He completed his education at Cambridge University; took first-class honours, bracketed with Mr., now the Right Hon., A. J. Balfour; and was called to the Bar in January, 1875—“and never did anything since.” The latter indictment is Mr. Donisthorpe’s own, and prompted by his modesty. Mr. Donisthorpe has the good fortune to belong to the leisured class; but only in the sense that he is a gentleman of independent means, for he has devoted his leisure to the solution of various social problems.

He is the author of “Principles of Plutology,” published in 1876. It is not within our province to review this work, but anybody who would read the “Principles of Plutology” and then listen to Mr. Donisthorpe’s banter over a game of Chess, would be surprised that the Chess-player and author are identical.

“Serfdom, Wagedom, and Freedom” was published in 1880, and “Individualism” in 1889.

“Mr. Donisthorpe was first President of the State Resistance Union, 1881, which afterwards developed through his instrumentality into the Liberty and Property Defence League, in 1882.

“We suspect that Mr. Donisthorpe became an advocate of “Individualism” and an ardent opponent to ”State Legislation” through having been vaccinated under circumstances over which he had no control. Such interference with the liberty of the subject he has ever since resented.

“At the University he seems to have had a predilection for billiards, for he was second for the cue in 1867, and a twelvemonth later he beat the winner, giving the odds of 250, in a match of 1,000 up.

“His taste for Chess became more pronounced after he left the University. We then knew him as a Pawn and two player. Now he is an amateur of the 1st class, but he has no book knowledge, or if any, he has chosen, with characteristic spirit of opposition, either obsolete or entirely condemned variations, and he delights in struggling with opponents of equal strength, having the worst of the game at starting, and then to “wriggle” out of it either in the middle or end game. To get stalemated is the height of his ambition, and he puts the stalemate above the checkmate in point of merit.

“In spite of all these eccentricities Mr. Donisthorpe can play serious Chess when he is so minded. He has a natural aptitude for the game, and if he had the inclination to cultivate it he could aspire to an even higher rank. It is to be regretted that he has not followed the advice of Mr. Steinitz, who some years ago gave it as his opinion that, if Mr. Donisthorpe would practise seriously with him, after a series of one hundred games he could beat Mason. The latter has fortunately escaped defeat owing to Mr. Donisthorpe’s indifference to avail himself of Mr. Steinitz’s offer.

Nevertheless his record of successes is a very creditable one.

He beat F. J. Lee in a match by 5 games to 3; Fisher by 5 games to 2; W. M. Gattie by 5 games to 4; Jas. Mortimer by 9 games to 6; Anger by 5 games to 1; and won the Ruskin Competition at the B. C. A. Congress, 1887.

“We founded, together with Mr. Donisthorpe, the British Chess Club, and he was also one of the promoters of the British Chess Association. A close intimacy of many years’ standing has enabled us to observe his many sterling qualities. Under an assumed harsh surface, and a certain ostentatious cynicism, beats a warm heart full of noble impulses. We could cite many of his generous actions, which he would be the last person to acknowledge, because they are diametrically opposed to the “Principles of Plutology.”

Roland Melville Dowdeswell (23 October 1901 – 31 May 1956). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1923, 1924. Bacteriologist. Born in Bengal, educ. St Paul’s School. After Cambridge, did clinical training (MRCS, LRCP) at St Thomas’s Hospital, London. B.Chir. (Cantab), 1932. Joined colonial medical service, worked in Kenya and eventually medical research in bacteriology. Visiting professor, Beirut & Egypt. (BMJ obit). Keen tennis and squash player, married a leading woman tennis player, Sheila Paterson; their son Colin (born 1955) was a professional tennis player, reaching the Wimbledon men’s doubles final in 1975.

George Lewis Drake (3 August 1918 – 29 March 1980). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity match 1919. From Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Educ. Huddersfield College (whilst HE Atkins was headmaster). WW1 service, Pte. 28th unit of the London Regiment (number 769431), from 14 October 1918. Transferred to reserve, 28 February 1919, aged 20, after 148 days service. Occ. schoolmaster (Telford, 1939).

John Arthur James Drewitt (5 March 1873 – 19 March 1931). Magdalen College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity chess match but played a significant role for Oxford University Chess Club after WW1. See the article on the 1920 Varsity chess week by Brian Harley and also Drewitt’s BCM obituary and appreciation by J H Morrison appended to the Varsity history sources file.

Edward Hungerford Duke (17 November 1865 – 10 December 1934). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1886, 1887, 1888. Clergyman; rector of Wickham, Hampshire, 1893-1934. Edward Hungerford Duke, first son, born at Lake House [note: now inhabited by the pop singer Sting!], 17 Nov.; bap. 17 Dec 1865, at Wilsford. Educ. Schorne College, Buckingham (and, after Pembroke College, moved to Ridley Hall, Cambridge before being ordained). Foundation Scholar of Pembroke College, Cambridge; B.A. 1888; Rector of Wickham, Hants, 1893; mar. 1893, at Skipsea, Yorkshire, Margaret Hassell, second dau. of Rev Robert Thompson, and had issue – Robert (Robin) Edward, born 1894. (There is a memorial to him in Saint Nicholas Church at Wickham in Hants). Also Stephen Michael, born 1900. Appointed curate, Monk Fryston, 1887 (Times; obituary, Hampshire Telegraph, 14 December 1934) Attached to the Gordon Highlanders as a chaplain during WW1 and was wounded.

Cambridge Alumni: Adm. pens. (age 19) at PEMBROKE, Oct. 8, 1885. S. and h. of Edward, clerk, of Salisbury. B. there Nov. 17, 1865. School, private. Matric. Michs. 1885; B.A. 1888. Ord[ained]. deacon (York) 1889; priest, 1890; C[urate]. of Beeford, Yorks., 1889-90. C[urate]. of Wilsford, Wilts., 1890-3. R[ector]. of Wickham, Hants., 1893-1934. Served as a Chaplain in the Great War, 1914-19 (wounded). Died Dec. 10, 1934, aged 69, at Wickham. Buried there. (Crockford; Univ. War List; J. T. Rule; The Times, Dec. 11, 1934.)

BCM, September 1939, p396¶: “We are sorry to record the death since our last issue of the genial match captain of the Stock Exchange Club, E. H. Duke, who died at Barnet after an operation for appendicitis. Pleurisy and pneumonia intervened after he appeared to be recovering satisfactorily. He will be much missed by London players, for his well-known courtesy made any match with the Stock Exchange a friendly matter, and the Stock Exchange Club will find great difficulty in finding somebody to fill as ably the post he occupied.” (¶ this is all very confusing – E H Duke died nearly five years before and had nothing to do with the Stock Exchange CC. It is explained by the fact that the BCM editor/writer (probably RHS Stevenson) confused Edward Hungerford Duke with another player named Edward Herbert Jukes, born 1875, who did indeed die in Barnet in 1939. The detail of the obituary must refer to Jukes and not Duke, who thus went unobituarised in BCM. Just to make things even more confusing, BCM had already published an obituary for an 81-year-old Hastings player called E H Jukes in the July 1938 issue, p315, but I think this one is accurate – it’s a different E H Jukes, born 1857 – JS)

John Hull Dunkle (14 October 1915 – January 1998). Hertford College, Oxford. Varsity match 1939 and the unofficial 1940 match. Son of an Alaskan mining engineer and British mother, born Seattle, Washington, died in Alaska. Active in US OTB and correspondence chess into the 1990s, from as early as the 1930s.

Percyvall Hart Dyke (27 October 1871 – 25 June 1922). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1893, 1894, 1895. Barrister, politician.

Cambridge Alumni: “Dyke, Percyvall Hart. Adm. at KING’S, Sept. 30, 1891.
S. and h. of The Rt Hon. Sir William Hart, Bart., M.P., of Lullingtone Castle, Eynsford, Kent.
B. Oct. 27, 1871.
Educated privately.
Matric. Michs. 1891; B.A. 1894.
Adm. at Lincoln’s Inn. Called to the Bar, 1899. J.P. for Kent. A member of the Kent Education Committee and of the Kent County Council.
As a blind man his achievements were remarkable, for he was a good cricketer, and also played bridge and chess. Died June 25, 1922, aged 50, at Bournemouth. (Burke, P. and B.; King’s Coll. Adm. Reg.; Law Lists; The Times, July 1, 1922.)

BCM, 1922, p308: “We learn with deep regret the death, in Bournemouth, last month, of Mr. P. Hart Dyke, the talented blind player, son of the Rt. Hon. Sir William Hart Dyke. Deceased played for Cambridge University in 1893-5, taking top board in 1895 and scoring altogether 2½ points in his matches v. Oxford. In 1899 he won the Kent County Championship. He lost his sight, we believe, through an accident at the age of 11, but appeared singularly little handicapped by it; in his University days, and there was hope at one time of a partial recovery of one eye.”

The Times, 3 July 1922: “OBITUARY. COLONEL HART DYKE AND MR. P. HART DYKE. Much sympathy will be felt for the veteran Sir William Hart Dyke Bt., long a conspicuous figure in the Conservative Party, wlho has lost both his son and heir and his first cousin, Lieutenant-Colonel George Hart Dyke.

“Mr. Percyvall Hart Dyke, who died at Bournemouth, was the elder son of Sir William Hart Dyke by his marriage to Lady Emily Caroline Montagu, aunt of the present Earl of Sandwich. Born on October 27, 1871, he was educated at King’s College, Cambridge (B.A., 1894), and was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1890. He was a magistrate for Kent. In 1908 he married Edythe, daughter of the late W. G. Harrison, Q.C., and leaves a daughter, Edythe Frediswide, born in 1909. His sisters are Mrs. Alexander Scott Gatty, O.B.E., the Hon. Mary Bell, formerly maid of honour to Queen Alexandra, and Miss Sydney Eleanor Margaret Hart Dyke…”

PWS, p300: “P. Hart-Dyke (King’s), the first blind player in these matches, was among the Cambridge representatives in 1893, was president in 1894, and made his third appearance in 1895, scoring in all 2½ points in 3 games. His premature death in 1922 robbed the chess world of one of the best among players suffering from the handicap of blindness.” (n.b. The index of the same work, A Century of British Chess, p380 gives his name as “Hart-Dyke, Philip”)

Chess Review, Apr 1893: “… Hart Dyke played on a special board with pegged pieces, the Black pieces being distinguished from the White by a small piece of tape or cardboard. He occasionally runs his slender fingers over the pieces, barely touching them, and appears to obtain a perfectly clear perception of the position. He plays rapidly and well, and was successful in winning three games of the four he played.”

Ernest Elton Ede (8 February 1892 – 27 September 1969). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1913. WW1, sub-lieutenant, RNVR, 1915. Wounded, France, 1917. Occ. (1939) bookkeeper to merchant banker (Walter D Aldenham), cricket journalist. His son Elton was killed in action in WW2.

Wisden Cricketers Almanack, 1969: “EDE, ERNEST ELTON, who died on September 27, aged 71, for some years reported cricket for The Sunday Times.” [n.b. byline was “Elton Ede” – his cricket articles appeared in the Sunday Times from 1932 to 1956]

Ede’s first wife Hilda (née Hilda Elizabeth Huggins, 1893-1937) had an affair with the famous cricket writer Neville Cardus. It has been stated in a biography of Cardus (Duncan Hamilton, The Great Romantic: Cricket and the Golden Age of Neville Cardus, Hodder and Stoughton, 2019) that Ede was made cricket correspondent of the Sunday Times “as some sort of consolation prize”.

John Edge (? – ?) Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1934. Listed as Grade 4a (equiv. BCF 193-200, equiv. Elo 2144-2200), affiliated to Hampstead, on the 1958 BCF Grading List. Nothing else known.

Herbert Charles Edwards (8 July 1896 – 26 November 1972). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1921. Matric. 1919, M.A., L.L.B. Educ. Wilson’s Grammar School, Camberwell, winning an open scholarship to read history at Selwyn in 1915. Captain, 1st East Surrey Regiment, 1915-19. Played football in trial match for Cambridge University, 1919. Became a banker (Lloyds Bank), living in Lewisham in 1939 (unmarried).

Jack Edwards (7 June 1903 – 23 November 1924). Jesus College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1923, 1924. Educ. Ramsgate County School; won a higher exhibition to Jesus College, Oxford, 1918. Won both his Varsity match games and had been appointed Oxford captain for 1925 but subsequently died. Alexander Oppenheim, old Mancunian, came out of retirement to be captain – [Source: Chess Amateur, Feb 1925, p149]

Rev. Francis John Eld (4 August 1830 – 13 February 1922). St John’s College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity chess match but took part in the 1887 and 1893 Oxford Past vs Oxford Present matches.

Alumni Oxonienses: Eld, Francis John, 6s. George, of Foleshill, co. Warwick, gent. St. John’s Coll., matric. 15 June, 1848, aged 17; B.A. 1852, M.A. 1855, headmaster Worcester Grammar School 1860, rector of Spetchley 1865.

Gerald Edward Harold Ellis (17 December 1878, Canterbury, New Zealand – 7 August 1967, Croydon). Lincoln College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1899, 1900. Educ. Epsom College. From 1906, schoolteacher, Whitgift School, South Croydon (appointed headmaster 1939, retired 1946). Played for the GB Universities team vs US Universities in 1899. One of his pupils during his headmastership was Leonard Barden who wasn’t aware of his former headmaster’s chess accomplishments and remained unaware until reading about them on chessgames.com in 2018!

Wallace Daykin Ellison (8 October 1911, Bradford, Yorks – 7 October 1999). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1933. “Wallace Ellison (1911 -1999) English endgame composer. A distinguished teacher of mathematics from Burton-on-Trent. Composed about 25 studies. Sometimes collaborated with Walter Veitch in providing analytical notes to EG, the magazine on endgame studies launched by John Roycroft in 1965.” (Brian Gosling, internet). Played county chess for Yorkshire and Leicestershire. Obituary, British Endgame Study News, Vol. 4, No.4, December 1999.

Adolph Christian von Ernsthausen (17 October 1880 – 29 May 1928). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904. Also represented Oxford University in the Oxford-Cambridge cricket matches of 1902, 1903 and 1904. Right-Hand Bat, Right-Arm fast bowler, represented Surrey (1900-01): played in 30 first-class matches between 1900 and 1904, scoring 506 runs at an average of 12.04, and taking 94 wickets at an average of 27.71, with his best bowling in an innings being 7-80. Educ. Uppingham. Changed his name to Adolph Christian Ernest Howeson in 1914. Racehorse owner.

Wisden Cricketer’s Almanack, 1929: HOWESON (formerly A. C. von Ernsthausen), MR. ADOLPH CHRISTIAN ERNEST, born in London on October 17, 1880, died at Ditton Hill, Surrey, on May 29 [1928]. A free-hitting batsman and a fast bowler, he was in the Uppingham Eleven in 1898 and two following years, and played for Oxford in 1902, 1903 and 1904. During his last season at Uppingham he was first in both batting and bowling, with 32.05 and 66 wickets for 14.74 runs each. In the game with Repton he scored 1 and 92 and obtained a dozen wickets–all bowled down. In his three matches against Cambridge he took fifteen wickets for 18 runs apiece. He made a few appearances for Surrey in 1900 and 1901. From 1901 until 1904 he represented Oxford at chess against Cambridge. He was of Dutch extraction.

John Andrew Everson (born 26 October 1933). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1957. Athenaeum CC.

Alan Maurice Ewbank (21 April 1901 – 6 March 1930). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1921, 1922, 1923. At his death was a curate of St Saviour’s, Tollington Park, Clifton. Played in several BCF and Hastings congress. In the 1923 BCF Congress, where he qualified for the Premier A Final, both his father and mother also took part. 3rd= in the 1929/30 Hastings Major B tournament with 5½/9. During the same congress he finished first in a lightning tournament ahead of (2nd) Salo Flohr, (3rd) (Francis) Percival Wenman and (4th) Daniel Noteboom. (Falkirk Herald, 8 January 1930) He made his debut for Bath CC in a match against Weston-super-Mare on 25 January 1930 only a few weeks before he died.

BCM, April 1930, p139: “We deeply regret to have to record the death, on March 6th [1930], of the Rev. Alan Maurice Ewbank, who would have attained his 29th birthday this month. Born on April 21st, 1901, he was educated at St. Paul’s School and at St. John’s College, Cambridge. He played for Cambridge three years – 1921-2-3 – and was president in his last year. After coming down he was a member of both the City of London and the Hampstead chess clubs; and at the former he won third prize in the Neville-Hart competition (next to the club championship) only a few weeks ago. His play improved very much during the last two years. The Cambridge University C.C. sent a telegram to the Rev. Alan Ewbank and Mrs. [Grace Catherine] Ewbank, father and mother of the deceased, and both also chessplayers, conveying their very deep sympathy. In this we beg to join. The Rev. A. M. Ewbank was a valued subscriber to our magazine, and a friend of many of us. His father writes: ‘Maurice .. was taken ill with scarlet fever (we do not know how he picked it up); the attack was very severe; but he was getting over it, when he had a set-back, and his weakened heart could not stand up against the strain. He died after a fortnight’s illness. …In his clerical work he was much loved, and had a very great influence, especially over boys. Young as a preacher, his sermons were attracting attention.'”

Hastings and St Leonards Observer, 22 March 1930: “Chess players everywhere will regret to hear of the recent death of the Rev. A. M. Ewbank, who had not long left London for Bath. A relapse following an attack of scarlet fever was the cause of his untimely end. After leaving Cambridge University, Mr. Ewbank joined his parents in London, studied for the church at St. John’s College, Highbury, and for the past year or two held a curacy at St. Saviours, Stroud Green. His change to the West of England last Christmas was due to a desire to be near his parents, as his father is now rector of Combe Hay, near Bath. Both he and his parents were enthusiastic chess players, and for a long time all belonged to the Highbury Club, of which the son held the championship a year or two ago. He also took part in many tournaments, including the last Hastings Congress and the Seville Hart Cup tournament of the City of London Club, besides being a prominent member of the Middlesex County Association. He had a wide range of friends, with whom he was extremely popular, not only for his ability as a player, but for his high intellectual attainments and kindly nature.”

Arthur Wallis Exell (21 May 1901 – 15 January 1993). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1922, 1924. Educ. Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Warwickshire, and King Edmund’s School, Birmingham. Botanist, taxonomist, author and collector. Wikipedia. Also seconded to Bletchley Park during WW2 as a proficient linguist. O.B.E., 1961. Won the Natural History Museum chess championship in 1959/60 and 1960/61. His younger brother, Ernest George Exell (1907-1986), was also a keen chess player.

(Sir) John Bretland Farmer (5 April 1865 – 26 January 1944). Magdalen College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1887 Oxford Present v Oxford Past match. Educ. Atherstone School. Botanist; professor of botany, Imperial College, London. FRS, FRSE. Knighted in 1926 for services to botany and scientific education. Wikipedia.

Alumni Oxonienses: Farmer, John Bretland, o.s. John Henry, of Sheepey, co. Leicester, gent. Magdalen Coll., matric. 19 Oct., 1883, aged 18 ; demy 1883, B.A. 1887.

Oxford Men and their Colleges, 1880-92: Farmer, John Bretland, born at Sheepy, co. Leicester, 1865; o.s. John Henry, gent. Magdalen, matric. 19 Oct., 83, aged 18 (from Atherstone school), demy 83, B.A. 87; fellow Magdalen 89, M.A. 90 (Honours :—1 botany 87), demonstrator in botany, examiner in natural science 92.

Robert Fisher (1855 – 21 August 1938). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity match 1875. Clergyman. Entered Trinity Hall, Lent, 1873. Adm. pens. (age 17) at TRINITY HALL, Feb. 3, 1873. S. of Frederick (1835), R. of Downham, Cambs. B. 1855. Schools, St Edward’s, Oxford and Christ’s College, Finchley. Matric. Lent, 1873; LL.B. 1876; LL.M. 1882. Ord. deacon (Chichester) 1878; priest, 1879; C. of Cuckfield, Sussex, 1878-83. C. of Downham, Cambs., 1883-4. C. of Dunstable, Beds., 1884-7. V. of Arundel, Sussex, 1887-91. V. of St Thomas’s, New Groombridge, 1892-1909. V. of Cuckfield, 1909-15. Preb. of Selsey, 1915-38. R. of St Martin with St Olave and Seq. of St Pet. Minor, Chichester, 1920-7; R. of St Andrew’s there, 1922-7. Rural Dean of Chichester, 1927-35. Died Aug. 21, 1938, at Friars Gate, Chichester. Buried at Cuckfield. (St Edward’s Sch. Reg.; Scott, MSS.; Crockford; The Times, Aug. 22, 1938; Who was Who)

William Rogers Fisher (24 February 1846, Sydney, Australia – 13 November 1910). St John’s College. Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1892 Cambridge Past v. Oxford Past match. Occ. teacher, professor of forestry, author.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: William Rogers Fisher ST JOHN’S Michs. 1863 Born: 24 Feb 1846 Died: 13 Nov 1910 Adm. sizar at ST JOHN’S, Oct. 9, 1863. S. of Francis [Crown], solicitor [of N.S.W. and Anna Susan]. B. Feb. 24, 1846, at Sydney, Australia. School, private. Previously at Brasenose College, Oxford, but not found in Al. Oxon. Matric. Michs. 1863; B.A. 1867; M.A. 1906. Mathematical Master at Repton School, 1867-9. Studied forestry and natural science in France and at St Andrews and Edinburgh Universities; diploma in forestry, Nancy Forest School. Served in Indian Forestry Dept., in Assam and N.W. Province, 1869-89. Director of Imperial Forestry School, Dehra Dun. Professor of Forestry at Coopers Hill College, Englefield Green, 1890-1905. Delegate for Instruction in Forestry at Oxford, 1906-10. President, Royal English Arboricultural Society, 1904. Hon. editor, Journal of Forestry, 1906. Member of Departmental Committee of Board of Agriculture, Ireland, for reafforestation, 1910. Editor, Indian Forester, 1881-9. Author, 4th and 5th vols. of Schlich’s Manual of Forestry. Translated Schimper’s Geographical Botany. Lived latterly at 5, Linton Road, Oxford. Died Nov. 13, 1910. (Repton Sch. Reg.; Who was Who, 1897-1911; The Times, Nov. 15, 1910.)

Roger Fletcher (29 January 1939, Huddersfield – 15 July 2016, Scotland). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1959, 1960. Educ. Huddersfield College. State Scholarship, matric. Selwyn, 1957, to read Natural Sciences. Ph.D., Leeds University, 1963; remained as lecturer. Principal Research Fellow, Harwell, 1969. Joined the numerical analysis group in Dundee University, 1973; professor, 1984. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1988, of the Royal Society of London in 2003 and of SIAM in 2009; awarded a Royal Medal by the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2008. Played bridge; also guitar, clarinet and piano. [Selwyn College Calendar, 2016-2017] Represented England in the 1957 Glorney Cup. Tributes to Roger Fletcher.

Alfred William Foster (16 February 1875 – 1 December 1930). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1898. Educ. Sheffield central Higher Grade Board; Firth College. Sued for libel by Isidor Gunsberg in 1916 – Gunsberg received £250 in damages. (Further details – see Edward Winter on Chess in the Courts). Occ. various – started as congregational minister, 1899; solicitor; Liberal politics; journalist; trade union secretary, from 1927 (English Papermakers’ Association).

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Alfred William Foster ST JOHN’S Entered: Michs. 1895 Born: 16 Feb 1876 Adm. pens. at ST JOHN’S, July 24, 1895. S. of Alfred, Congregational minister (died July 12, 1886) [and Elizabeth Jackson]. B. Feb. 16, 1876, at Brampton, near Chesterfield. Schools, Sheffield Central Higher Grade Board and Firth College. Matric. Michs. 1895; Scholar, 1896; B.A. 1898. [despite the Cambridge record, BMD evidence points towards 1875 being the correct year of birth]

BCM, January 1931, ppn 12-14: “We regret to announce the death of A. W. Foster, who died suddenly in London on December 1st, after a short illness.

“There is little doubt that the chess fraternity never knows the “big” men it includes until they die, and then it is too late to honour them as was their due. A few years ago there was no man better known in the chess world then Alfred W. Foster, but few recognised him from the accounts of his death which appeared in the general press. He died on the morning of December ist.

“He will be best remembered to London players by his organising a team of young players and forming the South London Club, which competed quite creditably in the London League a few years before the war. Later he transferred his organising abilities to the Lud-Eagle Club, and undoubtedly laid the foundation of its subsequent successes. He played for Cambridge whilst there (at St. John’s) and enjoyed the distinction of being honoured by both Oxford and Cambridge Universities. He was also proud of the unique distinction of having played for both Cambridge and Oxford.

“He was the joint author with R. E. Kemp of a really delightful little Beginners’ Book entitled Chess an Easy Game, and jointly with myself he edited the 1915-16 edition of The Year Book of Chess, in addition to which he wrote what is without question still the best short treatise on Kriegspiel. With G. W. Chandler he compiled an Index of Chess Problems over a long period, and many of his ideas and suggestions and much of his work were incorporated in the Alain C. White Index. He also compiled a new volume to Morgan’s Chess Digest, continuing from the end of their last volume, and also edited a very good column in The Evening News.

“In recent years his interest in the game declined, although this was due principally to business reasons.

“He made many close and intimate friendships through chess. He formed the centre of a small group of six between whom a curious bond seemed to exist which can only be explained as a link constituted by his charming good-fellowship and friendship. Three only now remain, Brian Harley, R. E. Kemp, and W. H. Watts; Philip Williams and F. L. Armstrong having gone before.

“He was a much stronger player than was generally imagined, but as he gloried more in organising and conducting chess events he usually accepted the role of “substitute” and generally to the discomfiture of his opponent, as witness a game against F. W. Womersley in a match against Hastings. It was a Scotch Gambit—his favourite opening—and was published in The Chess Amateur at the time.

“Outside the chess world he was greatly respected by an immense circle. He had staunch friends in every walk of life, and one delightful characteristic was his entire disregard of what is called social standing in the matter of making and keeping friendships. Of Peers he knew many intimately, and as his friends; of errand boys and paper boys many have literally wept at his passing. He had that rare ability to make friends with anyone, whatever their social standing. Not only did he make them friends but he usually became their friend.

“He died a young man, a mere fifty-six years [more like 55 – JS], but he had lived a full life, and no man had ever less to reproach himself for. Professionally he accomplished what he had set out to do and was admired, esteemed, honoured—yes, and loved by all. His personal charm was never equalled and never exhausted. His generosity was only determined by his means. He sought for and never missed opportunities to be of service to his friends at any cost to himself. A big-hearted man, to be whose friend was in itself an honour. Our little joys he made his big ones.

“I first met him over thirty years ago during the University Matches in London where we commenced a friendship which never really lapsed, although it was not until after he came to London in 1908 that we had much personal contact. This ripened in 1914, and from then our association was never interrupted and grew closer with the years. It was fitting that I was privileged to be with him in his last hours. He was ever an intellectual treat and never more than that day. I am proud to have known him and proud to have been called friend.

“This may all sound like a panegyric, but I want the chess world to do honour to one who did a lot for chess. He was a modest man, and only those intimately acquainted with him know his brilliant attainments. Besides holding most offices in the Masonic world, he was: First Class Honours, London Matric.; London University Exhibitioner in English Language and Literature; Earnshaw Scholar, Firth College, Sheffield; Foundation Scholar, St. John’s, Cambridge ; Committee, Cambridge University Union; Senior Optime, Mathematical Tripos; Honoursman, Law Society; Hon. Degree, University of Sheffield; Fellow of The Royal Statistical Society. Besides which he held with distinction and honour a number of professional appointments in connection with which his loss is keenly and sorrowfully felt.

“The funeral took place on Friday, December 5th, at Aston Clinton, a village he loved and one in which I have spent many happy hours with him. Simultaneously, a Memorial Service was held at St. Bride, Fleet Street, on the same day. The church was crowded and amongst the congregation were a few well-known chessplayers.

“In one of our many enjoyable discussions he remarked that he looked upon death as terminating a stage in existence marking the triumphant conclusion of one episode in the spiritual career after a well-ordered life full of accomplishment. With this in mind, and remembering his approval of a precedent, and also as a tribute to his originality and genius, the Hallelujah Chorus was played by special request at the conclusion of the funeral service, which was feelingly conducted by the Rev. A. Digby French.” [written by] W[illiam]. H[enry]. Watts.

Eric Foster (Jan/Feb/Mar 1923 – 22 July 2016). St John’s College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1942. “After Oldham Municipal High School, he read Natural Sciences. His career was with Ferranti, for whom he worked for thirty five years. Eric was a good chess player, competing at the British Boys’ Championship [1937 – scored 3½ in preliminary section C behind the eventual winner AR Duff – JS] and for Cambridge against Oxford, travelling to Europe to watch the great masters and for ten years setting chess puzzles in the local newspaper… president of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society and was a member of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society, participating in weekly digs and translating documents for the Society. Other interests included the natural world, geology, landscape history and travelling throughout Europe.” Obituary, The Eagle 2017 [St John’s College Cambridge]. Matric. 1941.

Henry Evans Foster (29 January 1889 – 1 January 1979). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1909, 1910, 1911. Educ. Rugby. Classics Scholarship, 1907. 1st Class Hons., Classical tripos, Part 1, 1909. Craven University Scholarship, 1910. 2nd Class Hons., Classical Tripos Part 2, 1911. Awarded Chancellor’s Classical medal (with one other), 19111. M.A., 1914. WW1 service, 1916-1918: clerk & munitions worker, Army Service Corps. Occ. schoolmaster (after univ); university registrar, Aberystwyth (1939). Later, registrar, University College, London. 1 The Historical Register of the University of Cambridge, Supplement 1911-20 (1922)

John Porter Foster (17 August 1874 – 31 January 1920, Luxor, Egypt). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1895. Educ. Eton College. Occ. lawyer.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: John Porter Foster TRINITY Michs. 1893 Born: 17 Aug 1874 Died: 31 Jan 1920 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 13, 1893. S. of Samuel P. (1864), of Brooklands, Penrith, Cumberland. B. Aug. 17, 1874, at Killhow, Cumberland. School, Eton. Matric. Michs. 1893; B.A. 1896; M.A. 1919. Adm. at the Inner Temple. Called to the Bar, June 14, 1899. Avocat de la Cour d’Appel, Alexandria. Of Killhow, Cumberland, and Cairo. Died Jan. 31, 1920, at Luxor. (Eton Sch. Lists; Burke, L.G., 1925; Scott, MSS.; The Times, Feb. 11, 1920.)

Wigton Advertiser – Saturday 14 February 1920: “We regret to state that news has arrived by cable of the sudden death at Luxor, Egypt, on the 31st January, of Mr. John Porter Foster, Barrister-at-Law, of Killhow, Bolton, Wigton, and Cairo, only son of the late Mr. Samuel Porter Foster of Killhow. Deceased, whose grandfather, the late Mr. John Porter Foster, founded the London drapery firm of Foster, Porter and Company, was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and after being called to the Bar practised on the Northern Circuit, as did his late father before him. For a time he held an important Government appointment in West Africa, and later went out to Cairo, and had built up an extensive practice. He had attained a wide reputation for the skilful manner in which be handled difficult cases, and he was one of the representatives of the Government for the prosecution in proceedings which followed the riots in that country
some time ago. Mr. Foster, who was owner of the ancestral home of Killhow and neighbouring land, was unmarried, and the last of the male line of a family who have had a long and honourable connection with this district.”

Samuel Nevile Foster (6 December 1882 – September 1949). Worcester College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1903, 1904. Educ. Denstone College, Staffordshire. Goldsmith’s exhibition to Worcester College for Classics, 1902. 2nd Class, Honour Mods, 1904; 3rd Class, Lit.Hum. [Classical ‘Greats’], B.A., 1906. Amateur theatricals with other Oxbridge students, 1905. Occ. colonial broker (1911); none (1939).

Alexander Fotheringham (2 September 1876 – 25 February 1932, Paris). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1897, 1898, 1899. Occ. colonial service, lawyer, judge. Brother of David Ross Fotheringham who played in the 1895 Varsity match.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Alexander Fotheringham EMMANUEL Michs. 1895 Died: 25 Feb 1932 Adm. pens. at EMMANUEL, Sept. 28, 1895. [Youngest] s. of D. [David], clerk, of The Manse, Tottenham. School, City of London. Matric. Michs. 1895; B.A. and LL.B. 1899. Appointed to I.C.S., 1898. Called to the Bar, Middle Temple, July, 1905. Served in Madras as Assistant Collector and Magistrate; Sub-Collector and Joint Magistrate, 1910; District and Sessions Judge, 1920; retired, Sept. 1922. Died Feb. 25, 1932, aged 55, in Paris. Brother of the next. (I.C.S. Lists; Law Lists; Scott, MSS.; The Times, Mar. 2, 1932.)

David Ross Fotheringham (11 December 1872 – 30 June 1939). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1895. Occ. clergyman, historian. Brother of Alexander Fotheringham who played in the 1897-1899 Varsity matches.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: David Ross Fotheringham QUEENS’ Michs. 1892 Born: 11 Dec 1872 Died: 30 Jun 1939 Adm. pens. at QUEENS’, Michs. 1892. S. of David [clerk], J.P., of Tottenham. B. there Dec. 11, 1872. [‘Of Scottish Jacobite descent.’] Matric. Michs. 1892; Scholar; B.A. 1895; M.A. 1899. Ord. deacon (York) 1896; priest, 1897; C. of Sigglesthorne, Yorks., 1896-9. V. of Charing, Kent, 1912-38. Served with the British Volunteers in the Greco-Turkish War, 1897; Knight of the Holy Redeemer (Greece). F.R.A.S., 1912. Chaplain of the Byron Society, 1902; Secretary, 1926. Secretary of the (International) Byron Centenary Committee, 1924. Editor, Chaldaean Astronomical Quarterly, 1920-30. Worked with Lord Desborough on the Reform of the Calendar. Author, Chronology of the Old Testament (1906); War Songs of the Greeks (1907); The Date of Easter (1928), etc. An authority on matters concerning the House of Stuart. Died June 30, 1939, at Kennington, Ashford, Kent. Brother of the above. (Who was Who, 1929-40; D. R. Fotheringham; The Times, July 4, 1939; Crockford.)

Eustace Neville Fox (19 December 1908 – 28 February 2008). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1928. Educ. St Alban’s School. Open scholarship in Maths. Wrangler in Part II of the Maths Tripos, shared Mayhew Prize. Building Research Station, Garston, 1929. Harkness Fellowship, University of Michigan, PhD, 1936. M.Sc., external degree in Engineering, London University, 1938. Research scientist, Home Office (1939). During the war worked on the effects of underwater explosions on structures. Post-war became a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and college lecturer in Engineering; ScD, 1955. Reader in Engineering, 1960. Trinity alumni record. His son Geoffrey Charles Fox also played in the Varsity chess match in 1964 and 1965.

Geoffrey Charles Fox (born 7 June 1944). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1964, 1965. Educ. Leys School, Cambridge. Graduated B.A. in 1964, Senior Wrangler with a Distinction in Part III Mathematics, winning the Mayhew Prize as his father Eustace Neville Fox did before him. PhD, theoretical physics, Cambridge, 1967. Taught at Caltech, Syracuse and Florida State before being appointed professor at Indiana University where he is director of the Digital Science Center and associate dean for research and graduate studies at the School of Informatics and Computing. County chess for Cambridgeshire, mid-1960s. Wikipedia.

Gilbert Fraser (3 February 1875 – 7 September 1951). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1896, 1897. Mathematical scholar (1st in Mods). Occ. schoolteacher, headmaster. From Eccles, Manchester. Second Master [deputy headmaster], Haverfordwest Grammar School, 1902. Lytham, 1911. Assistant master, High School, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Headmaster, Coalbrookdale Grammar School, Shropshire, from 1915 to retirement. Retired to Conway, 1939.

(Sir) Geoffrey Warren Furlonge (16 October 1903 – 15 August 1984). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1924 (was a replacement for a player who arrived late). Educ. St Paul’s School. Diplomat, Ambassador, expert on Middle East, author. Entered consular service, 1926. O.B.E., 1942. C.M.G., 1951. K.B.E., 1960. Appointments included ambassador to Jordan, Bulgaria and Ethiopia. Further details.

Michael Philip Furmston (1 March 1933, Birkenhead, Cheshire – 28 June 2020, Kuala Lumpur). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1955, 1956, 1957. Academic lawyer and author. Taught at Birmingham University and Queen’s University, Belfast. Fellowship, Lincoln College, Oxford, 1964, University Lecturer, 1965. Professor, University of Bristol, 1978, latterly Pro-Vice-Chancellor. Set up a new law school in Singapore. In 2015 moved to the Centre for Commercial Law and Justice of Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur where he died. Obituary, Oxford University law faculty. Represented Britain in correspondence chess Olympiads. Member of the Bristol & Clifton club, played in the 1967 BCF Major Open.

Fernando García-Oldini Camino (born 1938, Chile). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity match 1958. Full name Fernando María Benito Manuel García-Oldini Camino. Educ: Grange School, Santiago, Chile. Studied law, University of Santiago; economics, University of Heidelberg (1958). Minister of the Court of Appeal, San Miguel, Chile. Rated 2015, club ‘Estudio Abogados, Chile (2003); played in a FIDE-rated tournament in 2014.
FIDE Profile. Facebook (last posted 2012). Magdalen College lists ‘Garcia-Oldini, Fernando Mario Benito Manuel’ as a ‘lost member’ for 1957 on their website (2004). Son of Fernando Garcia-Oldini (1898?-1965), a Chilean writer, newspaper editor, politician and diplomat.

Kenneth Leslie Gardner (27 March 1934 – 17 February 1992). St John’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1954, 1955, 1956. Educ. Solihull School. Occ (1980s): Dean, Faculty of Education Studies, Brighton Polytechnic. Author of Discovering Modern Algebra, Oxford University Press. Co-author (with William Ritson Morry), Aberystwyth Chess Congress 1955. Played for Sussex, 1970s.

Milivoje B[ogdan] Gavrilovic (26 May 1896 – 28 July 1973, London). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1919. Son of Bogdan Gavrilovic (1864-1947), Serbian mathematician, physicist, philosopher, and educator. Worked in the Serbian embassy in London in the early 1920s; later Chargé d’Affaires and head of the Information Department at the Yugoslav Embassy in London; after 1944 remained counsellor at the embassy. Also served as secretary of the welfare committee of the Serbian Orthodox Church in England. [Death notice, The Times, 11 August 1973, p22]

Walter Montagu(e) Gattie (21 July 1854 – 17 November 1907). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880 and 1881. President of OUCC, 1878-9. Author of papers and books (What English People Read, 1889). Grade 1 clerk/surveyor, GPO. “Gattie, Walter Montague, 1s. William, of London, gent. Christ Church, matric 16 Oct., 1874, aged 20; exhibitioner 1876-8, B.A. 1878.” (Alumni Oxoniensis). (BCM, Dec 1907, p542): “It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Mr. W. M. Gattie, of London, who died at Bournemouth on November 17th [1907], in his fifty-second year. Mr. Gattie was a graduate of Oxford, and represented his University no less than five times in the annual matches with Cambridge. The last occasion was in 1881, when he headed the Oxford team and defeated Mr. J.F. Sugden. During the eighties Mr. Gattie was recognised as one of the strongest of Metropolitan amateur players, and he rendered excellent service in matches for the St. George’s Chess Club, of which he was a leading member, contemporary with the late Rev. W.W. Wayte, Rev. A.B. Skipworth, and Mr. J.I. Minchin. Mr. Gattie was a close student of the theory of chess, and possessed a wide knowledge of the openings, which enabled him to render valuable help in assisting to prepare for publication the Book of the London International Tournament of 1883. During recent years indifferent health prevented his indulging in hard play, but he competed in the recent amateur tournament at Ostend.” Won the first British Amateur Chess Championship in 1886.

Arthur Hereford Wykeham George (29 August 1871 – 7 March 1937). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900. Often referred to as A H Wykeham-George; also went under the pseudonym ‘Philip Hereford’ when translating Nimzowitsch’s My System (London, 1929). Son of Rev. Hereford Brooke George (1838-1910), Fellow and Tutor of New College, Oxford; allegedly the first married fellow at Oxford (Globe – Friday 16 December 1910). Educ. Winchester College, from 1865. Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, 1888. 2nd Lt., 3rd and 4th Battalions, the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment, 1891. 2nd Lt., 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, 1900. Married Mary Whitelaw, 1894, Macleod, Alberta, NW Territory, Canada, divorced by her, 1905 (his adultery coupled with 2+ years desertion without reasonable cause – one legitimate child by his wife, two by his subsequent cohabitee whom he later married). Instructor in Mathematics, Rutgers College, 1903-05. Played in two Anglo-US university cable matches. M.B.E., January 1919, assistant director of war supplies, British War Mission in USA. Declared bankrupt, 1923.

[BCM, July 1937, pp 360-381] “A. H. Wykeham-George died on March 7. The immediate cause of death was heart failure, but for about a year, in spite of ingenious and complicated medical treatment, he had been gravely ill after an attack of influenza.

“Wykeham-George was educated at Winchester and at New College, Oxford. He was president of the University Chess Club, and played four times (1897-1900) against Cambridge. He also represented Oxford in the first two cable matches, Oxford and Cambridge v. Harvard, Yale, Princetown [sic] and Columbia. He was an attacking player, who chiefly relied on the Bishop’s Gambit, and, when Black, on the French Defence.

“For many years after going down Wykeham-George gave up chess. He partly returned to it in 1922, stimulated by the London International Tournament, of which he was a regular spectator.

“He often played for the Athenaeum C.C., and was a steward at the first team tournament, where his gift of tongues was very useful.

“At Oxford Wykeham-George read mathematics, but afterwards languages and literature claimed him. He was for a time secretary of the Hispanic Society of America. He did much translation, and the English version of Nimzovitch’s book was his work, under the pseudonym Philip Hereford. His later style of play was much influenced by Nimzovitch’s theories.

“His handsome presence and genuine unassuming friendliness will be greatly and generally missed. To friends his sudden and premature collapse seemed an unbelievable catastrophe, and his death makes a gap which cannot be filled.”

Robert Arthur Germain(e) (1854 – 4 June 1905). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1878, 1879 and 1880. Barrister, politician. o.s. Charles, of London, arm. Brasenose College, matric. 17 Oct 1874, aged 20. Scholar 1874-7, B.A. 1878, M.A. 1882, bar.-at-law, Inner Temple, 1882. KC 1902; Recorder of Lichfield from 1901; b London; s of late Charles Germaine; m Beatrice, y d of late John Z. Laurence, MB, FRCS. Educ: Univ. Coll. School (exhibitioner); Univ. Coll. London (exhibitioner). Work: Exhibitioner, Prizeman, and BA of London Univ.; Scholar and Exhibitioner of Brazenose Coll. Oxford; MA; Pres. of the Union, and Pres. of the Univ. Chess Club, Oxford, and represented Oxford against Cambridge, 1878-82. Called to the Bar, Inner Temple, 1882; practised on the Oxford Circuit; in conjunction with Sir Robert Reid represented the British claim in the Franco-Chilian Arbitration before the Swiss Tribunal; sat for Fulham on the first London County Council; founded the United Club; contested the Hoxton Division of Shoreditch, 1885 and 1886, and Northampton, 1891; did journalistic work, and coached whilst at Oxford, and in the early years at the Bar. Recreations: horse-riding, travel, music, chess, foreign languages, politics, and public matters generally. Address: 4 Roland Houses, South Kensington, SW; 1 Temple Gardens, Temple, EC. Clubs: Devonshire, Automobile.

James Thornton Gibson (1864 – 29 January 1930). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: James Thornton, Gibson CLARE Entered: Michs. 1882 Died: 29 Jan 1930 Adm. at CLARE, Oct. 9, 1882. Matric. Michs. 1882; B.A. 1885; M.A. 1890. Died at The Warren House, Wrington, Somerset, Jan. 29, 1930. (The Times, Jan. 31, 1930.)

John Robert Gilbert (25 December 1921 – 14 March 2011). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1946, 1947 matches, also played for Bletchley vs Oxford University in 1944. “Gilbert (matr. 1940) [died] On 18 [statutory records give 14] March 2011, John Robert Gilbert of Colwyn Bay, North Wales. John won a Scholarship to St Catharine’s from Epsom College, Surrey, and read Modern & Medieval Languages. His daughter Anne writes, ‘My father was a keen chess player and, if any records of the chess club remain for the period he was at St Catharine’s, you may find his name there. He was called up during the war and served in the Intelligence Corps as a code breaker at Bletchley Park. He was a tax inspector his entire working life from 1947 to retirement in 1981.’ According to the College Magazine, he won the Naumann cup at the Metropolitan Chess Club in 1948.” (St Catharine’s Magazine, 2011, p91). Secretary of Redhill Chess Club, 1990s [reference]

Lionel Giles (29 December 1875 – 22 January 1958). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity match 1899. Sinologist, writer and philosopher. Assistant curator, British Museum and Keeper of the Department of Oriental Manuscripts and Printed Books. Translator of The Art of War by Sun Tzu and The Analects of Confucius. Wikipedia.

Michael Barker Glauert (11 May 1924 – 14 June 2004). Trinity College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1944. Professor of Mathematics at the University of East Anglia and co-author of a bridge book (Bridge Odds for Practical Players by Hugh Kelsey & Michael Glauert). His uncle Otto Glauert played in the 1903 Varsity match.

Otto Glauert (8 January 1881 – 23 March 1962). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1903. Educ. Sheffield Grammar School; University College. Suffered ill health whilst at Cambridge; too ill to sit finals so received an aegrotat degree, Mathematics, B.A., 1902 (his sister Elsa Glauert, Girton College, Cambridge, topped the women’s mathematics tripos in 1904 and was thus the senior female wrangler; his brother Hermann was a wrangler in 1913; another brother Ludwig Glauert (1879-1963) was said to have been a keen chessplayer). Occ. schoolmaster. His nephew Michael Barker Glauert played in the unofficial Varsity match of 1944. (Article on the Glauerts of Nether Edge.)

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Otto Glauert CLARE Entered: Michs. 1899 Adm. at CLARE, Apr. 21, 1899. Schools, Sheffield Grammar and University College. Matric. Michs. 1899; B.A. 1902. Assistant Master at Coatham School, 1904; at Pocklington School, 1906; at Norwich School, 1910-18. Head Master, Somerville Prep. School, New Brighton, in 1933. (Schoolmasters’ Directories.)

Lai Hee Goh (1881, Straits/Singapore – c.August 1951, Beijing, China). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1903. Educ. Raffles Institution, Singapore. Mandarin name Wu Lai-hsi. Straits Queen’s Scholar, 1899. B.A., 1902; M.A., 1906. Medical student, St Mary’s Hospital, London, 1907. Occ. commission agent, journalist, political advisor (China). Also competed at tennis and athletics whilst in England. Photo, extensive biographical detail and press clippings.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Lai Hee Goh EMMANUEL Entered: Michs. 1899 Adm. pens. at EMMANUEL, Oct. 2, 1899. Matric. Michs. 1899; B.A. 1902; M.A. 1906.

One Hundred Years’ History Of The Chinese In Singapore: The Annotated Edition by Ong Siang Song (1923): “In April 1899 Goh Lai Hee won the Queen’s Scholarship, being the third and last Chinese lad to secure this coveted honour for Singapore. Born in 1881, he was educated at Raffles Institution, and on arriving in England he entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA on the 17th June 1902 and took his MA degree on the 15th February 1906. A brilliant chess player, even while at school, he won his ‘blue’ for chess in Cambridge, and was secretary and vice-president of the Cambridge University Chess Club. For some years he was president of the Far Eastern Society, an association of Oriental students at that University. Remaining in England, he started business as a commission agent under the firm-name of Hong Seng & Co, at 54 Lower Thames Street, London, and in 1914, just before the outbreak of the War, he went out to Peking in China, in connection with that business. He has been there ever since engaged in journalistic work.

“[Footnotes to the above…] Goh was an outstanding student at Raffles Institution, having won the Institution Prize in 1892, 1895 and 1898, as well as the Tan Jiak Kim Scholarship in 1898. Goh was born in 1881, the son of Goh Keng Hock and was also known as ‘Wu Lai-hsi’. … He died in August 1951 from pneumonia, leaving behind a widow and two sons. Goh was also appointed Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in China as well as Pacification Commissioner to Nanyang. In Beijing, Goh was acknowledged as an expert on Chinese porcelain. When Goh went to China, it was as editor of the Peking Gazette, an English daily.”

“Another journalist in Peking was the Queen’s scholar and Cambridge graduate Goh Lai Hee…” [seems to be referring to the Edwardian period] re Straits Chinese British Association, and ‘opening up’ of China… self-styled ‘civilizers’ and modernisers of China who travelled to the ancestral home and served the fatherland. (Asia Research Institute, Working Paper No.10 Transcultural Diaspora: The Straits Chinese in Singapore 1819-1918)

Sydney Goldstein (3 December 1903 – 22 January 1989, Cambridge, MA, USA). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1923. Educ. Bede Collegiate School, Sunderland, the University of Leeds and then St John’s. Isaac Newton Studentship for research and the Smith’s Prize in 1927. Rockefeller Research Fellow, Gottingen, 1928; Fellow, St John’s, 1929; Lecturer, Manchester University, 1929. Fellow of the Royal Society, 1937. International authority, Fluid Dynamics. Beyer Professor of Applied Mathematics, Manchester, 1945. Professor of Aeronautical Engineering and Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Israel Institute of Technology (Technion), Haifa, 1950. Professor, applied mathematics, Harvard, 1955. Wikipedia.

Irving John (Jack, “IJ”) Good (9 December 1916 – 5 April 2009). Jesus College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1938, 1939 amd the unofficial match of 1940. Cryptologist, statistician, and early worker on the Colossus computer at Bletchley Park and the University of Manchester. Wikipedia. Major Scholar of Jesus College, Cambridge, 1934; State Scholar, 1934; B.A., Cambridge, 1938, Ph.D., Cambridge (Mathematics), 1941. Worked at Bletchley Park, Government Code and Cypher School, on Ultra (both the Enigma and a Teleprinter encrypting machine) as the main statistician under Alan Turing, FRS, Hugh Alexander and Max Newman, FRS, in turn. (The latter two also played in the Varsity chess match in the 1930s). Worked at GCHQ from 1948 until 1959. Moved to USA in 1967 – research professor of statistics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Film director Stanley Kubrick (himself a keen chess player) consulted Good for information about computing when filming 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Won the 1939 Cambridgeshire chess championship and finished 2nd in the 1958 West of England championship.

Louis Goodman (2 October 1919 – 1988, 3rd qtr). Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1940. Born Whitechapel, London, lived (1939) Manchester, died Hendon, Middx. Studied history.

William Goodwin (? – ?). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1938, 1939. Nothing else known.

Alexander George Gordon Ross – see Alexander George Gordon Ross

Bertram Goulding Brown – see Bertram Goulding Brown

Charles Millar Grace (25 January 1865 – 30 August 1903). Queen’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1886, 1887, 1888. Matric. 1883, B.A. 1888. Educ. Wakefield Grammar School, won a Hastings exhibition to Queen’s. Was a City accountant, married, with three children, living in Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex. Drowned off Maplin Sands when on his way to join a yacht at Havengore (deemed accidental).

Terence Colin Granville-Jones – see Terence Colin Granville Jones

Sir Denis John Pereira Gray, OBE, FRCP, FRCGP FMedSci (born 2 October 1935). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1955, 1956, 1957. Educ. Exeter School. Occ. GP (retired); chairman of council and later president of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Knighted 1999. Wikipedia. Grade 4a (193-200), 1956 BCF grading list.

William Rawson Greenhalgh (13 December 1883 – 13 November 1972). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1904, 1905, 1906.

Shrewsbury School Register: “William Rawson Greenhalgh, b. 1883, [G.T.H.]; left 1902; Pembroke Coll., Camb., B.A., 1905; played in Camb. Univ. Chess Team; ord. 1907; Curate of St. John the Baptist, Hoxton.”

He played in the Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past match of 3 April 1954, fifty years later. He played in the 1907 Anglo-US cable match and was a regular for the Shropshire & Herefordshire county team. His father William Henry Greenhalgh (1849-1923) and brother Cecil Henry Greenhalgh (1887-1970) were also chess players.

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Donald William Greenwood (17 October 1917 – Apr/May 1970). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1936. Born in Huddersfield, died in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire (buried 17 May 1970). Educ. Huddersfield College, Higher School Certificate distinctions in English and French, 1934.

Valentine Grieve (8 March 1926 – 21 July 1998). St John’s College, Oxford. Varsity match 1948 and unofficial 1944 match. Solicitor, Manchester. Known as Val Grieve, very active in the church in Manchester and very well documented online (e.g. here).

Arthur Troyte Griffith (19 June 1864 – 17 January 1942). Oriel College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1887 Oxford Past vs Oxford Present match. Educ. Harrow School. Occ. architect, Malvern. Close friend of Sir Edward Elgar (“Troyte” in the Enigma Variations). Further information.

Alumni Oxonienses: Griffith, Arthur Troyte, 1s. George, of Oxford, arm. Oriel Coll., matric. 27 Oct., 1883, aged 19.

Oxford Men and their Colleges, 1880-92: Griffith, Arthur Troyte, born at Oxford 19 June, 1864; 1s. George, a master at Harrow. Oriel, matric. 27 Oct., 83, aged 19. B.A. 87.

William Grundy (13 October 1850 – 5 December 1891). Worcester College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877. Priest, schoolmaster. Died in Malvern. Father of William Mitchell Grundy who played for Oxford in the Varsity matches of 1901, 1902 and 1903. Played in the 1887 Oxford Past v Oxford Present match.

[BCM, January 1892, p16] OBITUARY “The news of the almost sudden death of the Rev. W. Grundy, headmaster of Malvern College, will be received with much regret by a large circle of chess players. As an undergraduate of Worcester College, Oxford, Mr. Grundy joined the University Chess Club, and made his first appearance as one of its champions in the annual match with Cambridge, in 1877. Being soon after elected fellow and lecturer of his college, he was unable to give much time to chess, and in 1878 he left the University to take a mastership at his old school, Rossall. Here he remained till 1881, when he was elected head master of the King’s School, Warwick, which he succeeded in raising from a low ebb to great prosperity. At this period his former passion for chess seems to have revived, so that in 1883 he held at the school, during the Christmas holidays, a large meeting of amateurs of the game, and in the chief tourney he tied with Mr. Aspa, of Leamington, for the first prize. In 1885 he obtained the headmastership of Malvern College, and the same excellent judgment and administrative powers which had served him at Warwick, were employed in the new sphere to raise the number of boys from under two hundred to three hundred and thirty, and also greatly to improve the achievements and moral tone of the school. Although now unable to give much time to chess, Mr. Grundy occasionally took part in the matches of the Worcester Club, of which he was a member, and in the holidays he was a frequent visitor to the Divan, in London, where he invariably chose the strongest player present as his opponent. His death was caused by a chill, which he caught after playing a game of fives on December 1st [1891], and his illness lasted only four days. [… later in same issue… ] [“… Mr Grundy was a frequent visitor at the Divan when in town, and the foregoing is a fair specimen of his style. Besides being a good player he was a true gentleman, and, so far as I could judge, in every sense one of the best men I ever encountered over the board.” (See also BCM, p 353, July 1891)” (Tinsley, p34)]

William Mitchell Grundy (13 November 1881 – 16 November 1960). All Souls’ College, Oxford. Varsity chess matches 1901, 1902, 1903. Educ. Malvern College. Son of William Grundy who played in the 1874-77 Varsity chess matches. Also played golf for the university. Bible clerkship, All Souls; B.A., 1904. Occ. schoolmaster; headmaster of Abingdon School (1913-47). Wikipedia. Played in the 1902 GB Universities v. US Universities cable chess match.

Frederick Bernard Gunnery (15 October 1866 – 4 July 1936). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1887, 1889, 1890. He was a member of Worthing Chess Club. Curate of Moordown, Bournemouth, 1891, then of High Wycombe from 1895 to 1904, vicar of Newport Pagnell from 1904 to 1921, and vicar of Wath upon Dearne, 1921-31.

Oxford Men and their Colleges, 1880-92: Gunnery, rev. Frederick Bernard, born in London Oct., 1866; 3s. Reginald, cler. Christ Church, matric. 15 Oct., 86, aged 20, B.A. 90; curate of St. John Baptist, Moordown, Bournemouth, 91.

William Hewison Gunston (9 September 1856 – 25 January 1941). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879 and 1880 Varsity chess matches., Cambridge don & auditor.

Obituary [BCM, June 1941, p164] “William Hewison Gunston, elder son of Robert and Mary Gunston of Loughborough Park, Brixton, was born on September 9th, 1856. He was educated at Danehill House, Margate, and St Olave’s, Southwark. In 1871 he did such remarkable papers in the Oxford Local Examination that he was offered a scholarship at Oxford when too young (15!) to accept it. Later, at the ordinary age, he went up to Cambridge with a scholarship at St John’s. He was fourth wrangler in 1879: a fellowship followed in due course. He was also M.A. and mathematical gold medallist of London University. He played five times for Cambridge against Oxford: 1876 (one win, one loss at board 6, 1877 (one win, one loss at board 3), 1878 (two wins at board 2), 1879 and 1880 (three wins, one draw v. W. M. Gattie at board 1). He was President of the University Chess Club in the Michaelmas Term, 1877. Later in life he was for many years President of the Cambridge Town Chess Club. Till 1890 Gunston had not much more than a local reputation. The British Chess Magazine says in that year: “he is the acknowledged strongest player in Cambridge; he was fancied by his friends, before play commenced, for first prize”. He had married in 1883 Letitia Dougan (sister of the Professor of Latin, Queen’s University, Belfast) and settled down to a severe life’s work of teaching and examining. His fellowship lapsed, but he was for many years auditor to his college. No doubt by 1890 he had thoroughly established his professional position. Anyhow in that year, with a double illumination, he began a triumphant procession of successes.

1890 – C.C.A. at Cambridge: 1st without a loss. Of his game with Skipworth the British Chess Magazine says: “he made one of the most brilliant combinations of which the chess board is capable, surprising and outplaying his veteran opponent.”
1890 – Manchester International Tournament. Frankenstein brilliancy prize for game v. Gunsberg.
1893 – Cambridge, unofficial National Tournament at St Catharine’s College, 2nd.
1893 – Match, North v. South (106 boards): draw with C. E. Ranken at board 5.
1894 – Match, North v, South (108 boards): draw with T. B. Wilson at board 12.
1896 – S.C.C.U. at Clifton: 3rd and 4th equal, and brilliancy prize for game v. C. J. Lambert.
1897 – S.C.C.U. at Southampton: 4th.
1898 – S.C.CU. at Salisbury: 3rd.
1903 – Cable match, Great Britain v U.S.A. won v. C S. Howell at board 9.
1903 – S.C.CU. at Plymouth: 2nd and 3rd equal.
1904 – B.C.F. Hastings: 1st in First Class Amateur Section A.
1909 – B.C.F., Scarborough: 3rd in First Class Amateur Section B, and brilliancy prize for game v. P. Wenman.
1910 – B.C.F., Oxford: 1st in Major Open (the first year of these tournaments), and brilliancy prize for game v G. Shories.
1912 – B.C.F., Richmond: 1st equal (with A. Speyer) in Major Open, and brilliancy prize for game v. J. C. Waterman.

“During the Great War, Gunston, as were other mathematicians, was entrusted by the Admiralty with the task of working out the trajectories of anti-aircraft projectiles. After the war, except for a few appearances in matches, mostly local, Gunston gave up serious play over the board, and devoted himself to correspondence chess. He was an honorary member of the London Four-Handed Chess Club, and was exceedingly fond of, and clever at, both that game and Kriegspiel. Gunston played a hard-hitting, sensible, logical game. He once said to R.P. Michell, “I would rather be known as a sound than as a brilliant player”: but if a bird of brilliant hue crossed his path, he could usually put salt on its tail. Did any other English amateur ever win five brilliancy prizes in international and national tournaments? He was a master of the Ruy Lopez, and very successful with it. At Richmond in 1912 after winning his tournament game v. Speyer (who was White in a Q.G.D.) in the morning, he successfully defended a Lopez v. Yates in the match, Championship v. Major Open, the same evening: a remarkable double event. He got good results against the Petroff with the old continuation 3 P-Q4, PxP (long thought better than 3…KtxP). In his later years when close defences reigned, he seemed completely at home against the Caro-Kann, usually adopting the exchange variation. He had the strong player’s preference for Bishop as against Knight – “I am a convinced Episcopalian, as far as chess is concerned, at any rate” – and considered two Bishops, well posted, as strong as Rook and Knight. Gunston was a man of genial habit and manner. He could take care of himself, but was essentially modest. He did not overvalue chess or his own strength at it. He did not keep the scores of his games, and many most striking correspondence games, unless preserved by his opponents, are lost. Once he showed a final position, in which his three last moves were Q-R4, Q-R4, Q-R4; but the full score of the game was not forthcoming. He had many other interests. He was musical, and used to say that all chess-players were so. He retired from professional life in 1926. He died at King’s Lynn on January 25th, 1941. His wife, four sons, and three daughters survive him.”

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“If Gunston had sent this game in for the brilliancy prize, instead of his game with Waterman, he might well have been equally successful.” B.G.B. [Bertram Goulding Brown].

Alumni Cantabrigienses: ” Adm. pens. at ST JOHN’S, Apr. 27, 1875. Of Middlesex. [Elder] s. of Robert, ‘porkman’ [and Mary]. B. Sept. 9, 1856, at St Peter’s, Saffron Hill. Bapt. Oct. 5, 1856. [Schools, Danehill House, Margate, and St Olave’s, Southwark.] Matric. Michs. 1875; Scholar, 1877; B.A. (4th Wrangler) 1879; M.A. 1882. Fellow, 1879-85. Mathematical ‘coach’ and well known as a chess player. Of 26, Station Road, Cambridge, in 1939. Died Jan. 25, 1941, at King’s Lynn. (The Times, Jan. 29, 1941; British Chess Magazine, LXI [1941]. 164-5.)”

Herman George Gwinner (6 December 1863 – 22 November 1907). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887. Educ. Westminster School. Occ. barrister. Placed in Division 1, Class 3, Classical Tripos Part 1 (Times, 22 Jun 1885). Mentioned as Inner Temple, Times 11 Feb 1896. Tied with Rev. GA MacDonnell for the British Chess Association’s Amateur Championship, 1886 [PWS]. Played in the first Cambridge Past v Oxford Past match on 27 March 1889.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Herman George. Gwinner TRINITY Entered: Michs. 1882 Died: 22 Nov 1907 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, Oct. 10, 1882. S. [and h.] of Herman [banker], of 14, Prince of Wales Terrace, Kensington, London. B. Dec. 6, 1863, in London. School, Westminster. Matric. Michs. 1882; B.A. 1885; LL.B. 1886. Adm. at the Inner Temple, Jan. 20, 1883. Called to the Bar, July 7, 1886. On the Northern Circuit. Died Nov. 22, 1907. (Law Lists.)

Arthur Hall (10 March 1935, Northolt – 24 August 2012, Worthing). Queen’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960. Educ. Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, Hampstead. Occ. schoolteacher and private tutor. Read mathematics at Oxford. British Universities Individual Champion, 1957; and co-champion again in 1960. Played for Oxfordshire and later, after moving back to the London area, for Harrow and Cedars clubs. From 1960, played for Hastings CC. Regular tournament competitor in the 1960s, he qualified for the 1961 British Championship, scoring 4/11. Returned to Pinner, playing for Harrow CC but still representing Sussex in county chess. Biography by Brian Denman.

Thomas Hamilton (19 July 1865 – 28 November 1937). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity match 1889. Clergyman. Vicar of Witchford, near Ely, 1910s to 1937. Published problemist. President, Cambridgeshire County Chess Association, from 1930 until his death.

Oxford Men and Their Colleges, 1880-92: Hamilton, rev. Thomas, born at Manchester 1866; 1s. Thomas, gent. Non-Collegiate, matric. 23 Jan., 86, aged 20 (from City of London school), exhibitioner of Exeter 88, B.A. 89, M.A. 92 (Honours:—4 theology 89); curate of St. German Roath, co. Glamorgan, 90.

Frederick Gustavus Hamilton-Russell (12 June 1867 – 3 October 1941). Christ Church, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1926 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match. Educ. Eton. Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery.

[Alumni Oxonienses] Russell, hon. Frederick Gustavus Hamilton, born 12 June, 1867; 2s. William, Viscount Boyne. Christ Church, matric. 18 Oct., 86, aged 19, from Eton.

[BCM, December 1941, pp 308-309] “The Hon. F. G. Hamilton-Russell, President of the British Chess Federation, died at Cleobury Court, Bridgnorth on September [sic] 3rd. He had not been in good health for two years; the sudden death of his wife, Lady Margaret, in 1938, was a great shock, from which he never properly recovered.

“Chess, both international and national, suffers an irreparable loss. Mr. Hamilton-Russell followed keenly all chess undertakings throughout the world. He subscribed most liberally to all enterprise connected with the game and was always willing to provide a cup or trophy where needed.

“In earlier years he played in first-class tournaments, his last appearance at the Federation meetings being the Southsea Congress of 1924.

“At his suggestion a competition was arranged for the great London clubs (not chess) in which the R.A.C., Authors, National Liberal, Reform, Carlton and others, played. For many seasons he brought out a neat little booklet giving the complete results. He played for the Athenaeum and many of the matches took place at his London residence, 3 Cambridge Gate, N.W.

“His most important gift was the cup, bearing his name, held by the winner of the International Team Tournament. The very successful World Congresses held by F.I.D.E. at London, Prague, Hamburg, Folkestone, Warsaw, Stockholm and finally Buenos Aires enabled the players of all nations to meet together and understand one another. It is a strange irony of fate that this cup is now held by Germany.

“When H. E. Dobell gave up the hon. treasurership of the B.C.F., Mr. Hamilton-Russell undertook this work and continued until 1939, when he consented to become President in succession to the late Canon Gordon Ross.

“He was a prominent supporter of the British Chess Magazine and when a new company was formed to assume the continuance of this journal, he became its principal guarantor.

“When it was decided to raise a permanent fund to perpetuate the memory of F. D. Yates (British champion) Mr. Hamilton-Russell opened the list with £100.

“He gave a similar sum to start the permanent Fund of the International Chess Federation and yet another £100 to give a good send off to the sum needed to hold the Team Tournament at Folkestone in 1933. It is impossible to mention the large number of generous gifts he made from time to time, but an example of his outstanding (and anonymous) donations was the amount that reached Mr. Rees each year to help pay the expenses of the British players to the International Team Tournament.

“Lady Margaret Hamilton-Russell, his wife, was an all-round sportswoman and won the Women’s Golf Championship in 1903-4-5. She gave the cup for the Girls’ Championship and, together with her husband, carried out all arrangements for an annual tournament.

“A man of few words, what Mr. Hamilton-Russell did say or write was always sound common sense, straight to the point and very practical. Right up to the last he kept in close touch with everything to do with chess, his medical adviser admitting that news of the game had a tonic effect.

“The British Chess Federation has been fortunate in its Presidents and the name of the Hon. F. G. Hamilton-Russell will be honoured as long as chess is played. R[ufus]. H[enry]. S[treatfeild]. Stevenson.”

Hanns Andreas August Paul Oskar Hammelmann (25 September 1912 – 26 October 1969). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity match 1938. Rhodes Scholar 1935. Engaged on research work in law at Oxford & Middle Temple. German nationality (born in Munich) until 1947 when he took British nationality. Initially interned in 1939 but released from internment in 1940. Lawyer and arts author, with particular interest in 18th century book illustrations. Died in Vecoli San Martino, Freddana Lucca, Italy.

Robert Hancock (1875 – ?). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity match 1897. Educ. Exeter Grammar School. 1st in Mathematics Mods., 1896. 2nd Class, Mathematics Finals, 1897. 2nd Class, B.C.L., 1899. Occ. solicitor.

Jeremy John Arthur Handley (November 1930 – 8 April 2016). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1952, 1953, 1954. Educ. Bishop Vesey’s School, Sutton Coldfield. Director of Proctor and Gamble and Chairman of their Pension Fund Trustees. 1984-91, head of purchasing for Europe, Middle East and North Africa (based in Belgium). Co-editor, University Chess, magazine of the British Universities Chess Associations, early 1950s.

John Rowland Hanning (11 July 1884 – 29 November 1961). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907. Educ. Winchester. Solicitor. Played in the 1906 and 1907 Universities Cable matches. Member of Metropolitan CC. chessgames.com. Took part in the 1926 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match.

John Harley-Mason (20 June 1920 – 26 September 2003). Trinity Hall ¶, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity matches 1941, 1942. Sc.D., Fellow of Corpus Christi, Cambridge (organic chemistry), 1947. Corpus has a Harley-Mason collection of 18th/19th century books). Photo of John Harley-Mason. Educ. Sutton Valence School. (¶ BCM, Jan 1942, p8, gives Harley-Mason’s undergraduate college as ‘Trinity’. Gaige says Corpus. However, this was probably because Harley-Mason soon became a fellow of Corpus. In fact, John Harley-Mason was an undergraduate at Trinity Hall. The Times, 20 December 1937, page 8, records him winning an open scholarship to read Natural Sciences at Trinity Hall, from Sutton Valence School. A chess result from the match Cambridge University vs Lud-Eagle, recorded in the Times, 13 March 1939, page 9, also records his college as Trinity Hall.)

Edward James Barry Harmer (July 1922 – 20 August 2018). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity match 1946. Admitted to Lincoln’s Inn, 1947. There was a West London CC member and correspondence player called JB Harmer, graded 4a (193-200) in 1958, and an Oxford-based poet/writer called James Barry Harmer, but not clear if either of them is the player in question.

Dr Horacio Jaime Harrington y Merani (7 September 1910 – 21 December 1973). Lincoln College, Oxford. Varsity match 1936. Born Bahía Blanca, Prov. of Buenos Aires, died Buenos Aires, Argentina. Geologist (degree, doctorate Buenos Aires), 1940s, 1960s. Prince of Wales Fellowship in Oxford (Ph.D). Professorships in Geology in Argentina and the USA. Wikipedia (in German).

Frank Alan Hart (born 2nd qtr of 1929). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1954. Played on a high board for Hertfordshire, 1950s, early 1960s; graded 5a (177-184) on the 1956 BCF gradling list. Occ. lecturer, inorganic chemistry, Queen Mary College, London, from 1960; earlier a technical officer, ICI. Played bridge.

Roland Hartnett (22 March 1908 – 13 August 1988). Downing College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1929, 1930. Physics tutor (1939 census).

Dr John (Jack) Harwood (? – 2015/2016) Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1946, 1947. Matr. 1940. Was a research student at the Cavendish Laboratory, 1947-50, studying the propagation of low-frequency radio waves through the ionosphere. (Own account) PhD, 1951. Referred to as coming from Doncaster in one chess result from the 1940s. Played in the First-Class section, British Championships, 1946. Played county chess for Buckinghamshire, early to mid-1960s.

Percyvall Hart-Dyke – see Percyvall Hart Dyke

Alfred Robert Hayes (25 February 1848 – 5 April 1888). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity match 1873. Born on 25 Feb 1848 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, son of James William and Maria Eleanor Hayes, and died on 5 Apr 1888 in Rangoon, Burma at age 40, of typhoid fever. At his death he was a teacher of mathematics at Rangoon College. In 1871 he had been reading for the bar whilst at Trinity Hall. Married on 18 March 1878 in Madura to Violet Rachel Hillier, aged 16, daughter of Joseph Hillier.

William Haslam Heaton (26 September 1856 – 20 October 1941). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity match 1882. Educ: Manchester Grammar School. Principal, University College, Nottingham. Obit., Nature, 29 November 1941.

Alumni Oxonienses: Heaton, William Haslam, 1s. Robert, of Bolton le Moors, Lancashire, arm. Brasenose Coll., matric. 19 Oct., 1875, aged 19; scholar 1875-8, B.A. 1879, M.A. 1882.

Who Was Who: HEATON, William Haslam –
MA, MIEE; late Principal, University College, Nottingham;
s of late R. Heaton, Bolton, Lancashire; m A. S., d of late Walton Turner, Ipswich; one s two d. Educ: Manchester Grammar School; Brasenose College, Oxford (1st Classes Math. Mods 1876; Math. Final School, 1878; Natural Science School, 1880). Work: Demonstrator in Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford, 1881-84. Recreation: mountaineering. Address: 19 Lenton Road, Nottingham. T: Nottingham, 41644. Club: Alpine. Died Oct. 1941.

George Assheton Heginbottom (20 January 1871 – 5 January 1944) Pembroke College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1892, 1893, 1894. Educ. Rugby. Father a cotton manufacturer.

“Heginbottom, George Assheton, born at Ashton-under-Lyne, co[unty] Lanc[ashire], 20 Jan., 1871; 4s. Thomas, gen. Pembroke, matric. 28 Jan., 90, aged 19, from Rugby.” (Oxford Alumni]

[BCM, March 1939, p112]: “To THE EDITOR OF The British Chess Magazine.”

“Dear Sir, It seems to me to be no less remarkable than interesting that you should refer in your December [1938] issue on the very same page (543) to two players of nearly 50 years ago both of whom I knew well and frequently played with.

“The Rev. C. E. Ranken made periodic visits to Oxford and on learning on one occasion that I was a member of the University team very kindly invited me to stay at his place in Malvern for a week and have some chess. There I was privileged not only to admire his beautiful rose garden and, incidentally, his two charming daughters, but also to meet the then lady champion whose name I now forget but who played as I thought a far from strong game. I think Mr. Ranken must have been senior to Mr. Kinder as he seemed to be quite an elderly man in the early nineties.

“R. G. Lynam was captain of our team about ’93 and other members were G. H. [H G W] Cooper, D. L. Secretan, E. Poynton, P. W. Sergeant, J. H. Weatherall, and self. The following year when I was captain, Lynam was still a member and played with us against Cambridge where, incidentally, I played H. E. Atkins and lost owing to my opponent’s subtle and almost ungentlemanly manoeuvres ground-baited with innocent looking and apparently digestible pawns. I happened to meet Mr. Atkins 45 years later when I chanced upon him concentrating on a match game and ventured between moves on a whispered and hurried “Hello, Atkins,” to which he replied with a brief upward glance, “Hello, Heginbottom,” and reconcentrated immediately – some memory.

“Well, sir, although my chess got a little rusty owing to my pursuit of the less reputable game of billiards, I have of late years rediscovered the charm of the game and endeavour still to improve my game by diligent perusal of your magazine and hence the reminiscences springing from page 543 of your December [1938] issue, which I hope also may have met the eye of the only other member of our ’94 team that I am now able to place, i.e. the Rev. D. L. Secretan of Balcombe Rectory.

“Faithfully yours, GEO. A. HEGINBOTTOM – Althill, Stalybridge
January 5th, 1939.”

Herbert John Charles Herrick (12 May 1904 – 31 January 1993). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1925, 1926. Would also have played in the 1924 Varsity match but he arrived half an hour late and had been replaced. Elder brother of James Andrew Herrick who played in the 1926-1928 matches. Schoolmaster, taught abroad (Egypt) for some years.

James Andrew Herrick (30 June 1906 – 11 June 1997). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1926, 1927, 1928. From Pendleton, Lancashire. HM Inspector of Taxes, Inland Revenue, from 1928. Younger brother of Herbert John Charles Herrick who played in the 1925 and 1926 matches. Played for Lancashire in county matches, 1920s. Won First Class A at the 1931 BCF Congress.

Eric Norman Hewitt (c. Jan 1894 – 27 October 1954). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1921. Born in Muswellbrook, NSW, Australia, died Sydney, NSW, Australia. Educ. Sydney Grammar School (1904-11, where he won a school prize for mathematics in 1911; left a bequest to be used for a scholarship tenable at the Universities of Cambridge, Gottingen and Heidelberg), later St Andrew’s College. Gunner with 10th Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, 1916-18. Wounded in the Ypres sector, 26 October 1917, and on the Somme, 9 October 1918, the second time necessitating the amputation of his right arm. B.Sc., 1st class Hons., University of Sydney. No chess references found.

George Edmund Hewson (31 January 1903 – 16 August 1986). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1924, 1925. Clergyman. Vicar of Looe, Cornwall in the 1930s. Played in the 1924 BCF First Class B.

Kenneth Arthur Lulham Hill (22 April 1899 – 8 July 1991). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1921, 1922. Educ. Dulwich College. Imperial Civil Service (India, 30 October 1922; arrived 13 December 1922. Served as assistant magistrate and collector, Bengal). Later Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Sierra Leone (1950s). O.B.E., 1960. Drew with Andrew Bonar Law when the Combined Universities played the House of Commons on 27 March 1922 (claimed to be the last game the future British prime minister played, according to The Times, 15 November 1926, p16). Played for GSA Wheatcroft’s team vs Oxford University, 13 November 1926, whilst on leave from India, losing to Gerald Abrahams. (see prev. ref.) Fairy chess composer.

Dulwich College Register: “HILL, Kenneth Arthur Lulham, b.
22 Apr. 1899, s. of ——, Arthur [occ. ship owner], 34 Longton Grove, S.E.26, br. of [HILL, Denis Jermaine b. 28 July 1904]; fr. The Hall, Sydenham, 1910-3; L. Dec. 1917; 6th M. Great War: 2nd Lt. 23rd Bn. London Regt. 1 May 1918 to Jan. 1919; Emmanuel Coll. Camb. 1919 ; Hist. Trip. 1, 2nd cl. 1920, II, 3rd. cl. 1921; B.A. 1922 ; I.C.S. 1921; Bengal; Univ. Chess Team 1922. Address : c/o Secretariat, Calcutta. Club : U.S. (Calcutta), q. r. l.

Harold Hilton (22 October 1876 – 4 April 1974). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1899, 1900. Mathematician, crystallographer, mineralogy. Educ. Lancing College. Scholar of Hertford College (1895-1898), University Junior Mathematical Exhibitioner (1896, 1897), Prize Mathematical Fellow of Magdalen (1898-1905) and University Senior Mathematical Scholar (1899, 1900). Assistant lecturer in mathematics, at the University of Wales, Bangor, 1902. Assistant professor of mathematics, Bedford College, London, 1907. Professor of mathematics, University of London, 1912. In 1939 he changed his name to Harold Simpson.

Peter John Hilton (7 April 1923 – 6 November 2010). Queen’s College, Oxford, 1940. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the Bletchley vs Oxford University match in 1944. Mathematics professor in UK and USA. Wikipedia.

Jonathan Hinden (12 January 1938, Tel Aviv – 17 February 2021, Brighton). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1959. Educ. St Paul’s School. Matric. Trinity, 1956. Principal Coach, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, 1978-92. Head of Glyndebourne Music Staff until 1997. Performed widely as pianist, harpsichordist and conductor. Taught at the Royal Academy of Music and the National Opera Studio.

Allen Banks Hinds (4 December 1870 – 10 May 1956). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1891, 1892. Educ. Vale Academy, Ramsgate. Occ. archivist, historian, writer. Online access to books written. Took part in a simul vs. Emanuel lasker, Newcastle, November 1895. Member of Newcastle CC.

Oxford Men and Their Colleges: Hinds, Allen Banks, born at Ramsgate 4 Dec., 1870 ; 2s. Henry, gen, Balliol, matric. 21 Jan., 89, aged 18 (from Vale academy, Ramsgate), scholar of Christ Church 89, Dixon student 92, B.A. 92; Honours:—I history 92, Stanhope essay prize 92.

Philip Charles Hoad (15 August 1917 – 14 June 2000). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1938, 1939. Played in the 1967 British Championships, scoring 5½/11. Won the British Veterans’/Senior (Over 60) Championship eight times (a record – two were shared) between 1982 and 1990. Won the 1949 Northern Counties’ (NCCU) Championship. Long-time member of Liverpool CC (see short biog article).

Frederick Russell Hoare (1888 – 1 June 1951) Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1909, 1910.

[BCM, July 1951, p208] “F. R. Hoare, social worker, journalist, author, and, for a few years, schoolmaster, died suddenly on June 1st [1951] during a visit to Cambridge. Born in 1888, the son of Bishop Hoare of Victoria, Hong Kong, he was educated at Tonbridge and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a major scholar and took his degree with two first classes. He represented Cambridge against Oxford in 1909 and 1910, and the game which he lost at board 2 in the latter year was praised by Hoffer as equally creditable to both players. He was fond of the more aggressive form of the Vienna opening, and his ingenious style and love of combination made him an interesting opponent. A good man, and an alert and decided mind, he was a convert to, and a devoted adherent of, the Roman Catholic Church. R.I.P.—B. G. B. [Bertram Goulding Brown]”

Bertram Maurice Hobby (23 October 1905 – 19 July 1983). Queen’s College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity Match but took part in Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past matches. Entomologist, swimmer, water polo player. Wikipedia. Studied zoology at Oxford. Research fellow, DPhil (1934). Remained in the Entomology Department, Oxford University, until retirement in 1972.

John Morley Holford (10 January 1909 – 4 November 1997). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1928, 1929, 1930. Known as Jack Holford. Educ. Kingswood School, Bath. Doctor, surgeon in Royal Navy. Rear Admiral. Joined RN, 1935, retired 1966. CB 1965; OBE 1954. WW2, saw service in the Battle of the Atlantic and Malta Convoys. Senior Principal Medical Officer, Department of Health and Social Security, 1973-74, retired. Joint chess champion of South Africa, 1946 (BCM, April 1946, p117). Played chess for Middlesex, 1930s.

Ralph Hollinghurst (born March 1935). Keble College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1957, 1958, 1959. Educ. Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Barnet. Open scholarship, Natural Sciences, 1952. Studied chemistry, B.A., 1959. Worked for Mobil Oil. Played for Sussex, 1990s, before moving to Richmond, Surrey, 2008.

Adrian Swayne Hollis (2 August 1940 – 26 February 2013). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962. Classical scholar, academic and correspondence chess grandmaster. Educ. Eton College. Represented England in five World Students Team Championships, 1960-64. British Correspondence Chess Champion, 1966 (jointly), 1967, 1971. Played in the British Chess Championship five times: 1960 (6½/11, 8th=), 1961 (6½/11, 7th=), 1963 (6/11, 10th=), 1967 (6/11, 10th=), 1968 (5½/11, 17th=). Part of the British team which won the 9th Correspondence Chess Olympiad In 1982-87, and the World Postal Chess Championship in 1998. Assistant Lecturer, Department of Humanity (Latin) St Andrews University, 1964-1967. From 1967, classics lecturer and tutorial fellow of Keble College. Wikipedia. Obit, The Independent.

Wynnard Hooper (14 March 1853 – 24 August 1935).
Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1874. Born 14 March 1853; s of late George and Jane Margaret Hooper; m 1st, Anette (d 1887), e d of late William Callwell, Lismoyne, Co. Antrim; 2nd, Frances (d 1919), d of late John Waddington Hubbard, Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. Educ: St Paul’s School (Campden Exhibitioner); Clare College, Cambridge (Classical Tripos and Moral Science Tripos, 1875). Work: Joined The Statist at its commencement in 1878; joined Financial and City Department of The Times, 1882; retired from post of City Editor, 1914; Member of Board of Trade Departmental Committee on Trade Accounts, 1908; Secretary of the Cornhill Committee, Jan. to June, 1915. Publications: Papers in Journal of the Royal Statistical Society; contributions to the Encyclopædia Britannica, 1887, 1902, 1911; Contributions to Sir Robert Palgrave’s Dictionary of Political Economy. Address: 20 Gloucester Walk, W8. Clubs: Alpine, Athenæum. Died 24 Aug. 1935. (Who Was Who 1897-2007. Retrieved April 11, 2008)

James Edmund Frank Hope (5 May 1910 – 23 May 1940). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1931, 1932. Son of Arthur Henry Monger Hope, rector of Perivale, and Katharine Ellinor (née) Sutton; brother of Robert Cyprian Hope (1915-1999). Scholar of Marlborough College; BA (Cantab). Listed in Gaige as “John Edmund Frank Hope” but his first name appears in statutory records as “James”. Was a Company Quartermaster Sergeant, 7th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Regiment, serving in France at the time of his death. Burial details. Appears in the photo of the 23 March 1931 match between Hastings CC and Oxford/Cambridge combined team.

Dennis Morton Horne (19 October 1920 – 3 May 2015). Oriel College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1947, 1948, 1949. Thread on English Chess Forum • Wikipedia.

Leonard Barden on the English Chess Forum, 2015 – edited: “Dennis Horne became a strong player at Oxford University immediately after the war in which he served in the army, possibly reaching the rank of captain. At Plymouth in 1948 he drew with ex-world champion Max Euwe. He liked sharp openings, notably the King’s Gambit. He was joint second with Hooper behind Golombek at Felixstowe 1949, the first Swiss system British championship, and tied with John Fuller for 5th place scoring 4/9 at the 1949-50 Hastings Premier. He would have been in the top 6-10 in England then. He had a military-style moustache, smoked a pipe and enjoyed solving the Times crossword. He continued to perform well in the early 1950s and so was selected for the 1952 Olympiad team, where he played on Board 5 and scored 5½/9 (silver medal). He was awarded the British Master title. Horne became a prep school master with less time for chess and a growing involvement with bridge. His last top-class event was the 1953/54 Hastings Premier (where Alexander famously beat Bronstein) where he finished last but beat the world-class Fridrijk Olafsson and drew with O’Kelly. After that he played little.”

Rev. John Arthur Horrocks (31 January 1875, Bury, Lancashire – 17 July 1923, Oxbow, Saskatchewan, Canada). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1904, 1905. Surveyor and architect’s assistant, 1901. Matr. Selwyn, October 1902. Rowed for college, took part in athletics. 3rd Class Hons., Theology Tripos Part 2, 1905. Deacon, 1905, and appointed to the curacy of St Jude’s, South Shields, where he played chess for the St Hilda CC vs Newcastle. Sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Board of Examiners to perform missionary work in Canada, 1908; lived in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, 1911. Married in South Shields in 1914, returning to Canada with his wife Jane. M.A., 1914.

Derek Geoffrey Horseman (6 May 1931 – 18 March 2010). Hertford College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1953, 1954. Played in the 1956/57 Hastings Premier (in which he defeated Penrose and Alexander), having qualified by winning the Challengers the year before. He also competed in four British Championships (1954, 1956, 1957 and 1958) scoring 6 points on each occasion. Was British Under-18 Champion in 1948 and won the British Under-175 (2000) Championship in 2008.

Leonard Barden, English Chess Forum, 24 March 2010: “Derek as I knew him was a gentle, friendly and perennially good-humoured young man who honed his skills with the successful Oxford University teams of the 1950s. He was a sharp and inventive player with creative ideas, and while at Oxford improved his game from aound 200 strength to near-IM level. When he qualified for the Hastings Premier he was widely expected to be outclassed but didn’t allow himself to be overawed and had an excellent result given the quality of the opposition which included Larsen, Gligoric and Olafsson. The game which stands out in my memory is his draw with Szabo, then an active world title candidate close to the height of his powers. Playing Black, Derek swung a mighty mid-game tactic which had the great man fighting to hold the draw.”

(Sidney) Roy Hossell (October 1921 – 30 November 1960). St Catherine’s College, Oxford. Varsity match 1950. Schoolmaster, John Gulson Grammar School, Coventry, then Taunton Technical College, before being afflicted with polio. Became a professional book indexer.

[BCM, Feb, 1961, p43] obit: “… fine player, brilliant organiser, and a most endearing personality, died after a lingering illness at the age of 38. At Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield, Hossell had shown outstanding academic promise, and was Head Boy in his last term. He was already playing for the Warwickshire County Chess Team. There followed seven years of war-time service in the RAF, spent mainly in India, where he left behind him a trail of newly-founded chess clubs. On release he went to Oxford, played regularly on high boards for the university, and in his econd year became the club secretary, when his driving force and organizing powers came into full play. After Oxford he taught for a time at a Coventry grammar school. Here in Coventry his overflowing chess energies were devoted to work amongst juniors, to initiating a nation-wide Works Teams’ Championship, and to membership of the B.C.F. Development Committee. In 1954, he left Coventry to take up a senior position at Taunton Technical College. Alas, he was soon stricken by a most virulent form of poliomyelitis. Months of intense suffering followed, but by great courage and never-failing hope he recovered most of his faculties and reached the stage of making a few halting steps. But life was still a torment, and a final relapse following a severe attack of bronchitis proved too much. During this period of suffering he played successfully on a high board for Somerset, winning four and drawing three without a loss. Correspondence chess also brought him gratifying success. In addition, he was the moving spirit behind the chess section of the Infantile Paralysis Fellowship. But his finest performance was in just failing to beat Haygarth in the penultimate round of the B.C.F. Major Open Tournament at Nottingham, 1954, which decided which of the two was to play in the Championship the following year. But the abiding memory is that of his great courage and enduring faith, facing adversity with an inspiring will to win through. Through it all he had the undying devotion of his wife and four young children. To them, on behalf of all our readers, we extend our deep-felt sympathy. We are grateful to [Yvon] Peter [A G] Keffler, W. H. Cozens, and D. H. Butler for their appreciatory notices which have helped us to give the above brief picture of Roy Hossell. All speak of his sterling qualities and abilities. We end with a short win of his: chess was his great diversion and solace in health and in sickness.”

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William Hough (? – ?). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1906. Nothing else discovered.

Sir Fred Hoyle (24 June 1915 – 20 August 2001). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1934. Born Bingley, Yorkshire, died Christchurch, Dorset. Astronomer, professor, author. Wikipedia. “Although Fred did not compete in college sports, he was a frequent spectator at college games, particularly cricket. He did, however, pursue his interest in chess to a high level. In his first year, the university selected him for the team to play against Oxford, for which he won a Half Blue, less prestigious than the award for sports, but still a fine achievement. The following year he was secretary of the college chess club though, during his tenure, it collapsed because he did not find a successor.” (Fred Hoyle: A Life in Science by Simon Mitton, Cambridge University Press, 2011) Played correspondence chess. Still keen on chess towards the end of his life, possessing a chess computer.

Arthur Percival Lacy Hulbert (21 January 1877 – 12 May 1966). Keble College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1898, 1899. Born in Nice, France. Educ. Fettes College, Edinburgh, Scotland. B.A., 1899, M.A., 1904. Deacon (1901, Leeds Clerical School), Priest (1902). Board four for Oxford/Cambridge vs American Universities cable match, 1899. Curate of St Hilda’s, Darlington, 1901-04, St M. Aston Brook, 1904-10. Curate i/c St Hilda, Warley Woods (1910—) (Keble College Records). Vicar of Ashford Carbonel near Ludlow, 1927. Shropshire county sec., 1929-53. Columnist, Ludlow Standard, for 20 years. Surname Hulbert until 1899 when his brother changed it to Lacy Hulbert by letters patent (seemingly double-barrelled but not hyphenated). See History of Shropshire Chess.

BCM, August 1966, p222: “The Rev. Arthur Percival Lacy Hulbert died on May 12th [1966], at the age of eighty-nine. Born at Nice, France, he was educated at Keble College, Oxford. He played in the university chess match against Cambridge in 1898 and again in 1899, winning one game and losing the other. In the latter year he also played in the Anglo-American Universities Cable Match, the first of the series.

“Ordained in 1901 to a curacy at Darlington he moved after about three years to the Midlands, where he was at Aston Brook, 1904 to 1910, and Warley Wood, 1910 to 1927. When at the latter he played on occasion for Worcestershire.

“In 1927 he was appointed to the living of Ashford near Ludlow, in South Shropshire, where he spent the remainder of his long life. During that time he served the Shropshire Chess Association as Secretary, Treasurer, Captain, and President. To get together a county team in a large rural area with few centres of population, for a match a considerable distance away, was not easy at a time when private cars were not so plentiful as they are now. When the inevitable time for retirement came, his services were in part recognized by making him Honorary Life President of the Association.

“From 1921 to 1956 he spent almost every annual holiday at the British Chess Congress.

“He played in the first class and won first prize in his section in 1931, second in 1935, and shared second prize on five other occasions. In 1928, 1929, and 1932 he was promoted to the Major Open class. In 1929 he missed a win in the ending but obtained a draw against Dr. Vajda, who tied with Dr. Seitz for first place.

“In 1935 he arranged a Monday to Friday tournament for thirty-two players in the beautiful surroundings of Ludlow. It was an ideal holiday for chess-players, especially for those from London and other large towns. At the end of the week he was overwhelmed with thanks for the holiday, and congratulations on the smooth running of the congress. Two years later he repeated the experiment with like success.

“His old friends and fellow chess-players will long remember his personal charm; and the people of Ashford will not soon forget their old vicar. – W. R. G.” [these initials suggest that the BCM obituarist was Rev. William Rawson Greenhalgh (1883-1972), who played for Cambridge in the 1904, 1905, 1905 Varsity matches and was the Rev. Arthur Lacy Hulbert’s county colleague in Shropshire for many years – JS]

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William Herbert Humphreys (1875?, Wrexham? – ??). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1907, 1909. B.A., 1st Class Hon., Modern and Mediaeval Languages Tripos, 1908. LL.B., 1909. Middle Temple. Played in the 1907 and 1909 Anglo-US universities cable match and the Combined Universities v House of Commons match in the same year. Captained the Cambridge University team in 1909. Articled clerk, chartered accountant, 1911.

Robert George Hunt (abt 1853, USA – 14 July 1936). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1879, 1880. Clergyman, born Stanley, Rupert’s Land, USA. http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/genealogy/KennethHunt/chapter1.htm – “… father, Robert George Hunt, came from the town of Stanley in the United States, and was the son of the Reverend R. Hunt who was a missionary amongst the Red Indian tribes of the North West States. Although he had spent several years training for a position in the London Stock Exchange, he was ordained into Holy Orders in London in 1876. He had been a priest for eight years by the time [his son] Kenneth was born. He had gained an Honours Degree in Humanities at Merton College, Oxford in 1879 and had been a curate at St. Mary’s Church, Hornsea Rise, near London between 1879 and 1881. At the time of his son’s birth Robert Hunt had been seconded from mainstream Parish life to become the “Distribution Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society”, a position he held until 1893. The family was living in Oxford … Robert had been establishing an administrative base for the Bible Society in the town, which would cover the southern part of the English Midlands. He also took the opportunity whilst in Oxford to convert his Bachelor’s Degree to a “Masters”. After four years as Vicar of St Matthew’s, Islington, Robert moved with his [family] to take up the “living” at St. Mark’s Church, Chapel Ash in Wolverhampton.” RG Hunt’s son Kenneth won an FA Cup winner’s medal with Wolves in 1908.

Ivan/Ian Vladimir Idelson (2 May 1929 – 28 October 1994). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1948. General Manager of Simon-MEL Distribution Engineering. Gave impetus to the Cambridge board 3, George Spencer Brown, to produce a paper on the Law of Forms – Bertrand Russell also cited as an inspiration by Brown. Buried Highgate Cem., “Philosopher, engineer, therapist and mathematician. Son of Idelson Vladimir Robert (b.1881, Rostov-on-Don -1954, Watford), international lawyer. Married to Taissa Nicholas.”

John Owen Iles (18 May 1893 – 25 September 1915, Loos, France). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1913, 1914. Educ. Rugby School, 1907-1912. Open scholarship, mathematics, Caius. 2nd, Mathematical Tripos, Part 1; Law Tripos, Part 1. Half-blue athletics (quarter-mile), 1913 and 1914. Lt., 6th Bn., South Staffordshire regt, September 1914. Killed in action, Battle of Loos, 25-27 September 1915.

Leonard Illingworth (16 July 1882 – 22 July 1954). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1907 and 1908.

BCM, Sept 1954, p289: “Leonard Illingworth, musician, linguist, bee-keeper, and chess-player, died in hospital at Cambridge, aged seventy-two, on July 22nd [1954], after a long illness. He was a Yorkshire man, born at Bradford. His musical studies resulted in an open scholarship at the Royal College of Music. Later he went up to Trinity College, Cambridge, and took his degree in modern languages. He played on Board 1 against Oxford in 1907 and 1908, drawing against H. J. Rose and N. J. Roughton. He was a regular competitor at chess congresses, appearing once in the British Championship, and on one occasion winning his section of the Major Open. He had been President of the Cambridgeshire County Chess Association, of the Cambridge Chess League, and of the Deaf Chess Club. He did much to spread a knowledge of chess among the deaf and dumb and among the young. In 1922 he settled at Foxton, a village near Cambridge, and started and developed a large apiary. He became Secretary of the Apis Club, and attended bee-keepers’ congresses abroad. A keen churchman, he was for many years churchwarden of Foxton parish, and at times emergency organist. R.I.P. – B. G[oulding]. B[rown].

To the foregoing tribute, may we add a few words on Mr. Illingworth’s services to correspondence chess. As a correspondence player he was in the first flight, as past victories in the B.C.C.A. Championship will testify. But he was also that rara avis who put back into the game much of what he took out. An active President of the British Correspondence Chess Championship for nine years, he also acted as Best Games Secretary; his services were also in constant demand as an adjudicator. Yet it was in a unique way that he left his mark, for on his own initiative he devised a correspondence course of instruction in chess. Pupils were also encouraged to send in their games for annotation and those who have experience in annotating games for weaker players will know the amount of work involved. From his work in this connection the Association profited by entry fees; the pupils profited by gaining an insight into the theory of the game; and we feel sure the instructor profited by the knowledge that he was helping others the better to enjoy and appreciate the game he loved so well himself. – S. S[edgwick]

George Cecil Ives (1 October 1867, Germany – 4 June 1950). Magdalene College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past matches (e.g. 1931). M.A. (Cantab, 1900), F.Z.S. Author, lecturer, poet, writer, penal reformer and early homosexual law reform campaigner. Wikipedia. He corresponded with Oscar Wilde and had an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas. “Devoted his life to social reform and his favorite hobbies: zoos, cricket, and chess” [ref]. Believed to have been the model for Hornung’s fictional character Raffles. Took part in a simul given by JH Blackburne in Cambridge on 21 November 1914 and drew his game. Played county chess for Hampshire, 1930s.

Edward Mackenzie Jackson (27 July 1867 – 6 March 1959¶). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1888, 1889, 1890. (¶ Gaige’s Chess Personalia (1st ed. 1987) gives the d.o.b as 27-5-1867 and the d.o.d. as 14-3-1959. However, on the 1939 Census the d.o.b. looks more like 27 July 1867 and the probate record shows the d.o.d. as 6 March 1959.) Profession solicitor.

BCM, May 1959, p137-138: “A Great and Modest Player – In the first Anglo-American cable match, 1896, Great Britain was represented by J. H. Blackburne, Amos Burn, H. E. Bird, S. Tinsley, C. D. Locock, D. Y. Mills, H. E. Atkins, and E. M. Jackson (defeated D. G. Baird). With the death of Edward Mackenzie Jackson, at the ninety-two, the last link with that historic occasion has been broken, a link indeed with a distant and romantic age. Jackson played in the six cable matches scoring +4 (including a win from Frank Marshall), = 1, and — 1, the best score of any British player.

“He went from Winchester to New College, Oxford. He won his four games for the University against Cambridge, taking top board in 1890. Following this he soon established himself as one of the leading London players, winning in turn the championships of both the
Metropolitan and the St. George’s clubs.

“Then, at the height of his powers, he abandoned chess completely to pursue his profession as a solicitor. He retired to Bexhill in 1929, and joined both the Bexhill and Hasting clubs. He won the Championship of Hastings C.C. eleven times, including two hat-tricks with the last victory when he was over eighty. The famous club presented him with an illuminated address in 1956.

“In 1932, a veteran of sixty-five, he played in the British Championship, and astonished the chess world by leading the field at the end of the first week among his victories being those over Sultan Khan and Sir George Thomas, but he tired in the second week and finished unplaced.

“Other victims during the course of his long career included Mieses, Yates, Koltanowski, Blackburne, Burn, Stoltz, Pirc, and Noteboom.

“The man behind these achievements was modest and unassuming, a model of chess deportment with no mannerisms, and equally unperturbed by either defeat or victory. He was a disciple of the Steinitz school, but he could equally well break out in the true spirit of the gambit and revel in an orgy of sacrificial combinations. This is well revealed in the following game.”

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“We acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr. Frank Rhoden’s appreciation of his friend in the Hastings and St. Leonards Observer.—D. J. M[organ].”

Brian Denman, Hastings CC website: “Winner of the [Hastings] club championship 11 times in 1924, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948.
He was a very talented player who won the Hastings CC Championship several times. All of these wins were achieved when he was of an age when some players would be thinking of retiring. He seemed to generally enjoy exceptional health and to look younger than his years…
In 1881 he played for the St Georges CC in London against the City of London CC and won both of his games… In 1892 and 1893 he won the prestigious Lowenthal Cup at the St Georges CC. In 1895-96 he played matches against Teichmann and Herbert Jacobs and lost both of them convincingly, but he was selected to represent Great Britain in the cable match against USA in 1896. He played in these matches every year until 1901 and one year defeated the formidable American player, Frank Marshall. Some time in the early years of the twentieth century he gave up regular competitive chess and concentrated on his profession as a solicitor.

“He started to play regularly again in about 1924. He joined the Bexhill and Hastings chess clubs and in the Hastings and St Leonards Observer of 21.6.1924 it was reported that he had given a 16 board simultaneous to what seemed to be mainly Hastings CC players, winning 6, drawing 8 and losing only 2 games. One of his opponents was J A J Drewitt, with whom he drew.

“In the McArthur Cup there were rules up to the 1960s which placed restricitions on who could participate. Jackson was permitted to play for Bexhill (for whom he was to became the president) even though he was in the first class as a player. However, Brighton and Hastings were not allowed to field ‘first-class’ players in the competition and Jackson would not have been able to play for Hastings. It could be argued that this was unfair and it gave Bexhill something of an advantage.

“Jackson played a number of times in the Hastings congresses and in the 1931-32 and 1932-33 seasons he participated in the prestigious Premier event. In 1932 he competed in the British Championship and made an excellent start. Perhaps he tired in the later rounds, but his win over Mir Sultan Khan in the competition was a superb result.

“As he grew older, he continued to play a good game. In 1953 he fell seriously ill and had to withdraw from the Hastings CC Championship. However, he got over this and resumed his chess. It has been written that he once played on board 7 for Sussex at the age of 91. It would seem, however, that this statement is not quite exact. He did play for Sussex v Kent on board 7 on 3.11.1956 in a match at Hastings, but he would then have been a mere 89! He died on 6.3.1959 in Bexhill at the age of 91 (N.B. some versions state that he was 92, but this would appear to be wrong).

(Sir) Gilbert Hollinshead Blomfield Jackson (26 January 1875 – 11 March 1956). Merton College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the March 1926 Oxford Past vs Cambridge past match. Educ. Marlborough. Exhibitioner, Merton. 3rd Class, Classical Mods, 1895. Entered Indian Civil Service 1898. High Court judge, Madras, India, from 1927. Knighted 1934, retired 1935. Later chairman of the Conscientious Objector Appellate Tribunal. Edited Maxwell on the Interpretation of Statutes. (Times obit., 12 March 1956, p14). Credited as a proofreader of the 6th ed. of Modern Chess Openings (1939). Member, Hampstead Chess Club, circa 1935.

Joseph Jacobs (29 August 1854 – 30 January 1916). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1875. Born in Sydney, NSW, Australia, died in Yonkers, New York, USA. Historian and folklorist. Published his English fairy tale collections: English Fairy Tales in 1890 and More English Fairy Tales in 1893, but also went on after and in between both books to publish fairy tales collected from continental Europe as well as Jewish, Celtic and Indian fairytales which made him one of the most popular writers of fairytales for the English language. Wikipedia. Biography on Joseph Jacobs from the Jewish Lives Project. Article on chess from the 1906 Jewish Encyclopaedia which Jacobs co-authored.

Cholmondeley Sherwood James (12 December 1884 – 13 May 1931, Trichinopoly [Tiruchirappalli], Madras, India). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity match 1907. Was a reserve for the 1904 match. Occ. clergyman; ordained priest, York, 1909; vicar of All Saints’, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, 1921-28; Principal of Bishop Heber College and chaplain of Trichinopoly, 1929-1931; genealogist and author. Died of sunstroke and malaria. His father also a clergyman.

Rev. Edward Bankes James (8 November* 1870 – 20 February 1947). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1890, 1891, 1892. Educ. Malvern College (1883-89). B.A. (Junior Optime), 1892. Occ. clergyman. Campanologist. Interested in printing and possessed a printing press. Defeated world champion Emanuel Lasker in a simul, Cheltenham, 24 November 1898. [Obit., The Ringing World No. 1874, March 7th, 1947, page 103] * birth reg’d 2nd qtr 1871 but 1871 census gives his age as 5mos so Nov/Dec 1870 indicated – also, Malvern Register gives 1870. The clincher was the Biographical History of Gonville and Caius College which gives the precise d.o.b.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Edward Bankes James CAIUS Michs. 1889 Born: 1870 Died: 20 Feb 1947 Adm. at CAIUS, Oct. 1, 1889. S. of the Rev. George [Trinity College, Dublin], R. of St Michael’s, Gloucester [and Rosa Bankes]. B. 1870, at Gloucester. School, Malvern College. Matric. Michs. 1889; B.A. 1892; M.A. 1902. Adm. at the Inner Temple, 1892. Ord. deacon (Gloucester and Bristol) 1896; priest (Gloucester) 1897; C. of Christ Church, Cheltenham, 1896-8. C. of Churchdown, Gloucs., 1898-1901. C. of St Michael with St Aldate, Gloucester, 1901-4. Chaplain at Engiadina College, 1904-5; at Oswestry Grammar School, 1905-9. C. of St Augustine’s, Northam, Hants., 1909-10. Chaplain at Seafield Park College, Fareham, 1910-47, and lic. pr., dio. Winchester, 1912-47. Of Seafield Park, Fareham, Hants., in 1945. Died Feb. 20, 1947. Brother of Henry L. (1887). (Malvern Coll. Reg.; Venn, II. 507; Crockford.)

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Eric John Francis James (13 April 1909 – 5 October 1992). Queen’s College, Oxford. Varsity match 1930. Knighted (1956), made Baron James of Rusholme (1959). Headmaster, Manchester Grammar School (1945-62), and university administrator. First Vice-Chancellor of the University of York (1962-1973). Educ. Varndean School, Brighton, Taunton’s School, Southampton. Wikipedia.

L James (? – ?). Trinity College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in some Oxford Past vs Cambridge past matches (e.g. the March 1926 match). Nothing known of him.

Kingsley Garland Jayne (January 1880 – 15 March 1934). Wadham College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1924 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match. Educ. Llandovery College; classical scholarship, 1898. 1st class honours, classics, 1900. Author, contributor to the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica, journalist. Matthew Arnold Memorial prize, Oxford, 1903.

Frank Edward Jelly (20 March 1870 – 26 March 1924). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1890, 1891, 1892. Educ. Manchester Grammar School; mathematical demyship to Magdalen, 1888. Occ. schoolmaster; senior assistant master, Loughborough Grammar School (1894-97); mathematics master, Felstead School, Essex (1897-98); army coach, Arrowsmith’s, Edinburgh (1898-1900); mathematics and physics master, Leighton Park School, Reading (1900-01); senior science master, Kirkham Grammar School (1901-02); senior mathematics master, St John’s Foundation School, Leatherhead, Surrey (1902-18); senior mathematics master, King Edward VII School, Sheffield (1918-24). Played for Reading CC (1901).

Oxford Men and their Colleges: Jelly, Frank Edward, born at Middleton, co. Lanc., 20 March, 1870; 3s. James, cler., deceased. Magdalen, matric. 16 Oct., 88, aged 18 (from Manchester gr. school), demy 88, B.A. 92; Honours :—1 mathematical mods. 89, 1 mathematics 91.

Richard Arthur Jenkins (2 November 1874 – 28 December 1960, Nilgiris, Madras, India). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1896, 1897. Educ. Highgate School. Classical Scholarship, 1892. 2nd Lt., 1st Oxford University Volunteer Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, 1896. Successful candidate in the examination for appointments to the Indian Civil Service, 1897. Played Blackburne in a simul, Bexhill, 15 December 1903. (Or was this a different R. A. Jenkins?)

Oxford Colleges and Their Men: Jenkins, Richard Arthur, born in London 2 Nov., 1874; o.s. Richard Jonathan, C.E [civil engineer]. Brasenose, matric. 21 Oct., 92, aged 18 (from Highgate school), scholar 92.

India Register: JENKINS, Richard Arthur, B.A., late Indian C.S.—Educ. at Highgate Sch., Brasenose Coll., Oxford, and Univ. Coll., London; apptd after exam, of 1897; arrived 21st Nov., 1898, and served in Madras as asst. collr. and mag.; head asst, collr. and mag., Nov., 1908; sub. collr. and joint mag., May, 1910; dist. and sess. judge. Sept., 1916; retd., March, 1926.

William Henry Mudge Jennings (26 September 1856 – 18 March 1881). Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1878. Schoolmaster.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: “Adm. pens. at CORPUS CHRISTI, Oct. 4, 1875. Of Southampton. [3rd s. of the Rev. Peter Harnett (1839), R. of Longfield, Kent. B. Sept. 26, 1856.] Bapt. Nov. 14, 1856, at All Saints’, Southampton. Schools, Norwich and Rochester Grammar. Matric. Michs. 1875; Scholar, 1877; B.A. 1879. Mathematical master at Bath Grammar School, 1880-1. Died there Mar. 18, 1881. Brother of Harnett E. (1868) and Courtenay B. (1881). (H. E. Jennings; Rochester Sch. Reg.)”

Hugo Boyes Johnson (Apr/May/Jun 1925 – 11 January 2016). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1945. Director of Scottish Provident Ireland Ltd in 1986. Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries (1955).

Rev. Charles Frederick Jones (30 June 1849 – 30 January 1905, Aix la Chapelle [Aachen], Germany). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity match 1886. Educ. Llandovery Collegiate School & St David’s College, Lampeter. His father John Jones (b abt 1804) was vicar of Llandysiligogo, Cardiganshire (1871). Rector, Cheshunt (1891). Appointed chaplain, Empress Frederic Memorial Church, Aix la Chapelle [Aachen], Germany, 1899, and died there in 1905.

Alumni Oxonienses: Jones, Charles Frederick, y.s. John, of Llanidloes, co, Montgomery, cler. Non-Coll., matric. 13 Oct., 1883, aged 34.

Oxford Men and their Colleges, 1880-1892: Jones, rev. Charles Frederick, born at Llanidloes, co. Montgomery, 30 June, 1849; y.s. John, cler. Non-Collegiate, matric. 13 Oct., 83, aged 34 (from Llandovery collegiate school, and St. David’s coll., Lampeter, b.a. 73) ; migrated to Wadham 17 Oct., 85; held various curacies 74-82.

Llandudno Chess Club History: “The President, the Reverend Charles Frederick Jones was a strong player, brought up in Llanidloes, who had played for Oxford in the varsity match at the beginning of the year. He had also written asking to be considered as a member of the first South Wales team to play against Bristol, but although his inclusion was welcomed, he did not take part. He was curate in Ruabon [near Wrexham, Wales] from 1875 and resided in Llandudno from at least 1881. Sometime around 1891 he and his family moved to Cheshunt in Hertfordshire. (He was born in 1849 and should not be confused with Rev. Charles Francis Jones born in Pyle in 1857. The latter was a curate in Swansea for a while before moving to Baildon, Yorkshire where he corresponded with the Cambrian and other chess publications, frequently submitting problems.)”

Morning Post – Friday 03 February 1905; The funeral of the Rev. Charles Frederick Jones, English chaplain of the Empress Frederic Memorial Church at Aix-la-Chapelle, took place in that city yesterday. Mr. Jones was for some years resident in John Milton’s house in Barbican, and was assistant curate of St. Mary, Golden-lane. He had for some years pursued his work in the German city, and had secured from the municipality the grant of a site for the memorial church on the new boulevard.

David Le Brun Jones (born 1923). Trinity College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1946, 1947, and the unofficial Varsity match of 1942. Regularly attends Varsity chess matches as a spectator (present in 2018). Made a short speech at the 2007 dinner, mentioning his 1942, 1946 and 1947 appearances. David Jones was a code-breaker at Bletchley Park during the war. Between Autumn 1943 and July 1945 he had been in Block F, working on Japanese Army and Air Force codes.

Who’s Who: Senior civil servant. CB 1975; Director, Long Term Office, International Energy Agency, 1982-88. Educ: City of London Sch.; Trinity Coll., Oxford. Work: Asst Principal, Min. of Power, 1947; Principal, MOP, 1952; Asst Sec., Office of the Minister for Science, 1962; Asst Sec., MOP, 1963; Under-Sec., MOP, later Min. of Technology and DTI, 1968-73; Dep. Sec., DTI, later DoI, 1973-76; Cabinet Office, 1976-77; Dept of Energy, 1978-82. Trustee, Nat. Energy Foundn, 1989-99.

Major Edgar Montague-Jones – see under Montague-Jones

John Edwin Jones (12 March 1922 – 7 May 1994). Hertford College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1946, 1947. Known as ‘Eddy. Won scholarship from Wolverhampton Grammar School to read Classics at Oxford. War service in Tank Regiment. Completed degree after the war, taught at St Chad’s Choir School, Lichfield. Active in Staffordshire chess, late 1940s. Moved to Devon in 1951, teaching at King Edward VI School, Totnes, restarted the Totnes CC. Chess columnist for Western Morning News. Chess administrator for local clubs and Devon county for many years. Moved to Didsbury, Manchester, in 1966, to lecture at the local teacher training college. Cheshire delegate to NCCU. On retirement in 1977, returned to Totnes. Peak BCF/ECF grade was 3b, equivalent to 201-208. Comprehensive biography at Chess Devon (n.b. via Wayback Machine – may load slowly)

Terence Colin Granville Jones (last two names sometimes shown hyphenated) (25 February 1924 – ?). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity match 1949.

Walter Francis Jones (? – ?) Queen’s College, Oxford. Varsity match 1924. B.A. and M.A. ceremony, 1929. Nothing else known.

Robert William Bryan Judson (3 September 1930 – 6 December 2017). Hertford College, Oxford. Varsity match 1954. Known as “Bryan Judson”. Educ. Worcester Grammar School. Mathematics scholar of Hertford College; matric. 1951. Occ. actuary (AIA, MCIM), stockbroker, real estate. Emigrated to Australia, 1958; returned to UK, 1968. Croquet player.

Efric Leofwin Kearney (31 August 1856 – 29 November 1913). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1877. Schoolmaster, educational administrator & examiner, Esperantist.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: “Adm. scholar at St. Catharine’s, July 10, 1875. S. of the Rev. John Batchelor [and Ellen Wells]. B. Aug. 31, 1856, at Wimbledon, Surrey. School, Christ’s Hospital. Matric. Michs. 1875; B.A. 1879; M.A. 1882. Clerk in the Civil Service Commission, 1878-81. Assistant Master at Melbourne Grammar School, Australia; at the Scotch College, Melbourne; at Ballarat Grammar School, 1882-8. Examiner for the Civil Service Commission and Scotch Education Dept., 1888-1904. Greatly interested in Esperanto, and author of a number of translations into that language [including Alice in Wonderland – JS]. Resided latterly at Putney. Died suddenly Nov. 29, 1913. (Christ’s Hospital Exhibitioners; The Times, Dec. 3, 1913.)”

Percy St Goar Kelton (28 December 1886 – 27 June 1924, Paris, France). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1906 (not originally chosen to play but stood in for a non-arriving player). Matric. October 1905 as Percy St Goar Kahn (his family name: both parents were German) but on 8 November 1905 changed his surname (as did his widowed mother and brother) to Kelton. Educ. Harrow School. WW1, Captain, 8th Bn., The Buffs (East Kent Regt); later of the West African Frontier Force. “Man of independent means, with no need to work, and devoted himself to gambling at cards and horse racing.” [Link to further detailed biographical information] Also played chess for the Combined Universities vs House of Commons, 19 May 1908.

Charles Edward Kemp (18 November 1901 – 9 November 1986). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1922, 1923. Educ. Manchester Grammar School. Open scholar, Corpus Christi, Goldsmith Exhibitioner, 1922. 1st class hon., mathematics, 1923. Master, Manchester GS, 1923-30; Tutor, Hulme Hall, Manchester University, 1924-25; Lecturer, College of Technology, Manchester University, 1927-30; Master, Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, 1930-34; Headmaster, Chesterfield School, 1934-39; Headmaster of Reading School, 1939-66. Chess problemist and international judge for chess compositions (1964). Specialist in fairy problems. Co-editor, Fairy Chess Review, 1952-58. Co-author, Schach ohne Grenzen (Chess Unlimited) (1969), an anthology of Thomas Rayner Dawson’s work.

(Robert) Colin Kennedy (31 May 1938, nr. Belfast – 31 December 2015, London). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1958, 1959. Educ. Campbell College, Belfast. Professional poker player. Poker database. Represented Ireland in the 1955 Glorney Cup. Ulster Schoolboys’ Chess Champion, 1955. Played county chess for Cambridgeshire, 1950s. Grade 4a (193-200), 1958 BCF grading list. Represented Ireland (board 1) in the 1958 World Student Team Championship, Varna, Bulgaria.

Swimming with The Devilfish by Des Wilson (Macmillan, 2006; a book about poker players): “A third key figure at En Passant is Colin Kennedy, born outside Belfast and a former Cambridge student. Colin helps run the poker. Colin is one of a small number of chess players who move on to poker and will quietly make a living in cash games for more than forty years. Stewart Reuben is another who has lived comfortably from poker earnings over that time. Now, while all this has been happening, what’s been going on at the Vic? Well, in a way it hasn’t changed that much. It’s still a noisy and colourful place where you can go any evening and play poker. You can still see Colin Kennedy and Stewart Reuben and the rest … players you would have seen in En Passant over forty years ago.”

John Neville Keynes (31 August 1852 – 15 November 1949). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878. Economist and father of John Maynard Keynes (whom he outlived). Educated at Amersham Hall School, University College London and Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow in 1876. Lectureship, Moral Sciences (1883-1911). Wikipedia.

The following is a mate in 4 composed by Keynes, published in the City of London Chess magazine in 1874.

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Edward Herring Kinder (5 July 1856 – 25 October 1938). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881 and 1882. Clergyman, schoolmaster. See his Chess Reminiscences, published in 1932 in BCM.

Obituary, BCM, Dec 1938, p543: “Edward Herring Kinder b 5 July 1856 (Lumb, Lancashire), d 25 October 1938 (Reedham, Norfolk) The Rev. E. H. Kinder died on October 25th at Reedham, Norfolk, at the age of 82. He was for 34 years Rector of Kirby Bedon, and formerly Headmaster of St. Ives Grammar School, Hunts. Edward Herring Kinder was born on July 5th, 1856, at Lumb-in-Rossendale, Lancashire, and at the age of 12 learned chess from his father. He was educated at Norwich School and Brasenose College, Oxford, becoming President of Oxford University Chess Club in 1879. His chief contemporaries and opponents then were Rev. C. E. Ranken, Sir Walter Parratt, and Signor Aspa. He played regularly for Norfolk at one of the top boards for a large number of years with great success, but excelled at correspondence play. His hobby other than chess was cultivating roses. He held the appointments of Commissioner of Taxes at Norfolk; Chairman of School Management; Member of Norwich Diocesan Dilapidations Board and Diocesan Lecture Association. He published a nice descriptive little book on Kirby Bedon in 1924.”

Alumni Oxonienses: 2 s. Ralph [Kinder], of Lumb in Rossendale, Lancs., cler. Brasenose College, 14 Oct 1876, aged 20, B.A. 1880, M.A. 1883, head-master of St. Ives’ School.

Joseph Irving King (20 January 1906 – 18 June 1948). Jesus College, Oxford. Varsity match 1926. US Citizen, born California, practised law in Los Angeles (1940); at the time of his death he was an attorney attached to the US Govt. Bureau of Customs, Washington DC. Killed in an aircraft accident – he had been piloting himself – Codoros Township, York County, Pennsylvania (details).

Francis Ernest Appleyard Kitto (3 February 1915 – 28 November 1964). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937. (His photo appears on the 1937 Varsity match page) Known as “Frank”. Notable player in the west of England from the 1930s to the 1960s. At the 1938 BCF Major Open, he finished 1st= with Dr. Seitz. Bomber pilot during the war. In 1948 shared 1st place with Max Euwe in the Plymouth International, ahead of William Winter, Dr. List, ARB Thomas, etc. Played for Great Britain in the 1948 match versus the Netherlands, scoring ½/2 vs van Steenis. Won the West of England Championship twice, in 1951 (shared with Ron Bruce) and 1955 (outright). In 1955 he also won his club and county championships, and finished first in the Paignton Premier. Biography, Pioneers of Devon Chess (accessed via Wayback machine – may load slowly)

George (Richard) Wilson Knight (19 September 1897 – 20 March 1985). St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Varsity match 1923. Novelist, playwright, academic, theatrical produce/actor. Educ. Dulwich College. Matr. St Edmund Hall, 1921, after WW1 service & teaching in prep schools. B.A., 2nd class hon., English language and literature, 1923. Professor, University of Toronto, 1931-40; Reader, later professor, Leeds University, 1946-1962. Wikipedia.

Peter Maximilian Kraushar (born 1934, Poland). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1955. Educ: St Paul’s School, 1947-53. Scholarship to read classics at Christ’s. Occ. marketing; author. Founded KAE Marketing Intelligence, 1969. Chairman, North London Hospice, 2004.

Stefan Kruger (1926, Austria – 26 November 1997, Australia). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1953. Originally from Austria, settled in Australia from 1939. Twice New South Wales chess champion (1949 and 1951). Occ. organic chemist, medic; music benefactor.

George William Küchler, later Knight (18 June 1858 – 4 November 1943). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1882, 1883, 1884.

Who Was Who: KNIGHT, William George [né Ku(e)chler] MA, CIE 1911; late Indian Educational Service;
b 18 June 1858; m E. M., d of Robert Knight, proprietor of Statesman, Calcutta; two s two d. Educ: Edinburgh University, MA 1st Class Hons Maths; Ferguson Scholar for Scottish Universities; BA Cambridge University, Wrangler and 1st Class Finals, 1885. Work: Professor, Presidency College, Calcutta, 1885; also Patna College and Sibpur Engineering College; Inspector of Schools, Bengal, 1906; Director of Public Instruction, Bengal, 1908; retired, 1913; assumed by deed poll surname of Knight in lieu of Küchler, 1919. Address: Woodland Rise, Reigate, Surrey. T: Reigate 998. Died 4 Nov. 1943.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: George William. Küchler [post Knight] SIDNEY Entered: Michs. 1880 Born: 18 Jun 1858 Adm. pens. at SIDNEY, Oct. 11, 1880. 4th s. of Henry, teacher of music, of Edinburgh, deceased. B. there June 18, 1858. [Previously at Edinburgh University; M.A. (1st Class Honours in Maths.), Edin., 1879; Ferguson Scholar for Scottish Universities.] Matric. Michs. 1880; (9th Wrangler, 1883); B.A. 1884. Professor at the Presidency College, Calcutta, 1885; Professor at Patna College and Sibpur Engineering College. Inspector of Schools, Bengal, 1906; Director of Public Instruction, Bengal, 1908. C.I.E., 1911; retired, 1913. Assumed by deed-poll the surname of Knight (his wife’s maiden name) in lieu of Küchler, 1919. Latterly of Woodland Rise, Reigate, Surrey. Died Nov. 4, 1943. (I.C.S. Lists; Who’s Who, William George.)

Arthur Percival Lacy Hulbert – see Arthur Percival Lacy Hulbert

Lai Hee Goh – see Lai Hee Goh

Kirsopp Lake (7 April 1872, Southampton – 10 November 1946, South Pasadena, California, USA). Lincoln College, Oxford. Varsity match 1895; and the 1893 Oxford Past v Oxford Present match. Occ. clergyman, biblical scholar, archaeologist, palaeologist. Educ. St Paul’s School. B.A., 1895 (2nd class hons). Curate, Lumley, Durham, 1895-96; ord. priest, 1896; curate, St Mary, Oxford, 1897-1904; professor of early Christian literature, University of Leiden, 1904-14; professor, Harvard, 1914-38. Retired 1938. (Source: DNB). Wikipedia.

Derek Thomas Anthony Lamport (born 1 December 1933). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1957, 1958. B.A., 1958; Ph.D., Cambridge, 1963. Occ. academic, plant biochemist. USA from 1961. Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University; Sussex University. Brighton CC Champion, 1950. Played county chess for Sussex, 1960s.

Basil Vivian Landau (May 1925 – 18 July 2017). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1945. Lecturer in mathematics, Salford University. Director of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, peace activist. Educ. Highbury County School, Highbury Grove, London; while evacuated to the Midsomer Norton County Secondary School in 1942, won an Open Exhibition in mathematics at Queens’, Cambridge. Played for Papua New Guinea in the Chess Olympiad of 1984: board six, scored +1, =2, -5. Played at Paignton, 2005, still in the English (ECF) grading list in 2010.

Thomas Anselm Landry (19 August 1935 – 11 January 1996). Pembroke College, Oxford. Varsity match 1955. Tom Landry was a noted draughts/checkers player, who held the record for winning the London Championship 11 times in all and also the 1983 Northern Ireland Championship. He was president of the English Draughts Association and personally financed (and played in) the 1973 Great Britain vs America draughts match. Authored books on the subject. He was a stockbroker and insurance consultant.

Henry Fitzgerald William Lane (8 October 1878 – 26 July 1958). Worcester College, Oxford. Varsity match 1901. Educ. Clifton College. Blinded in a gun accident, aged 16. Read jurisprudence at Oxford. Problemist. British Endgame Study News, March 2004.

Harrow Observer – Thursday 07 August 1958: “MR. H. F. W. LANE •
A world-famous blind chess-problem composer, Mr. Henry Fitzgerald William Lane, of 17, Barrow Point Avenue, Pinner, died on July 26 at the age of 79. Mr Lane, who was blinded in a gun accident at the age of 16, attended Clifton College and later obtained honours in jurisprudence at Oxford. He represented Oxford in a chess match against Yale and Harvard. He had lived in Pinner for 34 years. His only son, Squadron-Leader Brian Lane, D.F.C., was killed during the war.”

William Woodhouse Lane (12 September 1883 – 30 November 1946, Monaco). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1904, 1905, 1906. Educ. Rydal Mount School, Colwyn Bay. Passed preliminary Law Society exam, 1901. 2nd Class, Part 2, Ordinary Degree, 1903. 4th Class, Part 1, General Examination, 1904. 2nd Class, Part 2, Special Exam for Ordinary B.A. degree in Law, 1905. Played chess for Somerset, 1905. Played in the GB v USA university cable match, 24 March 1906. M.A., 1913. Involved in a motoring accident near Udine, Italy, 1937, whilst being chauffeured from Milan to Vienna, and sustained serious injuries.

Richard Shermer Lankester (8 February 1922—15 July 2018). Jesus College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1946, 1947, and the unofficial Varsity match of 1942. Former Officer of the House of Commons (Telegraph death notice). 1966 photo of him as a House of Commons official. Attended Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, where he played chess and cricket and attended concerts with his father, a music publisher. He arrived at Jesus in Trinity 1941 to read a shortened course in Modern History, and obtained a First in his Part I exams in Trinity 1942. He spent the rest of the war with the Royal Artillery, serving in North Africa and Italy, returning to Jesus to graduate in 1947. 1947-87, career in Westminster – served in the Department of the Clerk of the House of Commons, co-edited The Table 1962-67, and worked in Strasbourg for the Council of Europe. In 1967 he was Clerk to the Committee investigating the Torrey Canyon disaster. He was successively Clerk of Standing Committees (1973-75), Clerk of Expenditure Committee (1975-79), and Clerk of Committees (1979-87). He established a system of departmental select committees for scrutinising the expenditure, administration, and policy of government departments, which was agreed by the House of Commons in June 1979. He established the Register of Members’ interests and was Registrar 1974- 87. (Jesus College Oxford, Alumni Magazine 2018)

Raymond Mortimer Latham (18 June 1857 – 28 November 1939). Varsity match 1877. Exeter College, Oxford. Schoolmaster. Census 1911, 2 Princes Road, Wimbledon, assistant master in public school, married Elizabeth [1887], four chn. all alive 1911 and living with him. Member of Battersea CC, 1890s, played for Surrey county.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: “LATHAM, Raymond Mortimer, 1s. Mortimer Thomas [LATHAM] of Coningsby, co. Lincoln – Exeter College, matric. 15 May 1875, aged 17; B.A. & M.A. 1882. See Coll. Reg. 168.”

Edward Lawton (1 January 1873 – 21 April 1902). Corpus Christi, Oxford. Varsity matches 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897. Educ. Manchester Grammar School. B.A. (1895?). Naval Instructor, RN, HMS Royal Sovereign. (Death notice, Manchester Evening News, 23 April 1902). Born and died in Manchester.

Oxford Alumni: “Lawton, Edward, born at Manchester 1 Jan., 1873; 3s. Edward, accountant. Corpus Christi, matric. 18 Oct., 92, aged 19, from Manchester gr. school.”

PWS, p16: “My fond hopes of winning the championship of the O.U.Ch.C. at my first attempt were disappointed. I did not do so, in fact, until in 1893-4. But I got into the team in my first year, and held in succession the posts of honorary secretary, treasurer, and president. The chapter on ‘Oxford and Cambridge Chess’ gives sufficient details of my Oxford chess career, such as it was. I may mention that, when I won the club championship in 1891, I was of the opinion that E. Lawton, from Manchester, was really stronger than myself, and therefore, as president, played him above me in the 1895 match. Lawton, unhappily, died a very premature death. Otherwise he undoubtedly would have made for himself a fine reputation at the game.”

Rev. Wallace Mackenzie Le Patourel (19 February 1865, St Peter Port, Guernsey – 31 May 1916, Battle of Jutland, WW1). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1889, 1890, 1891. Educ. Elizabeth College, Guernsey (1874-82). Clergyman; curate, Holy Trinity, Chelsea, from 1891. Vicar of St Dunstan’s East Acton from 1907; Royal Navy chaplain, WW1. Ordained deacon 1891; ordained priest 1892. Died aboard HMS Defence, Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. Royal British Legion page (with photo). Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval and Balliol College memorials. Secretary, Chelsea Chess Club, from 1892. Took part in the 3rd Inter-Insular Guernsey vs Jersey chess match held on 5 August 1895 at St Peter Port, Guernsey, which Guernsey won 8-4. His younger brother Harry Francis Garnier Le Patourel (1871-1906) also took part in the 1895 Guernsey vs Jersey match; he played county chess for Worcestershire and for the Malvern club. Harry had been an exhibitioner at Pembroke College, Oxford, and became a schoolmaster. (The Star – Thursday 08 August 1895). [n.b. the record of the Inter-Insular Guernsey vs Jersey series maintained by Guernsey Chess Club on this page starts in 1931 and does not take account of these earlier 1893, 1894 and 1895 fixtures]

Oxford Men and their Colleges, 1880-92: Le Patourel, rev. Wallace Mackenzie, born at St. Peter Port, isle of Guernsey, 1865 ; 1s. Mesurier, arm. Balliol, matric. 19 Oct., 86, aged 21 (from Elizabeth coll., Guernsey), B.A. 90; Honours :—4 classics 90.

Ealing Gazette and West Middlesex Observer – Saturday 10 June 1916: … “Deeply regret to inform you Rev. Wallace M. Le Patourel killed in action. The telegram was sent to Mrs. Le Patourel at the Vicarage, but as she is staying with relatives in Hampshire, the wire was re-transmitted by the priest-in-charge the Rev. Philip P. Boustead, M.A. The late Vicar, who was 49 years of age [actually 51 – JS], succeeded the first Vicar of St. Dunstan’s Parish, the late Rev. T. M. Hayter, and it is a pathetic coincidence that Sunday next is the ninth anniversary of his induction. Entering upon his work at East Acton under the happiest auspices, Mr. Le Patourel continued to receive the sympathy and co-operation of his parishioners. A man devoted to music, his ability succeeded in raising the choral service at St. Dunstan’s to a high pitch of perfection. He was also keenly interested in the welfare of the East Acton Dramatic Society, which has achieved such success; a chess player who had been a member of the Oxford University team; president of the Acton Central Aid Society; and for three years one of Acton’s representatives on the Brentford Board of Guardians. He was extremely popular with his parishioners and his public and social work was always marked by that earnestness of purpose which characterised his whole ministry.”

Arthur Herbert Leahy (25 May 1857 – 16 May 1928). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1879. Mathematics professor, writer.

Who’s Who: “Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, University of Sheffield; b Corfu, 25 May 1857; e s of late Col Arthur Leahy, RE, Flesk, Killarney, and Harriet, d of B. M. Tabuteau, Dublin; m 1913, Margaret, o d of W. J. Chichele Nourse; one s one d. Educ: Temple Grove; Uppingham; Trinity College, Dublin; Pembroke College, Cambridge. BA as 9th Wrangler, and 3rd class Class. Tripos, 1881; MA 1884. Work: Instructor, RMA, Woolwich, 1882-83; Mathematical Master, Bradfield College, 1883-85; Fellow of Pembroke College, 1887; Bursar, 1888-92; Mathematical Lecturer, 1887-92; Professor of Mathematics in the University of Sheffield, and in Firth College, Sheffield, 1892-1922; Dean of Faculty of Pure Science, 1905-11, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, 1919-22; Public Orator, 1912-22. President of Sheffield Literary and Philosophical Society, 1909; Vice-President Section A, British Association, 1910. Publications: papers on oscillatory actions in ether, on functions connected with spherical harmonics, and other mathematical subjects; The Courtship of Ferb, 1902; Heroic Romances of Ireland, 1905. Recreation: Ancient Irish Literature. Address: Flesk, 3 Goda Road, Littlehampton, Sussex. Died 16 May 1928.”

Clifford Leak (3 February 1921 – 26 February 1987). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1939, 1947 and also the unofficial 1940 and 1941 matches. Educ. Liverpool Institute in the 1930s (captain of their chess team), won an open scholarship in Classics to Corpus Christi and was with Intelligence Corps during WW2. Played on a high board for Lancashire in the early 1950s.

George Leathem (2 December 1881 – 4 January 1953). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1903, 1904, 1905. 19th wrangler, Cambridge mathematical tripos, 1904 (his brother John Gaston Leathem was one of the examiners). Composition quoted in Fairy Chess Review, August 1938; invented the ‘equihopper’. Joined Indian Civil Service. After retirement, took up poultry farming.

BCM, Aug 1953, p212 – Mr. George Leathem died last January [1953]. He was President of the Cambridge University Chess Club in 1904-5, and played three times against Oxford, winning on Board 1 against H. D. Roome in 1905. Born and at school in Northern Ireland*, he was a mathematical scholar of St. John’s College and a wrangler. His brother, J[ohn]. G[aston]. Leathem, was a Fellow of St. John’s [died 1923] and both his two Johnian nephews were Presidents of the Union.
On retiring from the I.C.S. [Indian Civil Service] he did not return to serious chess, though for some years he gave much time to problems and to Fairy Chess. His real interest was in literature, especially in the early Yeats and the writers of the eighteen-nineties. – B[ertram].G[oulding].B[rown]. [* corrected to this from ‘Northumberland’ in BCM, Sept 1953, p244]

Henry Lee (20 July 1854 – 20 December 1883). Worcester College, Oxford. Varsity match 1878. Medical student. [Times gives college as ‘Brasenose’, Gaige gives ‘Worcester’.] Died of Typhoid fever. [source: Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News – Saturday 05 April 1884, p13]

Alumni Oxonienses: “Lee, Henry, 1s. Henry of London, gent. Worcester College, matric. 26 April 1873, aged 18.”

BCM, 1884, p45: “With one accord the Chess organs have united in deploring the untimely death of Mr. Henry Lee, jun. We have left the task of describing his Chess career to an Oxford contemporary who knew him, both then and since, far more intimately than we did. But we cannot forbear to add our own testimony to the skill he had already attained, his still higher promise, and our liking for him personally. W. W. [W Wayte] There is a melancholy satisfaction, when death has robbed us of a friend, in telling others of all that was best about him; and I gladly avail myself of the opportunity afforded me by the Editor of the British Chess Magazine to say a few words in memory of Henry Lee, whose unexpected and untimely end on the 20th of December last cast a general gloom over the circle of the Chess world in which he was known. His constitution, never very stable, had been much shaken of late by severe heart disease but he was in good spirits and fairly good health when symptoms of blood-poisoning suddenly manifested themselves. He was at once removed to his father’s house where he became rapidly worse, and he expired after an illness of only ten days at the early age of 29. Henry Lee was born on the 20th of July 1854. He was educated at Uppingham and Oxford, and played twice in the annual Inter-University Chess Match [no – just the once – JS]. On leaving the University he became a student at St. George’s Hospital, and shortly afterwards joined the St. George’s Chess Club, where he became known as a very promising player. His studies were, however, much interfered with by the delicate state of his health, and towards the end of 1879 he was obliged to go abroad to recruit. After an absence of rather more than a year he returned to London and to work. His taste and capacity for Chess had lost nothing during his travels, and he renewed his membership of the St. George’s Club and competed with Messrs. Minchin and Wayte for the Lowenthal Challenge Cup in the spring of 1882. He shortly afterwards left the Club in order to devote himself more exclusively to his medical studies; but at the London Chess Congress of last year he again entered the lists, and bore off the 9th prize in the Vizayanagaram Tournament. Just before his fatal illness, Mr. Lee had engaged in the City of London Club Handicap of 100 players divided into 10 sections, and had won the prize in his own section, scoring I believe all his nine games. It was generally expected that, in playing off the final rounds among the 10 prize-winners, he would carry off the first prize: he had been rather lightly handicapped, probably by players who did not know how much he had improved of late. Mr. Lee was of a generous and impulsive disposition, which earned him a few foes and many friends. He spoke with intelligence on subjects of which he had a knowledge, and showed a commendable and not very common reticence as to those with which he was not conversant. His society was always cheerful and often amusing. As a Chess-player he belonged to the school of dash and brilliancy; fertile in devices, and impetuous in assault, he was a formidable opponent to any player; and, but for a certain impatience in positions requiring caution and an apparently unconquerable hankering after elegant but not always sound “traps” he would probably have found his way to the front rank of English amateurs. Chess has lost in him a votary second to few in skill and to none in enthusiasm, and those to whom he had attached himself are deprived of a warm-hearted and sincere friend. W. M. G.” [WM Gattie]

Eric Leslie Leese (16 February 1912 – 29 October 2003, Ottawa, Canada). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1933. MA, mathematics. Scientific Officer, Admiralty Research Laboratory, 1939. Emigrated to Canada, 1951, to join the Defence Research Board where he became Director of Mathematics & Statistics.

Donald Daniel Leslie (1 July 1922 – April 2020). Cambridge University, 1946-1951. Did not play in a Varsity chess match but played in the 1952 British Championship whilst studying at Cambridge. Academic specialising in Chinese studies. Born in Tottenham, London. BSc, London University, 1943. After service in WW2 (1943-47), became an interpreter in Japan, then studied Chinese at the London University and then Cambridge where he graduated M.Litt. in 1954. Moved to Israel, becoming a fellow in Chinese Studies at Jerusalem University. Doctorate at Sorbonne, Paris, research fellowship in Australia, returned to Israel and eventually settled in Australia as a senior lecturer at the University of Canberra. (Biographical details found here)

Hubert Bell Lester (14 February 1868 – 24 November 1952). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1889, 1890, 1891. Occ. clergyman. Vicar of Skipsea, 1919-52. Member of Keighley Chess Club, 1900; vice-president of same, 1901.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Hubert Bell Lester QUEENS’ Michs. 1888 Born: 14 Feb 1868 Adm. pens. at QUEENS’, Michs. 1888. S. of Thomas. B. Feb. 14, 1868, at Hull. [Educated at Hull College.] Matric. Michs. 1888; B.A. 1891; M.A. 1895. Ord. deacon (Worcester) 1892; priest, 1893; C. of St Paul’s, Lozells, Birmingham, 1892-5. C. of Meanwood, Yorks., 1895-8. C. of Keighley, 1898-1906. V. of Edingley with Halam, Notts., 1906-16. R. of St Elizabeth’s, Reddish, Lancs., 1916-19. V. of Skipsea, Yorks., 1919-25. V. of Skipsea with Ulrome, 1925-48. Author, Memories of Gloucester Cathedral, etc. (Crockford; Who’s Who in Yorks.)

Rev. Lewis Woodward Lewis (5 December 1830 – 15 April 1900). Lincoln College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1892 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match. Played county chess for Kent. Chairman, SCCU (Southern Counties’ Chess Union).

Alumni Oxonienses: Lewis, Lewis Woodward, 3s. David, of Middlesex, doctor. Lincoln Coll., matric. 15 March, 1849, aged 18; B.A. 1852, M.A. 1856, rector of Leysdown, with Isle of Sheppy, 1862-75, and of Meopham, Kent, since 1875. See Robinson, 283.

BCM, 1900, ppn 183-186: “It is with the deepest regret that we have to record the death of the Rev. Lewis W. Lewis, chairman of the Southern Counties’ Chess Union, who was held in the most affectionate regard, and whose place can never be filled as he filled it.

“He was the son of Dr. David Lewis, of London, and was born on December 5th, 1830. He entered Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1849, and took his degree in 1853 He was ordained in 1855, and all his clerical life has been spent in the county of Kent, viz., at Mersham, Luddenham. Faversham, Leysdown, and lastly at Meopham, where he has held the living for the last twenty-five years. In 1895 he was appointed Rural Dean of Cobham.

“In 1858 he married the elder daughter of the late Lieut. Gen. T. Elwyn, R.A. His life was one of devotion to his sacred calling, and to so great an extent did he carry this that he disregarded entirely his personal comfort or convenience; it had indeed been obvious for some time past to those who had the pleasure of knowing him intimately that he had overtaxed himself, and the great strain had undermined his health. He was obliged at last to take to his bed, and his seven weeks’ illness was borne with that Christ-like resignation, patience, and humility which were always such pronounced traits in his character. The very best medical skill was unable to arrest the wasting disease (pernicious anaemia) from which he suffered, and at the dawn of Easter day he passed to that rest for which his life of devotion to duty so well prepared him.

“Our readers will remember Mr. Lewis more in connection with the chess world than with his office as parish priest. He was always a keen devotee of the game; even in his youngest days, and also while he was at Oxford, he indulged his love of it—and it is an open secret that his knowledge of the game was—to say the least of it—very convenient to him in that Spring time of life, when “young men’s fancies turn lightly to thoughts of love,” for Mrs. [Louisa Anne Edie] Lewis [née Elwyn, 1840-1915] comes of an old chess family—her grandmother won a silver Queen in a contest held more than 100 years ago. It is easy to understand that a game of chess was often made the excuse for an additional meeting, and it is not to be supposed that a very correct record of the score of these games was kept.

“Mr. Lewis was one of the promoters of the old Gundolph Chess Club at Rochester, and was for many years the match captain of the present Rochester Club. He was also a member of the St. George’s Club, the Four-Hand Club, City of London and Metropolitan Clubs, and chairman of the Southern Counties’ Chess Union; but probably he was best and most widely known in his connection with the Kent County Chess Association. It is not too much to say that he was the “rallying point” of this successful organisation. The mention of the Kent Association always carried with it the name of Lewis—and to mention his name in the chess world was to couple it with the Kent Association. His “personality” carried with it so great a charm that all with whom he came in contact fell under its fascination. He was the guiding spirit in this County Association, and not only won the affectionate regard of all its members but also the esteem of the members of kindred associations. He was always present at the matches, cheering and inspiring the members of his team, and will be missed quite as much by his opponents as his own members.

“His devotion to the duties of match captain and chairman of the committee can only be fully appreciated by those who had the privilege of working with him. If he had any fault it was his excessive modesty—this was so pronounced, and he made such efforts to keep his work in the back ground, that very few indeed are acquainted with the immense amount of work he so successfully achieved.

“He was a man of infinite tact and great ability. Everyone was always charmed by his high sense of humour, and his geniality was one of his especial features.

“His extreme modesty and dread of publicity prevented the display of appreciation that his admirers would like to have made, but the Rochester Chess Club managed last year, by diplomacy, to present him with a very handsome set of ivory chessmen and a board, as a slight mark of their appreciation of his efforts in connection with their club. The presentation took place during the Annual Congress of the Kent County Chess Association, and Mrs. Lewis’s identification with the chess world and the assistance she always gave her husband, were recognised by a presentation of a jewelled bracelet.

“The parishioners who have been dependent on him, the chess world, and his very numerous circle of friends, acquaintances, and admirers will look in vain for anyone to fill his place. He was an ideal parish priest, husband, father, and friend, and his loss will be deeply mourned by all who knew him.

“The funeral took place on Thursday. April 19th, at the beautiful old church of St. John the Baptist, Meopham, and was of the most impressive character. The whole of the parish were present, and it was very evident that Mr. Lewis had endeared himself to all who knew him, and that the loss was a personal one to everyone present.”

Lionel Lewis (22 March 1928 – 27 October 2020). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity match 1949. Matriculated 1946. Made a donation to Merton College, Oxford, in 2004. Obituary published on the Birmingham & District Chess League website, 15 November 2020, written by his son John. Attended King Edward’s School, Birmingham (which produced Hugh Alexander and Tony Miles) and learnt chess there during the war. After university, was a member of the City & Erdington Chess Club, and then Quinborne before joining Mutual Circle, of which he was a member for more than 40 years.

Lionel William Pelling Lewis (12 November 1871 – 2 August 1945). Peterhouse, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1893, 1894. Educ. University College School, London & King Edward School, Birmingham. B.A., 1894; M.A., 1904. Schoolmaster and author of text books on Classics. Some chess activity in Wales in 1903 (finished 2nd to AW Daniel in a Cardiff tournament, February 1903). Played for Bradford CC in the Woodhouse Cup, 1906. Also a keen golfer.

Cambridge Alumni: Lewis, Lionel William Pelling. Adm. pens.
at PETERHOUSE, Oct. 16, 1890.
S. of J. F., Esq. B. Nov. 12, 1871, in London.
Schools, Bedford Grammar and [University College School, and] King Edward’s, Birmingham.
Matric. Michs. 1891; Scholar, 1891; B.A. 1894; M.A. 1904.
Assistant Master at Newport, Mon., Intermediate School, in 1903.
Senior Classical Master at Bradford Grammar School, 1903-30.
Sometime a master at Bishop’s Stortford College.
Author, classical text-books. F.R.A.S. Died Aug. 2, 1945, at Exmouth. (T. A. Walker, 617; Schoolmasters’ Directories; The Times, Aug. 6, 1945.)

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Tuesday 07 August 1945, page 3: “Mr. Lionel William Pelling (Tock¶) Lewis. a former master at Bradford Grammar School, has died in an Exmouth Nursing Home, aged 73. A Londoner by birth, he was educated at University College School, London, King Edward School, Birmingham, and Peterhouse College [sic], Cambridge, where he obtained a degree in classics. Joining the staff of Bradford Grammar School as classical master in 1902, he was for some 10 years before his retirement in 1929 senior classical master and form master of the Classical Sixth. As housemaster of the Red House, he took a keen interest in all forms of school sports. An excellent golfer, he was at one time captain of Bradford Golf Club.

“Shortly after the last war. he organised and ran a Summer School for Latin teachers at Ilkley for two years, under the Board of Education, and was the joint author of at least two standard text-books. Work on the first of these—a Latin textbook—was started while he was still at Bradford; the second—a companion volume on Greek—was completed after his retirement, an occasion marked by a presentation from the school. A bachelor, he had since lived in Cornwall.”

(Page 2 of the same issue of the newspaper): “To many men whose school curriculum included Latin the names ‘Lewis and Goddard’ mean the text book which guided their faltering footsteps through the intricacies of Latin grammar. But to those who passed through the Bradford Grammar School during the first, quarter of the century Mr. L. W. P. Lewis, whose death is announced, was much more than the author of a text-book. In the years in which he was senior classical master at Bradford [Grammar School] he was a personal friend to generations of boys.
‘He made them work,’ one I who knew him well told me yesterday, ‘but they liked him. They were always imitating him, quoting his pet phrases and talking about him in the familiar way in which schoolboys usually talk about a master who is popular.’ He was a man of many interests, but he gave much of his life to the school and is still held in affectionate memory.
It has been suggested to me that the late Humbert Wolfe was one of his pupils, but if so it can only have been for a short time. I knew Wolfe well at one time and he would, I think, be leaving school for the university about the year when Mr. Lewis went to Bradford.”

(¶ “Tock” was his school nickname. One of his pupils was Denis Healey, who commented in the Independent in 2009: “The man who first gave me my love for the classics was ‘Tock’ Lewis, who taught me when I was 12. He retired to Cornwall with his sister after my first year of Greek, and I spent a week or two every summer there. In the end, I realised that his interest in me was not purely intellectual, but he didn’t get anywhere with me.”)

Graham William Lines (25 March 1929 – 13 September 2015). University College, Oxford. Varsity match 1948. Actor.

(IMDB): “… known for Ulysses (1967), The Tomorrow People (1973) and Kenilworth (1967).”

(University College Record, Nov 2016): “GRAHAM WILLIAM LINES (Whitgift School) died on 13 September 2015 aged 86. He was awarded an Exhibition and came up to Univ to read PPE. He achieved a Third and went on to become an actor, a long theatrical career which began at Oxford with the Univ Players. He was in many of their productions including The Merchant of Venice (Bassanio) and Measure for Measure (Lucio) in 1948. He was in regular contact with friends from his Oxford days, and maintained contact with Univ Old Members. He attended the Univ Players Diamond Jubilee Conversazione in 2000. His acting highlights included playing Haines in Joseph Strick’s Ulysses (1967), appearing in the first British performance of Mephisto at the Round House (1981) and playing D. H. Lawrence in Eastwood during the fiftieth anniversary of Lawrence’s death. His wife Marian was also an actor. [We are very grateful to Graham’s daughter Anna for supplying this tribute.]”

Leonard Barden comments: “[Graham Lines] played second board in our Whitgift team which won the London Schools League and a BCF Schools shield. Graham got lucky in the Oxford exam because Karl Popper’s seminal book The Open Society and its Enemies had just come out, our history teacher gave it to us to read, and Graham got a question on historicism which he answered suggesting a compromise between Popper and the historicists. Several of the examiners hadn’t read the book yet so were hugely impressed and Graham got offers from three different colleges but he spent all his time at Oxford on acting so as stated only got a third. 

“[Graham Lines] played in the Major Open at Harrogate 1947 and scored 7/11 but at [London 1948?] got I think 0/11 [confirmed – see the 1948 BCF Congress results – JS], so that more or less stopped his chess career.  Many decades later he organised an Old Whitgiftians match against younger Whitgiftians at which I had a reunion with Alan Truscott for the first time for 60 years. There was a match where I beat RA Harris and Truscott lost to David Sedgwick.”

Michael Lipton, CMG, FBA (born 13 February 1937). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1959. Educ. Haberdasher’s School, London. B.A. (1st Class hons PPE, 1960), M.A. (1963), D. Litt. (Sussex). (Emeritus) Research Professor, Poverty Research Unit, Sussex University, from 1994; Emeritus Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and a Fellow of the British Academy; Fellow of All Souls, Oxford (1961-68 and 1982-84). Appointed CMG in 2003. Problem composer, FIDE International Master of Chess Composition; author of books on chess problems (Chess Problems: Introduction to an Art, Faber & Faber 1963, co-authored with Robin C O Matthews and John M Rice; The Two-move Chess Problem: Tradition and Development, Faber & Faber 1966, co-authored with John M Rice and Barry P Barnes). President, British Chess Problem Society, 2000-2002. Chess problem collection. Personal website. Wikipedia.

Stephen Hubert Llewellyn-Smith (1912-1996). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1933, 1934, 1935. BA, BM, BCh Oxon (1938), MRCP (1946), FRCP (1965). GP with an interest in neurology based in Lewisham, South London. Educated at Winchester College. 1940 joined the RAMC – medical officer, 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade. (Summarised from the full RCP biography.) The biography mentions his interest in chess but no further chess-related biographical info found as yet.

Antony Charles Lloyd (15 July 1916 – 17 December 1994). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1936, 1937. Professor of philosophy. Known as “Tony”. Born into a family that was part of the Fabian circle (including the Webbs, Bernard Shaw, HG Wells and Maynard Keynes). British Academy article. Private schooling, followed by Shrewsbury, exhibition to read ‘Greats’ (classics) at Balliol. After Oxford, lectured in Philosophy at Edinburgh. WW2 service, tank commander in Italy. In 1946 lecturer in logic at St Andrews. Professor of philosophy at Liverpool University, 1957. Elected Senior Fellow of the British Academy in 1992. Author of The Anatomy of Neoplatonism (Clarendon Press).

David Edward Lloyd (born 3rd qtr of 1934, Stourbridge). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1954, 1955, 1956. Educ. King Edward’s School, Birmingham. After university, played for West Ham CC, Ministry of Supply and Middlesex. Grade 4a (193-200) in 1958, 3b (201-208) in 1961 (affiliations West Ham, Ministry of Aviation). Elder brother of Kenneth William Lloyd who played in the 1958-1960 Varsity matches.

Kenneth William Lloyd (born 1st qtr of 1936, Stourbridge). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1958, 1959, 1960. Younger brother of David Edward Lloyd who played in the 1954-1956 Varsity matches. Played in the 1960 British Championship scoring 7/11 and ranked 4th=, defeating amongst others former champions Leonard Barden and Hugh Alexander. Scored 5/9 in the 1960/61 Hastings, ranked 3rd= with Szabo (whom he beat) behind Gligoric and Bondarevsky. Graded 2b (217-224) in 1961. Schoolteacher; played for Cornwall, 1970s; in retirement played club chess for Cobham CC in Surrey.

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Henry John Lloyd (3rd qtr of 1859 – 5 May 1935). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1882. Occ. schoolmaster.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Henry John. Lloyd TRINITY Michs. 1878 Born: 1859 Died: 1935 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 1, 1878. S. of James Sidden, of 1, Mortimer Villas, Woodbury Park, Tunbridge Wells. B. 1859, at Clifton, Bristol. School, Sherborne. Matric. Michs. 1878; B.A. 1882; M.A. 1885. Assistant Master at King William’s College, Isle of Man, 1889-93; Second Master at Bolton Grammar School in 1900; Assistant Master at the South Eastern College, Ramsgate, 1903-. Died May 5, 1935, at Southbourne, Bournemouth. Brother of James A. (1869) and Pemberton (1873). (Scott, MSS.; Schoolmasters’ Directories; Sherborne Sch. Reg.; King William’s Coll., I.O.M., Reg.; The Times, May 10, 1935.)

Hyman Lob (15 June 1886 – 1/2 January 1941). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1907, 1908. Open exhibition, King’s. 10th Senior Optime, Mathematics Tripos. Occ. schoolmaster. His brother Reuben Lob (see below) played in Varsity matches for Oxford. Taught mathematics, Manchester Grammar School, 1908-1941. Lt., East Lancashire regiment, WW1. Was an air raid warden, WW2, and killed during a raid, 1/2 January 1941, Withington, Manchester. Obituary, Manchester Evening News, 3 January 1941, page 5. Known to his pupils as “Harry”. A booklet was produced documenting his life, ref. Manchester Evening News, 21 August 1941, page 4.

Reuben Lob (14 October 1887 – 13 April 1971). Worcester College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910. Matr. 1906. M.A., 1915. Maths scholarship. Changed his name to Robert Lobb at some point, poss. after WW1. Occ. schoolmaster; assistant master, Tettenhall College, 1910-11; Westminster City School 1911-?. Corporal, RE, 1915-18. His brother Hymen Lob (see above) played in Varsity matches for Cambridge.

Charles Dealtry Locock (27 September 1862 – 13 May 1946). University College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886. Occ. literary scholar, editor and translator, who wrote on a wide array of subjects, including chess, billiards and croquet. Wikipedia. chessgames.com.

Alumni Oxonienses: Locock, Charles Dealtry, 1s. Alfred Henry, of Brighton, cler. University Coll., matric. 15
Oct., 1881, aged 19; B.A. 1886. See Foster’s Baronetage [son of the 2nd son of Sir Charles Locock (1799-1875), M.D., F.R.S., D.C.L, first physician accoucheur [obstetrician] to the Queen, created baronet, 1857]

[BCM, July 1946, p238] Charles Dealtry Locock, who was born September 27th, 1862. at Brighton, died in Putney, May 13th, after a short illness following a fall. Speaking of his chess problem career, all older readers will recall his “120 Chess Problems” (1912), “72 Black Checkers” (1918), and “70 More Problems and Puzzles” (1926)—three books of exceptional originality and individual character. In his specialist Fairy Chess field of synthetic games, he was quite unrivalled and gave us a score of real masterpieces among the hundreds. I leave his chess play and chess work in schools to others. In his earlier years he was a croquet champion on at least five occasions. and his “Modern Croquet Tactics” is in its third edition. His serious work on poetry and literature is little known to chess problemists, but it may be noted that the Swedish literary society. the Samfund de Nio, awarded him a silver medal and diploma for his translations of Swedish poetry into English verse. This loss of a very old friend and a Fairy Chess collaborator for over thirty years is a sad blow and a great loss. – T.R. D[awson].

[BCM, August 1946, p254] C. D. LOCOCK. Another and a very great loss is that of C. D. Locock, a brilliant figure in British Chess for over 60 years. The following letter from Miss Elaine Saunders is a fitting tribute for this outstanding personality.
To the Editor of” The British Chess Magazine.”

Dear Sir. – As you may not have already heard I feel I should let you know of another great loss to British chess in the death of Mr. C. D. Locock – after a brief illness – on Tuesday last, 14th May. It was, naturally, a great shock to me. Though to-day he is chiefly remembered for his analytical work, his invaluable contributions to chess literature and as a problemist, Mr. C. D. Locock before his early retirement from competitive chess was one of the stronger, certainly one of the most brilliant “amateurs” of his day and represented England on several occasions in cable matches.
His great versatility led him to be an acknowledged authority on many sports, particularly croquet, while in the literary sphere he was well known for his research on Shelley and versification.
It was to chess, however, and teaching that he devoted his last years. Probably the first to undertake instruction of chess in girls’ schools, he held annual tournaments for the championship cups until only a year ago when he bequeathed the fruits of his work to the Chess Education Society.
As one of his most grateful pupils and friends I can hardly pay adequate tribute to what amounted to genius in the art of teaching nor shall I ever forget the great debt I owe to his patience and encouragement, to his old battle cry “Imagination in chess.”
Yours sincerely, Elaine Saunders.

Thomas Lodge, C.B. (23 May 1882 – 10 February 1958). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1903, 1904, 1905. Occ. civil servant; Liberal Party politician. Educ. Liverpool Institute. 22nd Wrangler, 1903; 2nd Class, History Tripos Part 2, B.A., 1904. Board of Trade clerk, 1905; principal clerk, 1917. Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, 1918; promoted to Secretary, 1919; represented department at the Versailles Conference. C.B., 1920. Left civil service, 1920; from 1921 to 1930, hon. financial adviser to Fridtjof Nansen in philanthropic work for the League of Nations and Russia. Unsuccessful Liberal parliamentary candidate in 1939 and 1945. Wikipedia.

Frederick Kimberley Loewenthal (21 September 1876 – 25 October 1958). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity match 1901. Born and died in Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa. Occ. barrister, QC. WW1, 1st South African Infantry (but discharged, 1916, for having poor eyesight). In 1901, at the time of the census, was staying in Brixton at the home of Trinity Hall and Varsity team colleague Harold Goodlake Softlaw in Brixton, London. He and Softlaw travelled to South Africa in 1902 where they married sisters Lilian and Gladys Harris so became brothers-in-law.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Frederick Kimberley Loewenthal TRINITY HALL Entered: Michs. 1896 Adm. at TRINITY HALL, 1896. S. of Leopold, Esq., of Johannesburg, Transvaal. School, University College, London. Matric. Michs. 1896; B.A. 1901. Called to the Bar, Lincoln’s Inn, Nov. 17, 1903. Returned to South Africa. (Law Lists.)

BCM, February 1911, p54: “The death, at the age of 79, occurred at Johannesburg early in December of Mr. Leopold Loewenthal, who was one of the founders of the Johannesburg Chess Club and its president from 1890 to 1893, in succession to the first holder of that office, Chief Justice J. G. Kotze. He was an enthusiastic lover of the game, and in earlier days a strong player. One of his two sons, Dr. Max Loewenthal, is a member of the Liverpool Chess Club. The other is Advocate [Frederick Kimberley] Loewenthal, of Kimberley, and a subscriber to the B.C.M.”

William Hook Longsdon (5 June 1859 – 11 August 1921). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1881. Educ. Merchant Taylor’s School. Occ. clergyman.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Adm. sizar at Trinity, Oct. 1, 1878. s. of the Rev. Henry John (above), of Keighley. Yorks. B. [June 5], 1859, at Seacroft. School, Merchant Taylors’, London. Matric. Michs. 1878; B.A. 1882; M.A. 1885. Ord. deacon (Rochester) 1883: priest, 1884. Assistant Master at Colfe’s Grammar School, 1882-8. C. of Lewisham, Kent, 1883-8. C. of St Laurence’s. Catford, 1888-93. V. of St Michael’s, Southwark, Surrey, 1893-1906. V. of St Andrew’s, Stockwell, 1906-19. V. of Cransley, Northants., 1919-21. Died Aug. 11, 1921. Brother of Edward O[sborn] (1883). [Merchant Taylors’ Sch. Reg.; Scott, MSS.; Crockford; The Times, Aug. 12, 1921.]

John William Lord (27 July 1851 – 4 September 1883). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1876. Senior Wrangler, 1875. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Gold Medalist of London University, Fellow Of University College, London. Buried at Ipswich. Father Isaac was a baptist minister, Handsworth, Staffs, in 1871.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: “Adm. pens. at Trinity, Jan. 23, 1871. S. of Isaac, of Trinity Road, Birmingham. B. 1851, at Ipswich. [Schools, Cambridge House, Birmingham and Amersham, Reading]; and at University College, London. (B.A. 1870; M.A. 1874). Matric. Michs. 1871; Scholar, 1872-6; B.A. (Senior Wrangler) 1875; M.A. 1878. Fellow, 1876-81. Lived at Davos. Died Sept. 4, 1883, at Clarens (Switzerland) (Boase, II. 496; Cambridge Review, v.3; The Guardian, Sept. 12, 1883.)”

Alexander James David Lothian (28 April 1881, Edinburgh – 21 February 1958). Trinity College, Oxford. Varsity match 1906. Educ. George Watson’s College, Edinburgh. Classical exhibition to Trinity, 1902. First in Greats, 1907. Occ. (1914) lecturer in Psychology, Edinburgh University. Member of Edinburgh Chess Club, 1910s, 1920s (secretary, 1911/12; medallist, 1913/14).

Hubert Foster Lowe (1 February 1861 – 14 June 1938). Balliol College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1892 Oxford Past v. Cambridge Past match. Occ. initially academic, Oxford (mathematics, chemistry); later civil servant, examiner Patent Office. Member of the British CC, circa 1898-1901. [WikiTree]

Alumni Oxonienses: Lowe, Hubert Foster, 3s. William Bevington, of Ettington, co. Warwick, arm. Balliol Coll., matric. 16 Oct., 1879, aged 18; scholar 1879-83, B.A. 1883, M.A. 1886.

William D Lowe (abt 1927 – ?). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1952 and 1953 Cambridge Past v Oxford Past matches. Educ. Christ’s Hospital School (Horsham, Sussex), 1939-45. Won a major scholarship to Christ’s College, Cambridge in 1946 to read mathematics. Member of Metropolitan, Guildford (1980s?) and Farnham (2000s) clubs at various times. Played for Surrey at county chess, 1990s.

Froilán Pindaro Ludueña (18 August 1906 – June 1982). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity match 1936. Pharmacologist and doctor. Research assistant in pharmacology, Stanford University. Born in Santa Fe, Argentina, eventually settled in the USA and naturalised American citizen in 1953. Died in Albany, New York.

Charles Cotterill Lynam (15 June 1858 – 27 October 1938). Hertford College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1881, 1883. See also the record for his younger brother Roger Garner Lynam.

DNB: “headmaster… was born … in Stoke-on-Trent, the eldest of fourteen children, … of Charles Lynam (1829–1921), architect, and his wife, Lucy Emma… educated at King William’s College, Isle of Man… Here he first developed his love for the sea, which influenced so much of his later life.

“After leaving school Lynam spent a short time in his father’s office. In 1879 he won a mathematics scholarship to Hertford College, Oxford, and was awarded a second in mathematical moderations (1880) and a third class in mathematics (1882). He was a radical and something of an agnostic, and read a long paper on the evils of war at the Union Society at a time when such views were certainly not popular. Meanwhile his passion for sailing was developing by cruising and sailing on the inland waters of the Thames. His chief activity, however, was rugby football. He played for the university for three years, being a three-quarter in the renowned fifteen captained by Harry (Jugs) Vassall. Unfortunately he suffered damage to a knee which left him with a permanent slight limp.

“In 1882 Lynam was appointed assistant master at the Oxford preparatory school in Crick Road, founded as a day school in 1877. In 1886 he became headmaster and in 1895 moved the school into premises designed by his father in Bardwell Road, where it became known as the Dragon School… Lynam became renowned for his ‘advanced’ views. In 1893 he was a founder member of the Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS) and first editor of the Preparatory Schools Review. As chairman of the IAPS in 1908, and again in 1921, he made an inspired plea for a wider cultivation of a liberal humanism by all teachers of youth, actively encouraging originality in boys and affording them every opportunity to discover and develop their own interest and genius. He was also a strong supporter of co-education, and his daughter was the first girl to enter the school.

“As a yachtsman Lynam had a touch of genius. His cruises in Blue Dragon I, II, and III up the west coast of Scotland and across the North Sea to Norway and the North Cape became legendary. In recognition of the latter, a distance of 1387 miles, he was awarded the challenge cup of the Royal Cruising Club.

“In 1885 Lynam married Catherine Alice (1865–1957), daughter of James Hall of Kynsal Lodge, Audlem, Cheshire. They had one son and one daughter. After his retirement in 1920 he continued his travels around the world, and on board the MV Alcinous, bound for Australia, he died on 27 October 1938, and was buried at sea (lat. 37° 13′ N, long. 11° 107′ E).

BCM, December 1938, p543-544: “Oxford University chess of the past has suffered another loss, closely following upon the death of E. B. Osborn. On October 27th [1938] there died at sea Charles Cotterill Lynam, aged 80. It was in 1881 that C. C. Lynam, of Hertford, first represented Oxford against Cambridge. He did not play in the following year, but in 1883 he reappeared in the team, and at the bottom board scored a win and a draw against the well-known H. G. Gwinner, of Trinity, Cambridge. A younger brother, R. G. Lynam, was an Oxford representative in 1891-2-3-4, being President of the University Club in his third year.

I well remember both the Lynams, “the Skipper” and “the Doctor,” as they were familiarly called in my early chess days at Oxford; for the elder brother frequently visited the club and gave us the benefit of his play, while R.G. was still in residence and an active member. C.C. had the additional fame of having been a Rugby football Blue, who played for three years in Vassall’s celebrated team. He was also Headmaster of a preparatory school in the Crick Road, Oxford [Dragon School, Oxford: CC Lynam was headmaster from 1886 to 1920 – JS]; though we did not realise it at the time, a very famous school, to which and its head, The Times obituary notice, last month did full justice. But his nickname, “Skipper,” gives the clue to the greatest of his hobbies, yachting—not racing, but cruising, his best known yacht being his Blue Dragon, of which he published a log-book in 1904. It was appropriate that he should die on the sea, of which he was so fond.

His profession as a schoolmaster, which he took very seriously, and his devotion to his yachts, left “Skipper” Lynam little leisure for chess as time went on, and I do not know how long ago he may have given up active practice of the game. But he was certainly very fond of it when first our paths crossed.” P[hilip]. W[alsingham]. S[ergeant].

Robert Garner Lynam (15 August 1859 – 8 December 1922). St Catherine’s College¶, Oxford. Varsity matches 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894. Educ. King William’s College, Isle of Man; King’s College, London. Lic. Soc. Apoth. Lond., 1882. Mem. R. Coll. Surg. Eng.,1882. M.B. Univ. Lond., 1884. Doctor based in Oxford during WW1, later Captain. (Medical Register). ¶ JS comment: given Lynam’s age, the fact that he was already a qualified doctor working in various parts of the country during the 1880s and the alumni record referring to him as ‘non-collegiate’, his eligibility to play in the match looks questionable. However, St Catherine’s College [Society], Oxford, was founded for the purpose of registering non-collegiate students. See the St Catherine’s College history.

See also the record for his older brother Charles Cotterill Lynam which appears immediately above.

Oxford Alumni: “Lynam, Robert Garner, born at Stoke-on-Trent, co[unty]. Stafford, 15 Aug., 1859; 2s[on of]. Charles, architect. NON-COLLEGIATE, matric. 11 Oct., 1890, aged 31, from K. William coll., I.M., and King’s coll., Lond.”

Arnold Charles Lynch (1914-2004). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1935. English engineer, known for his work on an optical tape reader which was used in the construction of the Colossus, the first electronic computer, at Bletchley Park. His work was crucial in the cracking of the Fish code, an exceptionally complex teleprinter cypher used by the German High Command in WW2. Educ. Dame Alice Owen’s School, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. Worked for many years at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington. Wikipedia. Times obit. Article on his Bletchley Park codebreaking activity. Played for GPO HQ in the Civil Service League and also for Hampstead CC. Won the Major B section at Margate 1939.

Neil McKelvie (born 9 December 1930). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1951, 1952, 1953. “Born in Welwyn Garden City, England. He played 1st board while attending Cambridge. After coming to the United States to study at Columbia, he won the Connecticut State Championship in 1962 and the Manhattan Chess Club Championship in 1975 and 1979. He is User: ChemMac on the Chessgames website.” (Chessgames.com)

Alan Grant Macfarlane (30 October 1888 – 21 February 1947). Worcester College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1910, 1911. Educ. Atherstone Grammar School. Matr. 1907. 1st Class, Hon. Mods. (Classics), 1909. WW1, 2nd Lt., 8th London Regt, 1915, after starting service as a private. Later Lt., acting Capt. Invalided out, 1918. Occ. official at British Museum (Assistant Keeper); later at War Graves Commission. In a nursing home, Sutton, 1939.

William Nicolaas Macfarlane (30 November 1881 – 22 August 1950). University College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1904, 1905. Educ. St Helen’s College, Portsmouth. Capt., RASC, WW1. Occ. schoolmaster, Wimborne Grammar School, 1907-1908; solicitor’s articled clerk, 1911; principal, Netherbury House School, Southsea: advertising “special preparatory classes for sons of Catholic gentlemen,” 1923. Wrote an analysis of a line in the Muzio Gambit (1 e4 e5 2 f4 exf4 3 Nf3 g5 4 Bc4 g4 5 Nc3 gxf3 6 Bxf7+ Kxf7 7 Qxf3) which appeared in BCM, July 1903, pp300-301.

Edward Henry McGrath (12 September 1879, Longford, Ireland – 13 September 1948, Southampton). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1909, 1910. Student, Queen’s College, Belfast, 1900. Period as a schoolmaster in Surrey, 1900s, then matr., Christ Church, October 1907. Fell Exhibition, Christ Church, 1909. 1st Class Hons., German, 1911. Assistant lecturer in German at Manchester University (1914) and then WW1 service in the War Office, acting as interpreter to the forces in Ireland guarding German prisoners and other signals and intelligence work (in MI1b section – interception and cryptanalysis). His degrees of B.A. and M.A. were conferred 27 June 1918. Appointed Junior Assistant, Admiralty Naval Intelligence Department, 1920. Co-translator (with W Montgomery) of the book Gun Running for Casement by Reserve Lieutenant Karl Spindler (Collins, 1921). Occ. Foreign Office civil servant. From 1939 to 1941 was at Wavendon Manor using his German language skills to assist in wartime propaganda operations; commemorated at the Bletchley Park website. Played club and county chess in Hampshire while based in Southampton circa 1914-1920.

Percy Andrew(s) Morris MacMahon (2 October 1888 – 29 November 1973). Hertford College, Oxford. Varsity match 1914. Born Erdington, Birmingham. Occ. (1911): assistant secretary, YMCA, Bournemouth. Matriculated 1913. WW1, 2nd Lieutenant, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), 23 February 1915. Relinquished his commission on account of ill health contracted on active service, 7 December 1916. His disability pension was issued to his father, suggesting he was invalided at that point. In 1939 he was in the Barnsley Hall Mental Hospital, Bromsgrove, and died there in 1973.

Ephraim Meyer Maccoby (18 February 1892 – 4 February 1957). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1914. Educ. Chicksand St School. Son of a rabbi. 1st class, B.Sc. (London), 1913; M.A. (Cantab). Wrangler, Mathematical Tripos Part 2, 1913. Occ. schoolmaster. Bede Collegiate Boys’ School, Sunderland, 1915-57. Senior Mathematics Master, 42 years.

Falconer Madan (15 April 1851 – 22 May 1935). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1873, 1874. Librarian of the Bodleian Library, Oxford University (1912-1919, succeeded Edward Nicholson). Fellow, Brasenose (1875-80). Wikipedia.

Sir Govind Dinanath Madgavkar (21 May 1871 – 17 April 1947). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1892. Educ. St Xavier’s & Elphinstone College, Bombay; Bombay University. Matric. 1891, Balliol. Occ. civil servant, lawyer, and (from 1905) district and session court judge. High court judge in Bombay from 1925. Retired and knighted 1931. Note: latterly his name was more often given as ‘Govind Dinanath Madgaonkar’.

A Century of Chess by P. W. Sergeant: (page 16) “I went up in Michaelmas Term, 1890, and at once joined the University Chess Club, where the chief exponents of the game were G. D. Madgavkar, the brilliant Indian player, with his astonishing sight of the board, which enabled him to leave his own game and wander round, looking at others and passing acute comments on their prospects…” (page 299) “In 1891 … H. E. Atkins [began] with a draw against J. F. Ure … [in 1892] he went on to [win] against G. D. Madgavkar (now Sir Govind Dinanath Madgaonkar, Judge of the High Court in Bombay, and Acting Chief Justice when he retired in 1931)…”

Richard Samuel Makower (3 October 1877 – 4 April 1944). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1898, 1899. Educ. University College School. Occ. silk merchant.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Richard Samuel Makower TRINITY Entered Michs. 1896 Born1877 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 30, 1896. S. of Louis, of 37, Maresfield Gardens, Hampstead, London. B. 1877, in London. School, University College, London. Matric. Michs. 1896; B.A. 1899. Died Apr. 4, 1944, in London. Brother of the above. (The Times, Apr. 5, 1944.)

David Malcolm (? – 6 October 2008). Caius College, Cambridge [Gaige gives “Magdalene” but The Times, BCM and CHESS all give “Caius”]. Varsity match 1953. Matric. Caius, 1949. Played for Insurance CC (president at the time of his death), Sutton CC and Surrey.

Charles Scott Malden (17 April 1858 – 4 September 1896). Trinity College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1878, 1879 and 1880. Schoolmaster. Headmaster of Windlesham School, Isle of Wight.

Alumni Oxonienses: “elder son, Henry Charles [Malden], of Brighton, arm. Trinity College, matric 14 Oct 1876, aged 18, B.A. 1880, M.A. 1883.”

Harold Vincent Mallison (11 December 1897 – 18 May 1980). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1920. Occ. university lecturer (mathematics), at Exeter University. Brought up and educated in Leicester. B.Sc., London University. WW1 service; temporarily blinded (the injury affected his vision in later life). Later went to Cambridge: 1st in Mathematics Tripos Pt 1, 1916. Cambridge University chess champion 1920. Won the Second Class section at the 1932 BCF Congress with 10½/11. Shared 1st in the 1934 BCF Major Open Reserves. Won the 1935 BCF Major Open Reserves with 9/11. Finished 5th in the 1936 BCF Major Open B. Finished 1st in the 1937 BCF Major Open, thus qualifying for the following year’s championship. Finished 12th (last) in the 1938 British Championship. His wife Grace Lydia (née) Pepper (1889-1970) also played in the 1936, 1937 and 1938 BCF congresses. Exeter club champion ten times between 1921 and 1947. Left money to Exeter City Council and at one time a local bridge was named after him. Link to Chessdevon biography of Mallison (via the Wayback Machine). Left his collection of chess scorebooks to Exeter Chess Club. Dave Regis biography of Mallison.

Harry Joseph Mandelbrote (22 July 1891 – 4th qtr, 1971, Oxford). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity match 1913. 1st in modern history. Occ. lecturer, later professor, of history, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Wrote books on how to matriculate for Cape students, and on the geography of the Cape of Good Hope.

Denis Victor Mardle (9 August 1929 – 31 July 2000). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1950, 1951, 1952. Games at chessgames.com.

[BCM, October 2000, p559 – by John Saunders] “Well-known British chess player Denis Mardle died on July 31, aged 70.
Born on August 9, 1929, Denis Victor Mardle attended Luton Grammar School and Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he read mathematics. He contracted polio at the age of 15 and was badly disabled for the rest of his life, walking with crutches and callipers. Whilst at Cambridge he played in the annual Varsity match against Oxford in 1950, 1951 and 1952, and also won the British Universities’ Chess Association (BUCA) Individual title in 1951. He took part in several British Championships from 1951 to 1965, with a best finish of 7th= in 1957.

“Some of his best performances were in the Stevenson Memorial tournament held at Bognor, where he shared first place with Gereben in 1959, ahead of Karaklaic, Wade, Cafferty and Pritchard. He went on to win it on his own in 1964 with a remarkable 9½/11, one and a half points clear of a strong international field that included Golombek, Karaklaic, Mestrovic, Rellstab as well as teenagers Hartston, Keene and Basman. He made his England debut in the Anglo-Dutch match of 1959 in Cheltenham and lost ½-1½ to Spanjaard. He had another success at the 1960 Ilford Premier, scoring 4½/5 against Milner-Barry, Kottnauer, Haygarth, Barden and Green. This was followed by another Anglo-Dutch match in 1960 in which he succeeded in reversing his 1959 score against the same opponent. He was also a winner of the West of England Championship more than once. His grade reached 2b in 1959 (equivalent to 217-224 on the current BCF scale).

“He made one appearance in the Hastings Premier in 1964/5, scoring just two draws out of nine games. After playing in the 1965 British Championship, he seems to have given up major OTB chess activity, although still playing some correspondence chess.

“Mardle had a very distinguished career as a cryptanalyst, having been spotted by C. H. O’D. Alexander, the then head of the cryptanalysis division of GCHQ, at an Oxford vs Cambridge chess match. He joined the Eastcote establishment in 1952 and moved to GCHQ Cheltenham some years later. In 1969 he directed the Mathematics Research Group before being promoted to chief mathematician in 1973. In 1982 he was appointed head of the cryptanalysis division, and was awarded the CBE in 1988.”

During the 1953 British Championship Mardle met Barbara Lally (1920-1972), who was taking part in that year’s British Ladies’ Championship and they were married in 1954. After her death he married again and his second wife’s daughter wrote an account of the last years of his life which was published in The Lincolnshire Post-Polio Information Newsletter in 2000.

Francis Henry Charles Marriott (1926 – 15 May 2012). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1946, 1947, 1948. Educ. Charterhouse, matric. Emmanuel 1944 (maths), Diploma in Agricultural Science (1948), assistant lecturer, later lecturer, at Aberdeen University, and obtained a doctorate there in 1951, research post in the Department of Physiology, Oxford (1955-69), lectureship in the Department of Biomathematics, Oxford, with an associated Fellowship at Wolfson College. Keen chess and bridge player, the latter with his wife, Catherine (née Broadfoot), whom he married in 1946 and who predeceased him in 1990. (Journal of the Royal Statistical Society 2012) Played three times in the Scottish Chess Championship: in 1949 he scored 1/5 (Chess Scotland – including a photo); in 1955, 3/7 (Chess Scotland), and in 1964, scoring 3/9 (Chess Scotland).

Ian Ninian Marshall (1932 – 12 March 2011). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity match 1951. Known as “Ian” at Oxford (where he achieved a 1st in mathematics) but later often known as “Ninian” when working as a Jungian psychiatrist and psychotherapist (together with his wife, Danah Zohar, with whom he co-authored books). Played chess for Middlesex in the 1970s and Cowley CC, 2000s.

(Basil) Kingsley Martin (28 July 1897 – 16 February 1969). Magdalene College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1919. Occ. political journalist and journal editor. Educ. Hereford Cathedral School; Mill Hill School. Conscientious objector, WW1; worked with an ambulance unit. Matric. 1919. Studied history. Double 1st, 1921, offered a bye-fellowship but spent a year at Princeton instead. Assistant lecturer in politics, LSE, 1924. Resigned to join the Manchester Guardian in 1927. Appointed editor, New Statesman and Nation, 1931. Retired, 1960. Wikipedia.

Francis Charles Martley (20 January 1865, Dublin, Ireland – 2 November 1941). Trinity College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match. Took part in the 1922 Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past. Educ. Rugby School. B.A., Natural Sciences, 1887. LRCP, 1890. M.R.C.S., 1890. M.A., 1891. M.D., 1895, Cambridge. After Cambridge, St Mary’s Hospital, London. Later demonstrator at Royal College of Surgeons and anaesthetis, Dr Steeven’s Hospital, Dublin. Returned to St Mary’s in the 1920s. Living in Farnham, Surrey, 1939 (retired doctor, widowed). Treasurer, British Medical Association, 1921-41. Obit., BMJ, 15 November 1941, ppn 712-713.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Francis Charles Martley. TRINITY Michs. 1884. Adm. pens. at TRINITY, Oct. 9, 1884. [3rd] s. of Francis Blackburne, of 3, Herbert Street, Dublin. B. [Jan. 20], 1865, at Dublin. School, Rugby. Matric. Michs. 1884; B.A. 1887; M.B., B.Chir. and M.A., 1891; M.D. 1895. At St Mary’s Hospital. M.R.C.S.; 1890; F.R.C.P.I., 1899; D.P.H., 1899. House Physician and House Surgeon at St Mary’s Hospital. Practised in Bayswater, Dublin and in County Meath. Of Ballyfallon, Co. Meath. Died Nov. 2, 1941. (Rugby Sch. Reg.; Burke, L.G. of Ireland; Medical Directories; The Times, Nov. 4, 1941.)

John Harley Mason – recorded as John Harley-Mason.

Robert (Robin) Charles Oliver Matthews (16 June 1927 – 19 June 2010). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1946, 1947, the unofficial match of 1945, and the notable Oxford University vs Bletchley match of 1944. Economist and chess problemist. Wikipedia. Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, Professor of Political Economy at Oxford from 1965 to 1975, Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge from 1980 to 1991, Master of Clare College, Cambridge from 1975 to 1993. Wrote two books on chess problems: Chess Problems: Introduction to an art (with M Lipton and JM Rice), 1963; and Mostly Three-Movers: Collected Chess Problems 1939-1993, Feenschach-Phénix, Aachen, 1995.

E Maxwell (? – ?). Christ Church, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1927 and 1929 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past matches. Nothing known about him.

Thomas Hughes Delabere May (8 March 1852 – 5 December 1942). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1874, 1875, 1876. Entered: Michs. 1870, pens. at Trinity, July 9, 1870. S. of Thomas, of Grove House, Durdham Down, Clifton, near Bristol. B. Mar. 8, 1852, at Sonning, Berks. School, Clifton College. Matric. Michs. 1870; B.A. 1875; M.A. 1879. Of Somerset Place, Bath. Translated Virgil’s Aeneid, 1902. Died Dec. 5, 1942. (The Times, Dec. 12, 1942; Clifton Coll. Reg.)

Lachlan McLean (17 January 1877 – 28 September 1937). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1897, 1898, 1899, winning all three games with Black. Name rendered as ‘M’Lean’ in Sergeant, and in the BCM obit, but ‘McLean’ in Gaige. Also played for Combined Universities vs US Universities in a cable match, April 1899, winning his game.

BCM, November 1937, p546: “Hampstead chessplayers and City of London members will especially regret the death of Lachlan M’Lean early last month [in fact, 28 September 1937] as a result of an operation. In 1897-9 he represented Cambridge University, winning on each occasion against Oxford. He then went to the Federal Malay States in Government service, and was lost for a long period to English chess. For the past nine years he has been one of the top board players for Hampstead, and invariably scored well. He has also frequently played in the City of London tournaments, and was always respected not only for his play but for his geniality and politeness whether winning or losing.”

Cambridge University Alumni: Lachlan Mclean Adm. KING’S, Oct. 2, 1896. [3rd s. of Neil, of Breda, Alford, Aberdeenshire. B. Jan. 1877. School, Harrow.] Matric./A Michs. 1896; Scholar; prizeman; B.A. (33rd Wrangler) 1899. In the F.M.S. Civil Service. Assistant Secretary to the Resident, Perak, in 1925. Of Capetown in 1931. Died Sept. 28, 1937. (Harrow Sch. Reg.; King’s Coll. Reg.; The Times, Sept. 29, 1937.)

Philip James Meade (born 1939). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962. Occ. Scientific Officer, GCHQ, Cheltenham, 1962-1999 [sources: Queens’ College Record 1961-62; PJ Meade]. Played chess for Cheltenham CC and Gloucestershire. English Chess Federation arbiter, tournament organiser. President, West of England Chess Union; president, Cheltenham Chess Club; secretary, Gloucestershire County Chess Association. Played in the 1967 British Championship, scoring 4½/11 (rank 28th=). Had a plus score in 20 games against Dr JM Aitken: Meade’s score was +5, =13, -2. [Aitken games]

Brian Medhurst (born 18 March 1935). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1957, 1958. Educ: Godalming Grammar School. Managing Director (International Division), Prudential Corporation plc, 1985-94. President of Plymouth CC.

Eric Leslie Mellersh (3 November 1891 – 5 December 1976). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1912. Schoolmaster. Born London, died Minehead, Somerset.

https://www.geni.com/people/Eric-Mellersh/295958782920005450: “Eric was brought up at 34 Nicoll Road, Harlesden, London NW, and in St Alban’s, Hertfordshire – initially at “Sherley,” Clarence Road, then “Bridlemere,” also in Clarence Road. For secondary schooling, from abt 1904 to abt 1909, he went to Berkhamstead School. He went to Cambridge University (Selwyn College), from abt 1909 to 1912, starting off studying maths but apparently later changing to geography. Eric became a teacher in 1912, teaching at: Rossall School, Yorkshire; St Saviour’s, Ardingly, Sussex; and Monmouth Grammar School. He was an army officer from 11 December 1916 (from Officers Cadet Unit to 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) – ref: London Gazette, 20 Dec 1916, Supplement, page 12428) to about 1919 in the Royal Garrison Artillery (58th Army Brigade). On 24 January 1917 he entered the theatre of war. In 1918 Eric was mentioned in dispatches, as Lt (A./Capt) (ref: London Gazette, 20 Dec 1918, Supplement 23 Dec 1918, page 15036). Later he was awarded the Victory and British medals. Upon Marriage (1918) Eric lived at 17 Edenbridge Road, Bush Hill Park, Enfield, Middlesex, and from 1923 for about 50 years at 55 Abbey Road, Enfield. Eric was a schoolmaster at Enfield Grammar School, Middlesex, from 1921 until his retirement in 1957. Between about 1925 and 1927 he was in Switzerland, recuperating from TB. Eric was one of the first teachers nationally to take school parties abroad; from 1930 taking schoolboys to Germany (and including his own son Gareth). Interests included: chess (gained half-blue at Cambridge); crossword puzzles (won a Ximines prize from Observer newspaper); classical music (mostly on the wireless); travel (Britain & Europe); and architecture (esp ecclesiastical). After his wife Una died in 1974, Eric moved to a residential care home in Minehead, Somerset, in the same town where his daughter Barbara & son-in-law Alex lived.”

Samuel Redhead Meredith (5 May 1850 – 3 October 1926). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1873, 1874, 1875 and 1876. Born 5 May 1850, Meltham Mills, Huddersfield [FreeBMD],
married [Sept quarter of] 1880, Goole [FreeBMD] either Janet Elizabeth Clark or Susan Clark, died 3 Oct 1926, Waltham-on-the-Hill, Surrey, Walton-on-the-Hill. See also the Yorkshire Chess History website.

BCM, Feb 1927, p69: “We regret to record the death of Mr. S. R. Meredith at his residence, Walton-on-the-Hill, in October last. He was once president of the Leeds Chess Club and was a subscriber to the B.C.M. since 1890. His family have presented his complete set of bound volumes from that year to the present time to the London Chess League and they may now be seen at St. Bride’s Institute.”

Edward Algernon Michell (11 September 1979 – 26 December 1952). Queen’s College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the March 1926 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match as well as Combined Universities matches in 1908 and 1911. Matr. Queen’s, 1902; B.A., 1907. Seems not to have been related to Reginald Pryce Michell. Born and lived (mostly) in London, a concert agent/promoter by profession. Edited a series of chess yearbooks published prior to WW1 – title The Year-Book of Chess, from 1907 to 1913, inclusive (later edited by others). Played in subsidiary sections of BCF congresses before and after WW1.

Barton Reginald Vaughan Mills (29 October 1857 – 21 January 1932). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1879, 1880. President, OUCC, 1880. Clergyman. Vicar of Bude Haven, Cornwall. Authority on the works of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Sons Arthur and George Mills were both writers (crime/adventure and children’s adventures respectively). Played in the 1923 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match.

BCM, Feb 1932, p67: “The Rev. Barton V. Mills died suddenly at a nursing home in London on January 21st. He was aged 74 and was the elder son of the late Arthur Mills, M.P. He was a regular member of the Athenaeum team which plays for the Hamilton-Russell Club Cup, and played frequently for the Imperial Chess Club. The fact that he had promised to play in a match v. Golders Green on January 25th shows how painfully sudden was his death.”

Clergy list: “Mills, Barton Reginald Vaughan, M.A. ‘Ch. Ch. Ox.; d[eacon?] 1882, p[riest?] 1883 (Roch.); cur. of Battersea, S.W. 1882-4; Broad Clyst, Exeter 1884-6; St. George, Hanover Square, W. 1886; chaplain at All SS, San Remo 1886-7; vic., of Poughill, Cornw, 1887-9; vic., from 1891, of Bude, Cornw.

Alumni Oxonienses: “Mills, Barton Reginald Vaughan, 1s. Arthur, of London, arm. Christ Church, matric. 13 Oct, 1876, aged 18; B.A. 1880, M.A. 1883, rector of Poughill 1887. See Foster’s Baronetage.”

Kenneth Frederick Thomas Mills (c.1901 – 2 April 1964). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1919, 1921. Matric. 1918. B.A., 1921 (Medicine). Qualified as a doctor, Middlesex Hospital, 1924. Colonel, 1945. Superintendent, Port Elizabeth Hospital, 1935. Superintendent, General Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa, at the time of his death. Hon. Sec. & Treasurer, St John’s College Chess Club, 1919. Junior treasurer, Lady Margaret (St John’s College) Boat Club, 1921, and cox of the first college VIII.

Sir (Philip) Stuart Milner-Barry, KCVO, CB, OBE (20 September 1906 – 25 March 1995). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929. Civil servant, WW2 codebreaker, chess player, administrator and journalist. Wikipedia. Obituary, The Independent (by William Hartston). Represented England at the 1937, 1939, 1952 and 1956 Chess Olympiads. Chess correspondent of the (London) Times, 1938-45. President of the British Chess Federation, 1970-73. Knighted in 1975.

Graham Russell Mitchell (4 November 1905 – 19 November 1984). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1925, 1926, 1927. Educ. Winchester College. Read PPE at Oxford, 2nd class degree, 1927. Very good golfer, yachtsman and tennis player, winning the Queen’s Club men’s doubles in 1930. Pre-war worked as a journalist then joined MI5 at the outbreak of WW2, first investigating far right subversion and later investigating double agents Burgess and Maclean. From 1956 he was deputy to the director-general of MI5, Sir Roger Hollis (father of future correspondence GM and Oxford Varsity match player Adrian Hollis). Both director and deputy director were investigated as possible Soviet moles but nothing was ever proved. Represented Britain at correspondence chess.

Ronald Langley Mitchell (13 December 1907 – 6 September 1992). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930. M.A., Cambridge, LL.B., Stamford. Mayor of Epsom & Ewell, 1955. Resident magistrate, Kenya, 1968.

Leonid Mitlin (7 December 1922 – 29 April 1986). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1944. Author, Pocket Book of Chemical Technology.

Major Edgar Montague-Jones (11 June 1866, Bristol – 30 June 1938, London). New College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1925 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match. Headmaster of St Albans School, 1902-31. Chairman of the executive committee of the BCF (British Chess Federation); President of the Hereford Chess Association and Dorset Chess Association and hon. treasurer of the SCCU (Southern Counties’ Chess Union). A county chess competition bearing his name is still played for a trophy he donated. Full obituary in St Albans School magazine (including a photo) • more biographical detail • photo in the Cleveland Public Library collection • Tweet showing him in military uniform.

[BCM, August 1938, ppn 354-356, 366] OBITUARY

Major E. M. Jones, M.A., O.B.E.

The late Major Montague Jones was such an important figure in the British chess world and his activities were so varied that we feel justified in publishing two obituaries of him, the first by one who knew him best as a British Chess Federation official and the second by the secretary of the Herts County Chess Association.

We much regret to record the death of yet another of the leaders of chess in Great Britain. Major E. Montague Jones was taken ill soon after Easter, but after a month’s serious condition rallied and was taken from Swanage to a London nursing home, where it was hoped he would recover in time. On 30th June, however, he became rapidly worse, and died on the evening of that day.

He was born at Bristol on 11th June, 1866, and was thus 72 years old. On gaining the Wills Scholarship and Merchant Venturers Exhibition, he went up to New College, Oxford. In 1889 he graduated with First Class Honours in Mathematics and Physics, and went to Edinburgh Collegiate School as Senior Mathematical and Science Master. In 1892 he transferred to Leamington, until, in 1902, he became Headmaster of St. Albans School. Here he transformed everything, and when he retired, instead of 57 boys, there were 430, a long waiting list, and all the buildings and institutions had been modernised.

Great as was his work at St. Albans, he will be remembered still more for his help in founding the Officers Training Corps. In fact he was the outstanding figure in persuading Lord Haldane to establish this body, and to the end he was closely identified with it. On the outbreak of the Great War he joined up at once, and served with the 4th Guards Brigade in Flanders. He had also been commandant of the Public Schools Camp at Bisley. In addition he was Hon. Sec. of the O.T.C. Officers’ Club, a live member of the N.R.A., Chairman of the General Committee of the Ypres League, President of St. Albans Branch of the Old Contemptibles, a life governor of Freemasons Hospital, a member of the Council and Executive Committee of the National Playing Fields Association, and a Fellow of the Royal Empire Society.

He was a great athlete. In 1888 he captained Oxford in the cross country running match v. Cambridge, and at Rugby football he had turned out for Clifton, Coventry, and Middlesex Wanderers. He once boasted to the writer that he had never worn a woollen garment in his life.

Chess, fortunately for the game, was one of his hobbies, and for years he gave of his best to both the playing and administrative side of the game. When Hertfordshire Association was re-established in 1913 he was appointed President, and shortly after accepted the Hon. Treasurership of the Southern Counties Chess Union. When Canon Gordon Ross was elected to succeed Sir John Thursby as President of the British Chess Federation, the post of Chairman of Committee became vacant, and Montague Jones was persuaded to accept this position, notwithstanding the fact that he was already on forty other committees!

When on his retirement from St. Albans he went to live at Swanage, he took up Dorset Chess Association and enriched that body by his presence and work.

The chess world can ill afford the loss of this impelling personality, and the many associations with which he was connected will sadly miss his sound common sense, his generosity and his support at the playing board. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Mrs. Montague Jones and her two sons and daughter.—R.H.S.S.

A very fine appreciation of the late major appeared in The Times, from the pen of Mr. J. C. Dent, Headmaster of Westminster City School; and having obtained the courteous consent of both the Editor and the Headmaster, we are able to give it to our readers—

MAJOR E. MONTAGUE JONES

Mr. J. C. Dent, Headmaster of Westminster City School, writes—-

The death of “Monty’’ will come grievously to hundreds of Old Albanians, including his old colleagues, who knew him and worked with him during the years when he was broadening the foundations in which St. Albans School now stands. He was a man of unusual physical and intellectual robustness, and the whole of his professional life, and a large part of his private life too, was devoted to the service of boyhood. For educational theory he cared little, for educational theorists even less. For the hold he undoubtedly had on boys he relied on the strenuous practices which recommend manhood to youth. In spite of his profession he treated life, not as a problem, but a game, and he brought to his own playing of it a skill and a large-hearted tolerance that won the admiration not only of his would-be imitators, but of those whose tastes took them in different directions.

St. Albans School was fortunate in having as its leader at a critical period of its history a man of such plain, untroubled mind, with so clear a vision of what a school can be and do in a boy’s life, and with so large a measure of the common humanity which prevents intellectually gifted men from building special platforms for their own lives. He has an assured place in the history of one of the most ancient of our public schools, an assured place, too, in the lives of many hundreds of men whose affection he won simply by being himself—a large-hearted schoolmaster whose gifts were always at the service of his boys.

The death of Major E. M. Jones on 29th June will cause a pang of regret in the hearts of all chess players who knew him as a kind, genial, and enthusiastic patron of the game.

He was possessed of such extraordinary vitality, that it will surprise his many admirers to learn that he was 72 years old. As Headmaster of St. Albans School from 1902 to 1931, he encouraged the boys in their study of the game, and entered his team for the Herts Club Trophy, playing for his team, and accepting defeat by the stronger teams in the most sportsmanlike spirit. Although the result was generally a foregone conclusion, the match against The School was enjoyed by all, if only because of the clean, friendly spirit in which it was played, and the inspiring, genial figure of the Head, whom we all loved.

Major Jones was also the President of the Herts County Association for a quarter of a century, and we shall never forget the hospitality we enjoyed at the Annual General Meetings held in one of the rooms of the school, and the delightful teas presided over by his charming wife, to whom our grateful thanks are due for sparing him to do so much for us all. When he retired to Swanage in 1931, he could no longer continue these generous functions, but he always made the journey from Swanage to attend our meetings.

As donor of the Montague Jones Cup to the Southern Counties Chess Union, and the Montague Jones Board to the Herts County Association, he has left a permanent link which will enable us to cherish his memory. His other gifts were too numerous to mention.

As Hon. Treasurer and President of the S.C.C.U. from 1915 to 1919, as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the British Chess Federation, and on the Committee of the British Correspondence Chess Association, Major Jones has left behind him a wonderful record of organisation and pioneer work.

He was a brilliant if not a consistent player over the board, but in correspondence games he was an opponent to be respected. He won the British Correspondence Cup in 1909 and had always a number of games in progress.

When he left Hertfordshire, he became President of the Dorset County Chess Association, as well as that of Hertfordshire, and in the finals which took place between these two counties he was always present, playing, as was his wont, for the side he felt most in need of his services, and entertaining both sides with his usual generosity. The amazing vitality he displayed, in sport, and in connection with the Army may have given rise to the feeling that he was in fact, tireless, and this prodigal output of energy undoubtedly shortened his life.

While at Oxford University he won his Blue for running, and was the captain of the cross country team. He also played Rugby, and would never miss a ’varsity rugger match if he could help it. He was also a fine shot, and kept his own hut at Bisley. In a message I received from him just before his death, he told me that he hoped to be at Bisley in a few days. But alas! he had exhausted his magnificent resources, and had no recuperation after the heart attack.

His army career was typical of him. In the Great War he was the first Headmaster to join up, and was in the front line at the battles of Ypres, Neuve Chapelle, and Festubert. He founded an Officers Training Corps at St. Albans School, and was instructor of musketry for the 2nd Herts Regiment; to mention but a few of his activities.

Having lived so full and useful a life, the Major would not have borne with patience a long period of inactivity which illness might have forced upon him, and a merciful Providence gave him the ideal passing—he died in his sleep.

Those of us who were privileged to work with him will see to it that we carry on his work, and keep alive his inspiring ideals.—A.G.F.

We express our acknowledgments to the Herts Advertiser for permission to reprint the following sonnet—.

Edgar Montague Jones; In Memoriam 30TH June, 1938

Erect in bearing on the battle-ground,

Master of every art and game you taught,

Ordained to lead men in the common round,

No less abroad in Flanders where you fought,

Than in Saint Alban’s School where you had wrought

A miracle that left your reign renowned;

Give me then leave to drop a flower of thought

Upon the tomb vour fuller life has crowned.

Endowed with gifts where sport and mental strife

Joined peaceful issues in the chequered field,

On that great chess-board all men know as Life,

Now you have gone your virtues are revealed;

Except one secret gift I may not own,

Since your last move has brought you to the Throne.—C.W.H.

[section on correspondence chess, same issue, p366] It is with the deepest regret that we have to report the death of Major Edgar Montague Jones who has for so many years been a staunch supporter of the British Correspondence Chess Association and was our representative on the Council of the British Chess Federation. His presence will be sadly missed, particularly at the Annual General Meeting which he regularly attended, coming from Swanage for the purpose.

John Montgomerie (4 September 1911 – 21 July 1995, Winchester, Hampshire). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934. Barrister. Represented Scotland at the 1937 Stockholm Olympiad. Composer of chess problems and author of The Quiet Game (Davis-Poynter, London 1972). Detailed biography at the Chess Scotland site.

Noel Ernest Ackroyd Moore (25 November 1928 – 30 May 2008). Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1949. Under-Secretary, Management and Personnel Office (formerly Civil Service Department), 1975-86, and Principal of Civil Service College, 1981-86. Responsible for running the process leading to the decimalisation of the UK’s currency in 1971. Wikipedia.

John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara, GBE, MC, PC (8 February 1884 – 17 May 1964). Trinity College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in a Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past match (1927). Aviation pioneer and Conservative politician. In WW1, joined RFC. Military Cross, 1917. Promoted to Lt-Col, RAF, 1919. MP for Chatham (1918-23), MP for Wallasey (1931-42). Created Baron Brabazon in 1942. During WW2, wrote to CHESS Magazine suggesting the starting position for chess be altered. In 1951 when opening the 1951/52 Hastings Congress, made a plea for chess to be broadcast on TV. Wikipedia.

Hubert Morgan-Brown(e)¶ (7 April 1867 – 22 August 1953). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1887, 1888, 1889. Barrister, author, politician. Educ. Westminster School (where he was a member of the chess club which played matches vs others schools, e.g. Charterhouse, in the 1880s). Wrote various books/booklets under the name H. Morgan Browne, including Sporting and Athletic Records (Methuen, 1897: there is a single reference to chess – overall scores of the Varsity chess match series given on p335) and another called The Bishop’s Move (1907). Member of the London School Board, 1897-1900. His mother, Laura Morgan-Browne, was involved in the women’s suffrage movement (see her book Reasons Women Want the Franchise). (¶ Name given as ‘Hubert Morgan-Brown’ in Gaige, the Cambridge Alumni record (see below) and as H. Morgan-Brown in most chess press references, but most statutory sources and his own signature at his marriage give the final ‘e’.)

Cambridge University Alumni: Adm. at TRINITY HALL, 1886. [Elder] s. of W[illiam], deceased [of North End, Finchley, Middlesex]. [B. Apr. 7, 1867.] School, Westminster. Matric. Michs. 1886 as Brown, Hubert Morgan; Exhibitioner; LL.B. 1889. Called to the Bar, Middle Temple, Jan. 26, 1891. (Record of Old Westminsters; Law Lists.)

Frank Morley (9 September 1860 – 17 October 1937). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884. Mathematics professor, USA. Born in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, died in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Frank Morley entered King’s College Cambridge in 1879, having won an open scholarship. However ill health disrupted his undergraduate course and he was forced to take an extra year because of these health problems. Morley only achieved the eighth place in the First Class Honours. To say ‘only’ here may seem strange since this was an extremely good result in an examination which saw Mathews first and Whitehead fourth. Richmond writes in [4], however:-

Ill health beyond all doubt had prevented him from doing himself justice, but the disappointment was keen. In middle life he was loath to speak of his student days…
Morley graduated from Cambridge with a B.A. in 1884 and taught mathematics at Bath College until 1887. He settled in the United States and was appointed an instructor at the Quaker College in Haverford, Pennsylvania in 1887. The following year he was promoted to professor.
At Haverford, Morley worked, not with others at the College, but with the mathematicians Scott and Harkness, both also graduates of Cambridge, England, who were at Bryn Mawr which was close to Haverford.

Morley wrote mainly on geometry but also on algebra. His own favourite among his geometry papers was On the Lueroth quartic curve which he published in 1919. He is perhaps best known, however, for a theorem which is now known as Morley’s Theorem [in which he made reference to the squares on a chessboard].
Morley was an exceptionally good chess player; the problem above reflects one of his hobbies. He played at the highest level and beat Lasker on one occasion [in a simul] while Lasker was World Chess Champion. He was described by Cohen as “a striking figure in any group.” Deliberate in manner and speech, there was a suggestion of shyness about him. He was generally very well informed and interested in a strikingly wide range of subjects. He was of an artistic temperament. While many of his papers and lectures seemed involved to the uninitiated, they all possessed a characteristic artistic charm. Frank Morley was the President of the American Mathematical Society in 1919-1920.

From My One Contribution To Chess by Frank Vigor Morley (direct link to original text): “…my father was a natural chess player, and … while he was a boy he achieved a local reputation for the game. When he was not more than ten or twelve his father encouraged him to make tours from Woodbridge to such centres as Ipswich, Debenham, and Wickham Market to play against the best that they could muster. The summer before he died, he mentioned the great battle he once had with the butcher in Debenham. Of more importance than the butcher, Sir G.B. Airy, the Astronomer Royal, retired, about the year 1870, to live at Playford, a couple of miles from Woodbridge. Airy, though he was beginning to get on in years, had by no means lost his unusual gift for exact and elaborate computation. By all accounts the hard-headed old gentleman and the Quaker tradesman’s son had a very good time playing chess together. When my father’s father died, in 1878, and the death-rattle of the china trade was heard in the town, it was Airy who insisted that though the others of the family might go at once to work, my father should prepare himself to go on from school to Cambridge.”

American National Biography: “Morley, Frank (9 Sept. 1860-17 Oct. 1937), mathematician, was born in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, the son of Quaker parents, Joseph Roberts Morley, the proprietor of a china store, and Elizabeth Muskett. Morley’s early passion and skill in chess led him to meet the Astronomer Royal, Sir George Biddell Airy, who shared the same enthusiasm. This friendship, combined with Morley’s strong scholastic record at the Seckford Grammar School, enabled him to win an Open Scholarship to King’s College, Cambridge. Morley entered Cambridge in 1879, where illness delayed completion of his undergraduate studies until 1884. At Cambridge he did not adjust well to the strenuous demands required for achieving a high place in the Mathematical Tripos. Although recognized as being in no way commensurate with his abilities, Morley’s poor showing precluded him from receiving a fellowship. Unable to remain in Cambridge, he accepted a school mastership at Bath College (1884-1887), where he regained his health and mathematical confidence.

“In 1887 Morley came to the United States as an instructor at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. From 1888 to 1900 he served as professor of mathematics there. In 1889 he married Lilian Janet Bird of Hayward’s Heath, Sussex, England; they had three sons, all of whom achieved prominence. Morley’s Haverford years were likely the most congenial and mathematically creative of his life as they involved his close association and friendship with the Cambridge-trained mathematicians Charlotte A. Scott and James Harkness, both of nearby Bryn Mawr College. With Harkness, he wrote A Treatise on the Theory of Functions (1893), which was later improved and reissued as Introduction to the Theory of Analytic Functions (1898). Well received on both sides of the Atlantic, these were among the first advanced level textbooks on pure mathematics to be produced in the United States. They still offer a valuable perspective on the state of function theory as it existed at the end of the century. Almost half of Morley’s mathematical publications appeared in his Haverford period, and during this time he became well known through his editorial service for the Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society and the American Journal of Mathematics.

“In 1900 Morley’s life underwent a radical change when he was called to the Johns Hopkins University as professor and head of the mathematics department. The latter position included editorship of the American Journal of Mathematics, and he discharged these duties for the next thirty years. The Hopkins program in mathematics had been initiated by the great British mathematician James J. Sylvester, who had been one of the university’s first professors (1876-1883). Between 1878 and 1900, the Hopkins mathematical program had flourished and produced over a third of the American doctorates awarded in mathematics. In 1900, however, the program was in disarray, and the appointment of Morley was intended to remedy this situation. Morley, who largely fulfilled these expectations, proved himself a wise choice. He served as professor and department head until his retirement in 1928 and continued to supervise doctoral students until 1931, producing a total of forty-eight Hopkins doctorates. In 1903, when American Men of Science rated the leaders in American science, Morley was rated seventh on a list of eighty mathematicians. In 1919-1920 he was president of the American Mathematical Society.

“Morley was an inspiring teacher who was particularly concerned with finding problems that were appropriate to his doctoral students’ abilities. His son Frank V. Morley recalled that such duties, and the seemingly endless stream of students, prompted the family to bestow the nickname “Doctors” on the elder Morley. Many of his most promising ideas were passed on to his students, and Morley published in toto only some seventy-five research papers.

“Morley’s mathematical interests were unusual and largely concerned with isolated geometric problems and configurations. As he would have readily admitted, pleasant questions with elegant and unexpected answers held a lasting fascination for him. His often ingenious results include the remarkable Morley’s theorem (c. 1899), Morley chains (1900), and the clever use of complex numbers and inversions in geometric problems. This last topic was a favorite of Morley, and a twenty-year collaboration with his son F. V. Morley, led to the book Inversive Geometry (1933). Perhaps his most characteristic work, it has remained the only definitive study of the subject. Today much of Morley’s research seems of less than compelling significance, and one is tempted to regard his interests as those of a talented amateur—an artist who took delight in small and beautiful things—rather than those of a professional mathematician. Yet, whatever significance one chooses to attach to them, Morley must be given credit for both finding and solving such questions. Morley died peacefully at his home in Baltimore. Although a U.S. resident for almost fifty years, he died a British citizen.

“Morley’s contribution to American mathematical life rests primarily on his three books; his impressive number of doctoral students, who were much in demand by American universities; and his yeoman service to the mathematics program at Johns Hopkins. At a critical juncture he was largely responsible for saving this program, which, in less capable hands, might well have ceased to exist. He was fondly remembered by his colleagues and friends as a kind and courtly gentleman who was gifted with a lively imagination.” Played in the 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1884 Varsity chess matches.

Bibliography Morley’s retiring address as president of the American Mathematical Society, “Pleasant Questions and Wonderful Effects,” Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society 27 (Apr. 1921): 309-12, provides an interesting glimpse of his style and taste. F. V. Morley, My One Contribution to Chess (1946), contains a number of personal reminiscences. A biographical sketch of Morley by R. C. Archibald in A Semicentennial History of the American Mathematical Society, 1888-1938 1 (1938): 194-201, includes a roster of his doctoral students and a complete list of his publications. Obituary notices containing detailed comments on his research can be found in the Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society 44 (Mar. 1938): 167-70, and the Journal of the London Mathematical Society 14 (Jan. 1939): 73-78. An obituary is in the New York Times, 18 Oct. 1937. Joseph D. Zund

Dermot Michael Macgregor Morrah (26 April 1896 – 30 September 1974). New College, Oxford. Varsity match 1920. Journalist and writer on royalty and ceremony, genealogist. Obituary. Chess Notes 9862.

Arthur John Morrell (25 November 1905 – 22 May 1979). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past matches. Was based in Manchester and played for Lancashire in 1936. Was an estate agent/surveyor in Bournemouth in 1939. Was based in the Romford area of Essex in the 1950s and 1960s and played for Ilford and Essex (on a high board). Was graded 4a (193-200) on the 1954 and 1958 grading lists.

(Canon) John Charles Morris (19 March 1870 – 28 November 1940). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Did not play in a varsity match but took part in the 1922 Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past match. B.A., 1892. Deacon, 1893. Priest, 1894. M.A., 1896. Curate of St Mark’s, South Norwood 1893-99; curate of St Mark’s, Lewisham, 1899-1908; vicar of the same parish 1908-10; Vicar of St John’s, Walworth, 1910-19; vicar of St John-the-Evangelist, Caterham Valley, from 1919 until his death. He became Honorary Canon of Southwark in 1922. Chairman of Lewisham Board of Guardians and member of Lewisham Borough Council. From 1919-22 he sat as a Progressive Party member of the London County Council representing Southwark South East. Listed as a ‘provincial grand master’ at the installation of HRH Duke of Kent as a grand master of The United Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of England in 1939, also attended by King George VI.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: John Charles Morris. SELWYN H. Entered: Michs. 1889 Born: 19 Mar 1870 Died: 28 Nov 1940 Adm. pens. at SELWYN H., Oct. 1, 1889. [S. of John Henry.] B. Mar. 19, 1870. [School, private.] Matric. Michs. 1889; B.A. 1892; M.A. 1896. Ord. deacon (Canterbury) 1893; priest, 1894; C. of St Mark’s, S. Norwood, 1893-9. C. of St Mark’s, Lewisham, 1899-1908; V. there, 1908-10. V. of St John’s, Walworth, 1910-19. V. of St John-the-Evangelist, Caterham Valley, 1919-40. Hon. Canon of Southwark, 1922-40. Died Nov. 28, 1940, at Caterham Valley; buried there. (Crockford; Who was Who; The Times, Nov. 30, 1940.)

John Harold Morrison (13 December 1883 – 1 September 1935). Wadham College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but played in Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past matches. Played in the 1928, 1929 and 1931 British Championships, scoring 3½/11, 6½/11 (4-6th) and 3/11. Was London champion 1930/31 after a play-off.

BCM, October 1935, p456: “J. H. Morrison died on September 1 somewhat suddenly, and in the prime of life. He was a first-class player, and had won the championship of Middlesex on several occasions. It was said that chess was his only hobby, but his career shows some special features. He was a scholar of Wadham College, and a great friend of the late J. A. J. [John Arthur James] Drewitt, of whom he wrote an appreciation in the B.C.M. after that player’s untimely death. On the outbreak of war in 1914 Morrison became an able-seaman in the Navy, and finished up with commissioned rank. On demobilisation he worked for a time in the Ministry of Labour, and later in the Records Office, and was considered an expert in palaeography. He printed several of his own works in typescript. He played much of his chess in the R.A.C. Chess Circle, and fairly regularly for Middlesex and Metropolitan C.C. for some years, but never was the same man after the death of his mother a few years ago.”

Henry Morton (27 July 1932 – 29 October 2013). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1952, 1953. Educ. Alsop High School, Liverpool. Played for Rolls Royce in Derbyshire in the late 1950s. “Henry Morton was a strong Derbyshire player, graded around 200 BCF [Elo 2200], for several years until moving to Kidsgrove in the mid-1960s.” (Derbyshire Chess Association website)

John Moultrie (3 February 1860 – ?). New College, Oxford. Varsity match 1882. No trace of him in the UK after 1901. Occ. clergyman (curate, Doncaster, 1891) – originally Anglican but received into the Catholic church, 1891 (Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 24 January 1891) May have gone abroad to be a missionary?

Alumni Oxonienses: Moultrie, Rev. John, 2s. Gerard, of Bright Waltham, Berks, cler. New Coll., matric. 17 Jan., 1880, aged 19 ; B.A. 1883. Occ. clergyman.

Harry Frederick Moxon (12 April 1926 – 8 April 2002). Lincoln College, Oxford. Varsity match 1948. Chartered accountant, later IT expert, school governor, Labour Party supporter and campaigner, Bolton area. Also campaigned unsuccessfully for half-blues to be awarded to Oxford chess team. Played chess for Surrey. In the 1954 Grading List shown as affiliated to the Clapham Common club and graded 4a (= 193-200).

Henry Gerald Mutkin (born 1935). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1955, 1956, 1957. Occ. accountant. Member of Royal Automobile Club: organiser of the Varsity chess match since 1978. Co-owner of Chess and Bridge Ltd for many years. Grade 5a (=177-184), 1956 BCF grading list.

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William Vawdrey Naish (10 January 1873 – 20 December 1955). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897. G.P., magistrate. Educ. Weymouth College. B.A. 1895; B.Chir.
and M.A. 1904.

Cambridge Alumni: Naish, William Vawdrey. Adm. pens.
at EMMANUEL, Feb. 19, 1892.
S. of William, of Wilton, Salisbury.
B. [Jan. 10], 1873.
School, Weymouth College.
Matric. Michs. 1892; B.A. 1895; B.Chir.
and M.A. 1904; M.B. 1905; M.D. 1911.
At St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Practised at Upton-on-Severn, Worcs.
Served in the Great War, 1914-19 (Capt., R.A.M.C.). J.P. for Worcs.
1930. Of Berryfield House, Upton-on-Severn, in 1950. (Univ.
War List; Medical Directories; Kelly, Handbook.)

The Tewkesbury Register, and Agricultural Gazette. – Saturday 31 December 1955: “We regret to record the death of Dr. William Vawdrey Naish, of Berryfield House, Upton-on-Severn. He was 82.
Dr. Naish. who was born at Wilton, Wiltshire, was educated at Weymouth College and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He practised in Upton from 1905 to 1939, and for 20 years he was a J.P. and served on the Upton-on-Severn Bench. For many years he was a member of Upton Parochial Church Council and the Diocesan Conference. He also read the lessons in the Parish Church.
He served on the Worcestershire Education Committee for some years. Dr Naish was also the governing director of E. V. Naish Ltd., the Wilton felt works.

“His health began to fail after his wife died three years ago, and he had taken little part in public life latterly.
At Upton-on-Severn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday of last week, the chairman (Major M. F. S. Jewell) referred in eulogistic terms to the services which Dr. Naish had given to the local Bench.” [elsewhere in same issue] “Beloved Physician—With the passing of Dr. Naish, Upton once again loses one of its beloved personalities. It is perhaps to the older folk that Dr. Naish means most, but those of us who are younger have heard many times of the good work he did while in practice in the town.
He worked among us at a time when the doctor was expected to be almost a ‘father confessor’ to the families who sought his help, and thus it is that even today many interesting stories of his nearness to the people can still be told. He was known, of course, to many for his work in the church, and particularly for his regular appearances at the lectern.
Tall of stature, he was never too tall to ‘come down’ and say the kindly word. I shall always remember his welcome to me when first we met after my arrival here, when he expressed the hope that I should be happy in Upton.” [attributed to “Observer”]

Spencer Hampden Nash (4th qtr 1862 – 9 March 1885). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1883. Educ. Clifton College, Bristol, where he was head of school, 1879-81, and won an open exhibition to Balliol, 1880. [“… a brilliant scholar but deemed incapable of playing in any game above the first Little Side. He did not take his cap until his second year as Head, and then delegated the captaincy” History of Clifton College] His father was a timber merchant.

Alumni Oxonienses: Nash, Spencer Hampden, 6s. Charles, of Clifton, co. Gloucester, gent. Balliol Coll., matric. 18 Oct., 1881, aged 18 ; exhibitioner 1881, until his death in 1885. 1st, classical mods. 1882.

Bristol Times and Mirror – Saturday 14 March 1885: Problem by S.H.N. (Clifton)

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The above is the last composition of the late Spencer Hampden Nash, whose death took place at Huntspill [Rectory] on Monday last; and it had been already for insertion this week when we heard of his lamented and untimely decease. Mr. Nash was a frequent contributor to this column, and had made his mark as a player over the board at the Bristol and Clifton Chess Association, of which he became a member a few months ago. Being a student at Balliol College, he was a much-valued member of the Oxford University Chess Club, and it was intended, we hear, to make him the President for this year. For a young player, Mr. Nash was unusually strong, being well up in the openings: and his brilliant style and far-sighted combinations made him a dangerous opponent to more experienced players. Added to his skill as a chessplayer, his gentle disposition and quiet, unassuming manner made the subject of this notice an especial favourite; and we feel sore his loss will he equally felt in the chess circles of Oxford and elsewhere as in those of the immediate neighbourhood. Mr. Nash played in very good form in the Bath match only a fortnight ago; and a few days after, be caught a severe chill, which much weakened him, and finally proved fatal.

BCM, 1883, p135: “Death of Mr. S. H. Nash.
Mr. Burt writes us as follows:—Doubtless some of your readers will regret to hear of the death of Mr. S. H. Nash, late of Oxford. It will be remembered that Mr. Nash represented his University in the Inter-university Match in 1883. His play in that contest was not of a very high order, but he had made considerable progress since, and bid fair at no distant day, if he had been spared, to be a strong opponent for the best players. On the 25th February he played in the match Bristol v. Bath, and won his game, of a strong opponent of the latter city, after a stubborn defence of four hours’ duration. I received a letter from him on the 25th saying he was “afraid” he would be unable to keep his appointment here with me the following evening as he had a cold, apparently thinking little of it. Death claimed him on the 9th at the early age of 22.
A local paper speaks of him in the following terms:—For a young player, Mr. Nash was unusually strong, being well up in the openings: and his brilliant style and far-sighted combinations made him a dangerous opponent to more experienced players. Added to his skill as a Chess-player, his gentle disposition and quiet, unassuming manners made the subject of this notice an especial favourite; and we feel sure his loss will be equally felt in the Chess circles of Oxford and elsewhere as in those of the immediate neighbourhood.

John William Naylor ([24 September?] 1916 – [17 August?] 1978). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity chess match 1937. Born in Steyning, Sussex, 4th qtr of 1916. If the date of death is correct as given (not certain), then the other dates given above apply, and the place of death is Epsom, Surrey. Played in three British Chess Championships, making 5/11 (1957), 2½/11 (1959) and 5½/11 (1960). Scored 6½/11 in the 1967 Major Open and then 7½/11 in the 1969 Major Open in Rhyl. Scored 7½/11 in the 1976 Major Open in Portsmouth. Four times soccer blue (goalkeeper) for Oxford between 1935 and 1939. Played soccer for Corinthians FC. School teacher, specialising in modern languages. Blog article about chess players who also played football (soccer), with biographical detail and photos of Naylor. (Not to be confused with another strong chess player of the same name, John Naylor, 1972-2020)

Bernhard Hermann Neumann (15 October 1909 – 21 October 2002). Fitzwilliam House [College], Cambridge. Varsity match 1935. Born Berlin, Germany, died Canberra, Australia. Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Wikipedia. Bernhard Neumann attended school in Berlin at the Herderschule before entering the University of Freiburg to study mathematics in 1928. He studied for his doctorate at the University of Berlin. There he was influenced by an impressive collection of teachers including Schmidt, Robert Remak and Schur. There he met his wife Hanna, also a mathematician. Neumann was awarded his doctorate by the University of Berlin in 1932. [Being] of Jewish origin, Neumann emigrated to England [where] he studied at Cambridge, receiving a Ph.D. in 1935. Assistant lectureship in Cardiff in 1937. In 1940 he joined the Pioneer Corps, then the Royal Artillery, and lastly the Intelligence Corps for the duration of the war. Appointed a lecturer at Hull in 1946. The Neumanns were fortunate in that Hanna Neumann was soon able to join him on the staff as an assistant lecturer. In 1948, Neumann was appointed to the University of Manchester. In 1961, Neumann accepted an offer from the Australian National University of a professorship and the head of the mathematics department at the Institute of Advanced Studies. He retired in 1974.

Francis Henry Neville (2 December 1847- 5 June 1915). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1873. MA; FRS; Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge; at one time Lecturer on Physics and Chemistry therein;
b 2 Dec. 1847; m 1884, Lilian Eunice Luxmore (d 1910); no c. Publication: papers in the Journal of the Chemical Society, the Phil Trans and Encyc. Brit. Address: La Verna, Letchworth, Herts. Clubs: Climbers’; Cambridge Cruising. Died 5 June 1915. (Who Was Who 1897-2007)

Sir Francis George Newbolt (21 November 1863 – 5 December 1940). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888. Barrister (Inner Temple, 1890; became a KC/QC); also an etcher, author and scientist. Brother of the poet Sir Henry Newbolt. Educ. Clifton College. B.A. (chemistry) 1887. Knighted 1919. President, Oxford University CC, 1887. Wikipedia.

Alumni Oxonienses: Newbolt, Francis George, 2s. Henry Francis, of Bilston, co. Stafford, cler. Balliol COLL., matric. 16 Oct., 1883, aged 20 ; B.A. 1887.

Maxwell Herman Alexander Newman (7 February 1897 – 22 February 1984). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1920, 1922. Educ. City of London School from 1908. Mathematics Scholarship, St John’s, matric. 1915. 1st, Mathematical Tripos, Part 1, 1916. Name change from Neumann to Newman in 1916. War work, amry paymaster, schoolmaster, 1916-19. Graduated in 1921, Fellow of St John’s from 1923. Cambridge lecturer, 1927. Research Fellow, Princeton, 1928-29 & 1937-38. Bletchley Park from 1942, working with Alan Turing. Designed a more advanced machine than ‘Enigma’. Prfessor of Mathematics, Manchester University, after the war; appointed Turing to post of Reader. FRS, 1958. After retiring from Manchester University, continued to work as a research student at Warwick University. His wife died in 1973 and in the same year he married Dr Margaret Penrose (née Leathes), widow of Lionel Sharples Penrose, who also played in the Varsity chess match.

Richard Hilary Newman (22 September 1908 – 21 June 1992). Worcester College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1928, 1929. Note on name: both BCM and Sergeant have RA Newman (Worcester) though RH Newman (Worcester) played in 1929. Gaige has Richard Hilary Newman for both. Born Sowerby, Thirsk, Yorkshire (father Frank Herbert Newman was an educational adviser). By profession a chartered accountant, living in Guildford with parents in 1939. Educ. Dulwich College. Gerrans Scholar (German) Taylorian Institute. Oxf. 1928 (matric?) (Dulwich College Register). Grade 3a (=209-216), BCF Grading List, 1954.

BCM, Oct 1992, p525: “R. H. Newman, born 1908, died at Charing Cross Hospital in June [1992]. Richard Hilary Newman played for Oxford in 1928/9, belonged to the Brixton club in the days when it vied with Hampstead in the London League, won the Army Championship in 1943 [rank of Captain – JS] and met all the leading English players from R. P. Mitchell (sic) to J. Penrose. He played in a dozen British Championships (5th in 1947) and defeated Tolush in the 1947 match against the USSR.”

Personal note (JS): I played RH Newman in a correspondence game in the Ward-Higgs Counties’ Correspondence Championship in 1978/79. He resigned very prematurely! His resignation letter was as follows : “50 Kensington Mansions, London SW5, 31 January 1979: Many thanks for the game which you played admirably. 50 years ago I would not have played such an anti-positional move as 16.P-KB4, but I’d wrongly hoped to be able to get my K-side Ps forward. Since I now have to lose the e3 P I won’t insult you by dragging out the game. Best Wishes, RH Newman.” Cautionary note for chess researchers: there were two RH Newmans of roughly the same vintage. BCM, May 1984, p194: “R. H. Newman, President of the West of England Chess Union, died in mid-March.” A different RH Newman – in Gaige’s Chess Personalia, the 1984 obit index has an entry for ‘Newman, Ralph (sic) H. – 1984, p194’ whereas BCM gives no first name. Note: The BCF Yearbook 1981/2 lists the president of the WECU as ‘R.H.T. Newman, Rock Lodge, Lynton, Devon’ though earlier editions have him simply as R.H. Newman. Another RH Newman played for Cambridgeshire on a low board, circa 1978-1980, but probably of a younger vintage.

John Donald Niblett (1922? – 26 January 2019). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity match 1948. Died in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. No further info found.

Edward William Byron Nicholson (16 March 1849 – 17 March 1912). Trinity College, Oxford. Varsity match 1873. Librarian of the Bodleian Library, Oxford University (1881-1912, succeeded by Falconer Madan). Early animal rights campaigner. Wikipedia.

Joseph Shield Nicholson (9 November 1850 – 12 May 1927). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1874, and 1877. Economist, Professor, Political Economy, University of Edinburgh (1880-1925). Wikipedia. Biography at Edinburgh University website. “Of chess he was very fond, and he was a successful solver of the problems in the Times Literary Supplement.” (Times, obit, 13 May 1927).

Cyril Scriven Norris (22 August 1884 – 9 March 1980). Hertford College, Oxford. Varsity match 1908. B.A., 1908. Occ. (1922) clerk to Inland Revenue; (later) solicitor, Coventry (Goate, Bullock & Norris). WW1, temp. 2nd Lt., Labour Corps, 1918.

Malcolm Watson Norris (25 May 1931, Harrow – 28 May 1995, Edgbaston). St John’s College, Oxford. Varsity match 1954. Educ. Merchant Taylor’s School. FSA, BA, Andrew Scholar 1951–5. (Entry for St John’s College, Oxford University Gazette 1995) President, Monumental brass Society, formerly Associate Director of the Department of Development Administration at Birmingham University and President of the Monumental Brass Society, foremost authority on European brasses and a keen scholar of incised slabs. Obit in The Independent.

John Francis O’Donovan (10 April 1918 – 5 November 1999). Jesus College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1937, 1938, 1939. Born in Cobh [Queenstown], Cork, Ireland, died in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Article by David McAlister, IRLchess website (from which much of this info is sourced). President of the Cambridge University CC in 1939. Attended St Paul’s School, London. First class honours in part one of the Mathematical Tripos in 1937 and graduated BA in 1939. Tied first in the 1935 British Boys’ Championship at Hastings, losing a two-game play-off for the title to Frank Parr. Won the 1936 London Boys’ Championship. Took part in a number of major British congresses, e.g. Margate 1937, BCF Championships (Blackpool 1937, Brighton 1938). In 1939 played board two for Ireland in the 1939 Buenos Aires Olympiad and stayed behind in Argentina when it ended. He taught English at the Faculty of Engineering, National University of Buenos Aires, for 26 years. Endgame studies published in BCM, May 1956, p137 and BCM, Sept 1956, p243.

Charles Burdett Ogden (13 July 1849 – 10 December 1923). Magdalene College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1873, 1874. Teacher at Rossall School, near Fleetwood, Lancashire (1873-1909). Educated at Leeds Grammar School and Magdalene College. Wrangler in the Maths tripos. Died whilst playing chess. (Times obit, 17 Dec 1923). Entry at Yorkshire Chess History website.

(Sir) Alexander Oppenheim (4 February 1903 – 13 December 1997) Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1923, 1924, 1925. Mathematician, professor, university administrator. Professor of mathematics at the University of Malaya, the University of Singapore, and its predecessors, and later Vice-Chancellor. Wikipedia. Educ. Manchester Grammar School. His family was from Lithuania. POW during the Japanese occupation of Singapore, 1942-45. Visiting professor of Reading after retirement in 1965. Biography, MacTutor. See also Chess in Changi [BCM, January 1946 p13-14.]

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Conrad Eric Ormond (12 December 1898, San Remo, Italy – 9 June 1979, Connemara, Ireland). New College, Oxford. Varsity match 1919. Matriculated 1917. Educ. Old Malthouse prep school. Occ. worked for Imperial Tobacco in India; later a farmer; admin actuary, Tavistock Clinic (1939). Nephew of John Singer Sargent (1856-1925). Painting of Conrad Eric Ormond as a child by John Singer Sargent. Conrad’s older brother Jean Louis Ormond (1894-1986) was a noted Swiss-registered chess player who defeated Alekhine in a simul in Lausanne in 1934, represented Switzerland in the unofficial 1936 Munich Olympiad and was the inaugural president of the ICCF (International Correspondence Chess Federation). Conrad’s son Richard Louis Ormond (born 1939) is the former Director of the National Maritime Museum. He was also the Assistant Keeper and late Deputy Director of the National Portrait Gallery. He is currently the Chairman of the Trustees of the Watts Gallery.

Alan Stewart Orr (21 February 1911 – 3 April 1991). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1934 and 1935. Born Rochford, Essex, died Warwickshire. Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Stewart Orr, OBE. Barrister, judge and from 1971 a Lord Justice of Appeal. Wikipedia. Photos, National Portrait Gallery. RAFVR during WW2 (received OBE). Educ. Fettes College, Edinburgh University (MA) before going to Balliol. Middle Temple. QC, 1958. High Court judge and knighthood, 1965. Retired 1980.

Edward Bolland Osborn (January 1867 – 8 October 1938). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1888, 1889. Journalist, author and editor. Matric. 1885. B.A. (mathematics) 1890. Educ. Rossall School, Lancashire (won an exhibition). Wikipedia. Elder brother of Percy Lancelot Osborn who played for Oxford in the 1891 and 1892 Varsity chess matches.

Oxford Men and Their Colleges: Osborn, Edward Bolland, born in London 1867; 1s. Edward Haydon, arm. Magdalen, matric. 6 Feb., 85, aged 18 (from Rossall school), exhibitioner 85, B.A. 90; Honours 2 mathematical mods. 86, 3 mathematics 88.

BCM, Nov 1938, p500: “We regret to have to record the death of E. B. Osborn on Saturday, October 8th, at the age of 72. He was literary editor of the Morning Post until that paper amalgamated with the Daily Telegraph when he continued to serve on the staff of the united papers until his death. In addition to his work as a journalist Osborn was a well-known essayist. He was an enthusiastic chess player and many of us remember his cheerful presence at the Gambit where he would delight in playing long hard-fought games. H.G[olombek].

“I do not think that many realised how strong a player E. B. Osborn was. In his later days (for he represented Oxford University at the game as long ago as 1888-89, and was therefore a veteran) opponents were apt to call him slow. But he loved to get into the heart of a position, and did not care for ‘skittles’. He was naturally extremely ingenious, and considerable practice at one period with the late Amos Burn gave his play a solid backbone as well. Of his devotion to chess no one could have a doubt. His very busy life as a writer, however, left him no leisure to take part in matches, and I could never extract from him more than a hesitating promise to come to a match and take a board – ‘if he could get away in time,’ which very seldom happened.

“Apart from chess, he was the most charming of companions, with a mind of so many facets that he could turn it in almost any direction; and withal a wit, occasionally mordant, though with the kindest of hearts behind it except when he detected the charlatan in one with whom he was conversing. To all those who had the privilege of his friendship his loss is very heavy; and in them his memory will endure till they, too, like him, must resign.” P.W.S[ergeant].

Percy Lancelot Osborn (13 August 1870 – 20 April 1951). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1891, 1892. Educ. Manchester Grammar School. Occ. tutor, author, translator, poet (as ‘P. L. O.’), retired musician (acc. to 1939 census record). Younger brother of Edward Bolland Osborn who played for Oxford in the 1888 and 1889 Varsity chess matches. Authored: Rose Leaves from Philostratus (adapted into English verse from the Greek epistles), published At the Sign of the Unicorn in 1901; and The Poems of Sappho (Poems, Epigrams and Fragments: Translations and Adaptations), issued by Elkin Mathews in 1909. [source] A contemporary of Lord Alfred Douglas at Magdalen: there is correspondence from ‘P. L. O.’ to Douglas in the Magdalen archive and Osborn contributed to Douglas’s undergraduate journal The Spirit Lamp. Problemist and problem-solver. Mate in 2 problem published, Norwood News, 8 March 1902 (see below). Finished 3rd in the problem-solving competition at the 1912 BCF Congress.

Oxford Men and Their Colleges: Osborn, Percy Lancelot, born at Blackburn, co. Lanc., 1870; 3s. Edward Haydon, arm. Magdalen, matric. 14 Oct., 89, aged 19 (from Manchester gr. school), demy 88; Honours :— 1 classical mods. 91.

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William Scott Ostle (3 December 1878 – 30 May 1903, Zungeru, Nigeria). Jesus College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1900. Educ. Merchant Taylor’s School.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: William Scott Ostle JESUS Entered: Michs. 1898 Died: 1903 Adm. pens. at JESUS, Oct. 1898. S. of the Rev. W[illiam] [V. of St Bartholomew-the-Less, London]. B. Dec. 3, 1878. School, Merchant Taylors’ (Dr Baker). Matric. Michs. 1898; Abbott Scholar, 1899; B.A. (14th Wrangler) 1901. Appointed Assistant Resident in Northern Nigeria, 1903. Died June 1903, in Nigeria. (Merchant Taylors’ School Reg.)

John Oswald (12 June 1856 – 1 May 1917) Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity match 1876. Matric. 19 Oct 1875. 1901 Census, living on own means, Westminster, b. Shirehampton, Gloucs. Diplomatic Service, Foreign Office (census 1881, at Eton, also in 1891, when listed as ‘retired official, Foreign Office’). Unmarried. 1st son of James Townsend Oswald (1820-1893) and Ellen Octavia Miles (1821-1907). Member of the MCC from 1917. In 1875 played cricket for Eton XI vs Winchester. Represented Oxford University at tennis (singles and doubles) in 1876 and 1877. Played in the 1876 Varsity chess match.

Hubert William Ottaway (5 September 1877 – 22 February 1960). Lincoln College, Oxford. Varsity match 1901. Occ. clergyman. Ordained deacon, 1907; curate, St Andrew’s, Rugby, 1907. Vicar, variously at Meriden, Forest Hill (nr Oxford) and Dorrington, Shropshire. Member of Rugby CC, 1908. Played correspondence chess in Shropshire, 1950s.

John Ogden Outwater (2 January 1923 – 12 August 2009). Trinity College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1942. Mechanical engineering academic. Sc.D., Ph.D. Born in London, died in Vermont. Attended Amherst College and Stowe School. Graduated in 1943. Professor at the University of Vermont (1955-93). Expert on ski safety. Lifelong chess player, twice won the Vermont chess championship. Achievements include patents for ski boot tension. Named Vermont Engineer of Year, 1970; grantee United States Public Health Service; Timken fellow Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1950.

Rev. John Owen (8 April 1827 – 24 November 1901). Trinity College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1894 Cambridge Past v Oxford Past match. Occ. clergyman; amateur chess player but unofficially ranked amongst the top ten chess players in the world in the 1860s. Educ. Repton School. Vicar of Hooton, Cheshire, 1862-1900. Defeated Paul Morphy in a game in 1858 but subsequently lost a match to him despite being given odds of a pawn and a move. Finished third in the London 1862 tournament, ahead of Steinitz. Wikipedia.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: John Owen TRINITY Michs. 1846 Died: 24 Nov 1901 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 6, 1846. [S. of John. B. Apr. 8, 1827.] Of Field House, Uttoxeter. [School, Repton.] Matric. Michs. 1846; B.A. 1850; M.A. 1853. Ord. deacon (Chester) 1851; priest, 1852; C. of Grappenhall, Cheshire, 1851-2. C. of All Saints, Paddington, London, 1852-62. P.C. of Hooton, Cheshire, 1862-1901. Died Nov. 24, 1901. Brother of Robert D. (1841). Father of Arthur A. de V. (1887). (Repton Sch. Reg.; Crockford; Clergy List.)

Edward Paice (24 March 1883 – 1961?). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1904, 1905, 1906. Class 2, Honour Mods. [Classics], 1904. Class 2 in Civil Law, Oxford, 1908. A member of Metropolitan CC, circa 1914. May have become a solicitor. In the 1940s he was a member of the Beckenham and Bromley Chess Club.

Anthony George Conrad Paish (born abt 1930). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1952, 1953. Better known as Tony Paish, he received the English Chess Federation’s President’s Award in 2012. Member of Insurance CC.

Herbert Francis Parker (10 January 1875 – 19 January 1947). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1896. Educ. Marlborough College. Occ. GP.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Herbert Francis Parker EMMANUEL Michs. 1893 Died: 19 Jan 1947 Adm. pens. at EMMANUEL, Dec. 22, 1892. S. of the Rev. [Arthur] W[illiam] (Lincoln College, Oxford, 1859), of Rowledge vicarage, Farnham, Surrey. [School, Marlborough College.] Matric. Michs. 1893; Exhibitioner, 1892; Scholar, 1895; B.A. (Nat. Sci. Trip., Pt I, 1st Class) 1896; M.B. and B.Chir. 1899; M.D. 1902. Entrance Scholar, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, 1896. M.R.C.S.; L.R.C.P., 1899. House Surgeon at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. House Physician, Wolverhampton and Staffs. General Hospital. Practised at Guildford, from 1900. Physician and House Surgeon, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford. Author, medical. Retired to Red Cap Cottage, Bramley, Surrey, where he died Jan. 19, 1947. (Marlborough Coll. Reg.; Medical Directories; The Times, Jan. 22, 1947.)

Hon. Victor Alexander Lionel Dawson Parnell (25 August 1852 – 6 January 1936). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity match 1875. Victor Parnell was for 30 years a member of City of London CC (PWS).

BCM, February 1936, p67: “The Hon. V. A. Parnell died on January 9 [Probate records indicate 6 January 1936] at his Kentish home at Frinstead, near Sittingbourne, aged 83. He was the sixth son of the third Baron Congleton [Henry William Parnell (1809-1890)]. At Eton he was in the Rev. W. Wayte’s house, and there learned to play chess. Later he represented Maidstone in the Kent Cup, and played fairly regularly for the County. He competed in the Kent Championship Tournament at Sevenoaks in 1908. He was well-known in correspondence circles, playing a strong game. He was good at many other sports, especially cricket, which he played on the village green even at the age of 70. He was also a member of the Band of Brothers. At Frinsted he entered fully into all the doings of the district, and was popular and respected in all quarters.” [and in BCM, March 1936, p113] “We omitted to mention in our notice last month of the death of the Hon. V. A. L. D. Parnell that he was one of the Oxford representatives in the third Inter-University chess match in 1875. As an undergraduate of Christ Church, he played 6th board and scored 1–1 against his Cambridge opponent.”

Dr. T Harding, Chess Mail 2004/08: “Parnell was also a BCCA member. In reply to a request from BCM he wrote: ‘As for my chess achievements, they are very small. I played for Oxford versus Cambridge in 1875 but gave up chess two or three years afterwards until 1900, since which I have played many games, especially by correspondence. I have enjoyed the tourney and am very pleased to have finished second'”. Parnell was 2nd in the BCM cc tourney of 1910-2. It gave his place of residence as Sittingbourne.

N.B. Contrary to the reference on page 296 of Philip W Sergeant’s A Century of Chess, Victor Parnell was not the “brother of the Irish political leader” Charles Parnell (1846-1891), whose father was John Henry Parnell (1811–1859). The chess player and the Irish politician were second cousins.

Sir Walter Parratt (10 February 1841 – 27 March 1924). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1873, 1874. English organist and composer. Knighted 1892. In 1893 appointed Master of the Queen’s (later King’s) Musick. Wikipedia. Further info about him and his chessplaying father Thomas at the Yorkshire Chess History website.

BCM, May 1924, p215-216: “To the general chorus of sorrow over the death at Windsor on March 27th of Sir Walter Parratt, Master of the King’s Musick, all those who knew him, or knew of him as a chessplayer, must sadly subscribe. In some of the obituary notices of him which have appeared in the Press, allusion was made to his skill at the game and his devotion to it when his musical duties allowed him leisure for it. But his one-time active participation in it is, of course, remembered by few.

“Born at Huddersfield in February, 1841, Walter Parratt was already known as one of the strongest of Yorkshire chess amateurs when, in 1872, he was given the post of organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, in succession to Sir John Stainer. Of his influence on the titled University there is no need for us to speak. He joined the recently founded Oxford University Chess Club, and when on March 28th, 1873, the cherished scheme for an Oxford and Cambridge chess match was at length converted into fact, at the rooms in Milk Street, E.C., of the City of London Chess Club, “W. Parratt (Magdalen)” figured on the first board for the Senior University and with two wins over J. de Soyres (Caius) contributed materially to Oxford’s win by 9½—2½ [actually 10-3 – JS]. A picture of the match hangs on the wall of the City of London Chess Club to-day. In 1874 Parratt, now a Mus.Bac., was president of the Oxford University C.C. and again played top board, but on this occasion de Soyres beat him 2—1 and Cambridge won a surprising victory by 15—5. Though the teams were then, as now, seven a-side, the rate of play, without clocks, was much faster, and the pairs got through as many games as they liked in the allotted time.

“This was Parratt’s last appearance in the ’Varsity match. But in 1875 he was elected secretary of the Oxford University C.C. and in 1876 he served on the committee; after which, though he was a life member of the club, he acted no longer in any official capacity for it.

“After ten years at Oxford he went to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor; in 1892 he was knighted, and next year he became the Royal organist, a post which he held till his death. But he still retained his love for chess, and it is a pathetic incident that he accepted an invitation to play in the match Oxford (Past) v. Cambridge (Past) on March 22nd of this year [1924], but had to write that, by doctor’s orders, he was not allowed to come to town. He requested that the result of the match should be telegraphed to him, which was duly done. Alas! he was already on his deathbed, and less than five days later he had passed away in his sleep. Some of his latest conscious talk was on the subject of the match in which he was so keen, and was so desired, to play.”

David Bruce Pennycuick (born 30 August 1940). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1959, 1960, 1961. Educ. Manchester Grammar School. B.A. (mathematics, moral sciences), 1961. Liverpool University, PGCE, 1962; M.A. (Education), Sussex University, 1983. Ph.D. (Education), Southampton University, 1986. Occ. after teaching in England and Papua New Guinea, became an educational adviser. LibDem politician, Scotland. Played chess for Surrey, 1960s.

Lionel Sharples Penrose (11 June 1898 – 12 May 1972). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922. Medical geneticist, paediatrician, mathematician, psychiatrist. Educ. Leighton Park School, Reading. Conscientious objector, with the Friends’ Ambulance Unit/British Red Cross in France, 1916-18. Professor, Galton Laboratory, University College London, 1945-65. Father of ten-times British chess champion Jonathan Penrose, chess player and theoretical physicist Oliver Penrose, 2020 Nobel Physics Prize winner Sir Roger Penrose and geneticist Professor Shirley Hodgson. Wikipedia. After his death his widow Dr. Margaret (née Leathes) Penrose married Max Newman, who also played for Cambridge University in the Varsity chess matches of 1920 and 1922. Chess Endgame Studies. Royal College of Physicians biography.

BCM, July 1972, p245-246: Harry Golombek writes: “Professor Penrose was well known in the chess-world as an enthusiastic and knowledgeable player. He played for Cambridge University when a student there and though the demands of his work prevented him subsequently from taking part in tournaments he regularly played for the Essex County side and was elected President of the Essex County Chess Association in 1949, remaining in office till 1954.

“He was also a considerable patron of and benefactor to the game, not the least in this respect being his sons Oliver and Jonathan, the latter of course having been British Champion more times than any other player in the history of the game.

“Sir Alexander Haddow writes: (The Times) Quite apart from his massive contributions to the study of human genetics and inheritance, and to our knowledge of mental affliction, Professor Penrose was distinguished for his services in the fields of scientific responsibility and medical ethics, as shown by his founder-membership of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War.
…When the slow history comes to be written of man’s endeavour to comprehend human conflict and ultimately to render war obsolete, the name of Lionel Penrose will be upheld in honour and gratitude.

J. Anderson Stewart writes: Professor L.S.Penrose, F.R.S., was first mentioned anonymously in the B.C.M. in 1919, as the grandson of Lord Peckover, a schoolboy who could play five games simultaneously blindfold. At Cambridge, he was a member of the team which beat Oxford University 7-0 in 1920 and played against Oxford on three other occasions. His win against the late T.H. Tylor is given in the B.C.M. His association with Hampstead began many years later when he and his sons Oliver and Jonathan joined the club and the inclusion of three Penroses – one the London Champion and the other the Essex Champion – was a material factor in Hampstead winning the London League several times in the fifties. Professor Penrose was also keenly interested in problems and his almost instantaneous sight of the board was well illustrated by his being the first spectator to note that a British player in the first post-war match against the Russian team in London had missed a mate in two following a queen sacrifice. He was also active in promoting Anglo-Soviet chess friendship.

Oliver Penrose (born 1929). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1950, 1951, 1952. FRS, FRSE. Son of the scientist Lionel Penrose, brother of ten-times British chess champion Jonathan Penrose, 2020 Nobel Physics Prize winner Sir Roger Penrose and geneticist Professor Shirley Hodgson. Open University (17 years), professor of mathematics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, 1986-1994. Professor Emeritus at Heriot-Watt, remaining active in research there. Wikipedia. Essex chess champion in 1946/47 and 1947/48. Played in the 1948 BCF Premier [Major Open] tournament, sharing 1st place with his brother Jonathan and three others on 7½/11. Finished 12th= in the 1949 British Championship (with 6/11) and scored 4½/11 in the 1950 British Championship. In 1950 he won the inaugural British Universities’ Individual Championship ahead of a strong field. Has played little high-level competition chess since the early 1950s, but competed in the local Edinburgh as recently as the early 2000s. In 2002 defeated FM John Littlewood in the Edinburgh Open. Game.

http://www.ma.hw.ac.uk/~ndg/fom/penrosequ.html: “The image appears in a camera after you’ve clicked the shutter, not before. The film and the outside don’t interact at first: then you open the shutter and there’s an interaction. Before the interaction there was no correlation, and afterwards there was a correlation between the thing you’ve photographed and the captured image. It is similar to remembering: we remember the past, and not the future.

“When I do mathematics, I like to do something that’s related to physics in some way. I’m not all that interested in pure mathematics, except that sometimes something interesting comes up in pure mathematics which I like to learn about for its own interest. But I usually like to work on something that has a connection with a physics problem.

“In chess, the pieces move around and interlock with each other, a bit like a machine: a bit like watching a machine work, a steam engine or something like that. Mathematics is a bit like that too: the pieces interlock: they’re a little bit more abstract, you can’t always see them as you can the pieces on a chessboard, but it is somehow similar.”

[who’s who]: “PENROSE, Prof. Oliver –
FRS 1987; FRSE; Professor of Mathematics, Heriot-Watt University, 1986-94, now Professor Emeritus;
b 6 June 1929; s of Lionel S. Penrose, FRS, and Margaret Penrose (née Leathes); m 1953, Joan Lomas Dilley; two s one d (and one s decd). Educ: Central Collegiate Inst., London, Ont; University Coll. London (BSc); Cambridge Univ. (PhD). Work: FRSE 1989. Mathematical Physicist, English Electric Co., Luton, 1952-55; Res. Asst, Yale Univ., 1955-56; Lectr, then Reader, in Mathematics, Imperial Coll., London 1956-69; Prof. of Mathematics, Open Univ., 1969-86. Publications: Foundations of Statistical Mechanics, 1970, repr. 2005; about 80 papers in physics and maths jls; a few book reviews. Recreations: making music, chess. Address: 29 Frederick Street, Edinburgh EH2 2ND. T: (0131) 225 5879. Sir R. Penrose

John Edward Pepper (7 November 1903 – 17 August 1993). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1925, 1927. Born in Vienna, Austria, of a British father and an Austrian mother. Went into the Malayan Colonial Service, Singapore. Was in the prison camp at Changi, Singapore. Returned to UK in the 1950s and worked as a civil servant.

[BCM, January 1946, p13-14]: “CHESS AT CHANGI CAMP

“Chess among Europeans at Singapore received a great stimulus when they were clapped into Changi Gaol in March, 1942, and found that they had long, weary hours to while away. Men who had not played for years remembered that of old time they had dabbled in this fascinating game; new players by the score watched their games and began to play themselves.

“The difficulty was boards and men. But necessity is the mother of invention, and soon the concrete benches round the exercise yards were the scene of many a man carving chess pieces, some of which were so well made as to make attractive exhibits at the subsequent arts and crafts exhibition. When lathes were available, the varied patterns of the earlier designs became more standardised and sets based on the Staunton pattern could be bought for $10 Straits—if one still had the money.

“Many floors and workshops managed to raise a team of five, and an inter-floor tournament was arranged which was followed with great interest. One of the commonest sights in Changi was Colman, champion of Singapore for many years, sitting on his blanket on the concrete stroking his beard as he toilfully worked out his next move and the minutes sped by. Wilmott, also bearded, formerly secretary of the Singapore club, was another old warrior, and he did the camp great service by bringing into internment numbers of copies of the “British Chess Magazine” which he lent out freely. D3 proved the most successful chess team in the camp with its team of Pepper, Turner, Trubridge, Phillips and Linford. Pepper, a former half-blue at Cambridge, maintained a very steady standard to head the averages for the first board for the whole tournement.

“As time went on some chess books were brought into the camp, and a number of lectures on chess were given by Pepper and Cochemé to a class of enthusiastic pupils. For this purpose a large board was made to hang on the wall and pieces hooked on to the board as required. Numbers of men who had never played chess before internment attained considerable skill at the game, and were able to compete on level terms with the best players in the camp.

“When the camp was moved to Simo Road and regular hours of manual labour were introduced, interest flagged considerably. Lack of food drained men of energy intellectually as well as physically and chess, like bridge, suffered an eclipse. It had proved its worth, though, and many new followers of the game had been introduced.

“Ex-Internee.”

Ascelin Spencer Perceval (13 February 1855 – 24 April 1910). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity match 1878. Clergyman, schoolmaster. Headmaster at Malvern House School, Derby. Born in London, died in Westhampnett, Sussex.

Alumni Oxonienses: “1s. of Henry Spencer of London, arm. Exeter College, matric. 16 Jan 1875, aged 19; B.A. 1878, vicar of Mackworth, co. of Derby, since 1886.”

Sir John Hope Percival (27 December 1870 – 7 July 1954). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1892, 1893. Educ. Charterhouse. BA Senior Optime, 1893; LLB 1894. Occ. barrister, Inner Temple, 1894; Oxford Circuit; Judge of Native Courts of First Instance, Egypt, 1903; Native Court of Appeal, 1909; Vice-President thereof, 1919; Legal Adviser to GOC Egypt, 1919; Judicial Adviser to the Government of Egypt and Legal Adviser to the High Commissioner, 1925-28; Member of the Anglo-Mexican Special Claims Commission, 1929-30; alderman, Gloucestershire County Council, 1937-49; holds Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile and 3rd Class Osmanieh. Recreations: bowls, chess, bridge. [Who Was Who]

Nicholas Anthony Perkins (7 December 1912 – 26 May 1991). St John’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935. Born Easthampstead, Berkshire, died Newport Pagnell, Bucks. Selected to represent Scotland at the 1939 Buenos Aires Olympiad but was unable to accept the invitation. Later played for Scotland at the 1958 Munich Olympiad. Worked as a code-breaker at Bletchley Park during WW2. Chess Scotland biography. Perkins’ own reminiscences at the same website.

Arthur Leslie Roy Perry (25 April 1921 – Jul/Aug/Sep 2003). St John’s College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1941. From the Shropshire, Malvern area. No other info.

Reginald Walter Perry (30 August 1898 – 10 December 1967). Peterhouse, Cambridge. Varsity match 1919. Educ. Sutton County School. WW1, 1917-18, London Regt. Admitted to Peterhouse, 23 November 1918, came into residence 14 January 1919, matric. 29 January 1919. B.A. (Ord. degree; all 1 term for war service), 1921; 2nd class, Geography Tripos Pt 2, 1922; M.A., 1927. HM Inspector of Taxes, Stourbridge, Worcs, later Burnley, Lancs.

Raphael Joseph Arie Persitz (26 July 1934, Tel Aviv – 4 February 2009, Tel Aviv). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1954, 1955, 1956. Known as Raaphy Persitz. Chess master, writer, financial analyst. Israeli Junior Champion, 1951. Represented England in the World Student Team Championship, 1954, 1956 & 1957. Represented Israel in the 1960 Leipzig Olympiad. Played twice in the Hastings Premier, 1955/56 and 1968/69. After finishing his studies in the UK he worked in Geneva, Switzerland, for some years before returning to Israel where he wrote a daily column on finance in the Haaretz newspaper. Wrote a long-running (1950s to 2000s) chess column for BCM named The Student’s Corner. Wikipedia. Chessgames.com.

Leonard Barden: “Raaphy was probably my best friend at Oxford—certainly so among chessplayers. We played hundreds of blitz games in the junior common room at Balliol and later for some months in 1957 we shared a London flat, analysing Russian championship games over breakfast. He was a wonderful man to know, bright, witty, gentle, sympathetic and knowledgeable.”

BCM, March 2009, p130, obituary by John Saunders: “Raaphy Persitz, one of the strongest players resident in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s and also one of BCM’s most popular contributors, has died aged 74. Raaphy was born in Tel Aviv, the grandson of Shoshana Persitz (1893-1969), a publisher who became an early member of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Raaphy became Israel’s first junior champion in 1951 and shortly afterwards came to study PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) at Oxford University where he was a member of their very strong chess team and a close friend of Leonard Barden and others. One of his most publicised feats was to win his Varsity match game and also a county match against Hugh Alexander on the same day (see Bruce Hayden’s article in the May 1954 issue or my own article in the March 2004 magazine for further details). Raaphy played three times in the Varsity match and also represented England in three Student’s Olympiads in the mid-1950s. He represented Israel in the 1960 Leipzig Olympiad on board four, and also played twice in the Hastings Premier, in 1955/56 and 1968/69, the latter being his swansong in competitive chess as he turned his attention to a career in banking which took him first to Switzerland and eventually to his home town of Tel Aviv. As a player his best result was probably finishing third behind Reshevsky and Szabo at the first major international tournament held in Israel, Haifa/Tel Aviv 1958. Despite giving up competitive play, Raaphy never lost his love of the game and remained an avid reader of magazines and follower of the game until the end of his life. And, of course, he remained a perceptive and humorous writer on the game though his output was much lower than in the 1950s. The news of his death came as a particular shock to me as, only a couple of weeks previously, he had sent me a fax saying how moved he had been by the tribute I had written to Bob Wade in the January 2009 issue of BCM. That was typical of his kindness towards me which dated back to when I took my first tottering steps as BCM editor in 1999. We never actually met in person but spoke occasionally on the telephone and exchanged faxes (Raaphy didn’t seem to communicate by email).

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“As a long-time reader of the magazine I had enjoyed his Student’s Corner column contributions. The column had been initiated by Abe Yanofsky in the early 1950s and Raaphy had inherited it in 1958. I was particularly delighted when, in 2004, after I had written about his 1954 feat in winning his Varsity match game and a county match against English number one CHO’D (Hugh) Alexander on the same day, Raaphy consented to write another column (which appeared in the May 2004 issue of BCM). I never succeeded in getting him to write another one but it was such a pleasure to have him write for the magazine during my spell as editor. The fax he sent me on 7 January 2009 seems particularly poignant now but it is a good example of Raaphy’s kindness and self-deprecating humour.

“Here is the full text: “Dear John, I was moved by your wide-ranging obituary of Bob Wade in the BCM [January 2009, p34]. I dare say you did justice to his contributions and devotion to chess, spanning well over half a century. I have several pleasant recollections of conversations and over-the-board encounters with Bob. One such tussle, a hard-fought draw, was reproduced by Bob, with comments (in the Student’s Corner) in a book containing his eventful games. Another, somewhat less felicitous, recollection harks back to a game we contested at Ilford, where, in extreme time trouble, I blithely played Rxh7+, expecting …Qxh7, but overlooking the simple …Kxh7, leaving me a whole rook down with no compensation, whereupon I duly resigned. What impressed me at the time was the lightning speed with which Bob reacted to my ill-fated blunder – as if it were nothing but inevitable… With warmest wishes for a healthy, happy, fruitful 2009. Raaphy.”

“I had hoped to publish the above as a Letter to the Editor but, sadly, it must now appear as part of Raaphy’s obituary. The draw with Bob Wade referred to in the fax was played in Dublin in 1962 and featured in Student’s Corner in BCM in the December 1966 issue on page 356. It seems appropriate to reproduce the game here in tribute to these two recently departed and much-loved chessplayers. On reflection, they have much else besides in common: as well as excellent chess skills and outstanding personal qualities, they both made major contributions to chess in Britain despite having been born and bred elsewhere.”

Amatzia Avni’s tribute (appended to the above obituary in BCM): “Ordinary people have a mixture of good qualities and bad ones. After 20 years of friendship with the late Raaphy Persitz I can attest that he was a distinct type: one sided, positive-only; pure gold.
I first met him in 1989. I had just written my first chess book (in Hebrew) and was searching for someone to write me an introduction. The word was that Persitz was back in town, after long years abroad. Having seen glimpses of his amazing linguistic skills, I contacted him and he agreed immediately. He didn’t know me, hadn’t read a single sentence of the book, yet he didn’t hesitate: “yes, sure, I’ll be glad to”. That was typical Persitz: always ready to help, unconditionally. The introduction, needless to say, was a sheer delight, a class or two above the rest of the book.

“In later years he gave me a hand several times, polishing my texts and making them more reader-friendly to English-speaking readers. Somehow he seemed to know what I wished to express better than I did. His suggestions enabled me to convey my meaning in a clear and precise manner.
Raaphy was modest and reserved. Once I called him and realized that he was upset. “My mother had passed away some weeks ago,” he said. I was puzzled why he didn’t tell me the sad news at the time. “I didn’t want to bother you” was his reply.

“A couple of years ago I stumbled upon Bruce Hayden’s old book Cabbage Heads and Chess Kings. One of the book’s chapters was headed “Raaphy Persitz – star or comet?”. I learned that in the 1950s Persitz gained bright victories in England, against Penrose, Alexander, Milner-Barry and others. Searching a Chessbase database I found out that he also done battle with some outstanding international players. Yet, in all our meetings and hundreds of hours of conversation, he never said a thing about that!

“Persitz was a master of understatement. I learned that if I wrote “very fine” or “extremely strong”, the ‘very’ and ‘extremely’ would fly out of the window. If I made a firm stand on a certain issue, he would add “probably”, “apparently” or “it may be argued that”, because it was indeed only an opinion, not a fact. Over time, following his line of thought made me improve the way I expressed myself and thought about chess.

“Persitz’s distinctions in chess, in linguistics and in journalism are evident to anyone who ever read his chess books and articles. He also excelled at economics, but I am unqualified to comment on this.
God bless you, Raaphy. I feel privileged to have known you.”

Arthur John Peters (3 June 1914 – 17 September 1995). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1936, 1937. Played in the BCF Major Open in 1937 and 1938, finishing 9th= and 5th= respectively. Served in the Royal Navy: often referred to as “Commander AJ Peters” in chess reports (and known as “John”). Active in Scottish chess in the 1950s, later represented Hampshire at county chess. Champion of Portsmouth CC in 1965 and 1967 (joint).

Robert Petrie (19 May 1886, Aberdeen – 9 August 1911, Hintergarden, Baden, Germany). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1907, 1908. Educ. Harris Academy, Dundee; Monmouth Grammar School, achieving the highest marks in the Oxford Certificate examinations for the whole of England for two successive years. Scholarship to Balliol, 1904-09. 1st Class, Mathematics Mods, Oxford, 1905; 1st Class, Classical Mods., 1906; 1st Class, Lit.Hum, 1908. Played for Balliol rugby XV. Assistant Lecturer in Philosophy, Manchester University, 1909-10. John Locke Scholarship in Mental Philosophy, Oxford, 1910; fellow and lecturer, Queen’s College, Oxford. Played in the 1908 Combined Universities match v House of Commons. Died whilst bathing in the Feldsee, a tarn in the Black Forest, during a hike to climb the Feldberg. [The Times, 15 August 1911, p6; Monmouthshire Beacon – Friday 18 August 1911]

Alan Phillips (28 October 1923 – 24 June 2009). Magdalene College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1947. Joint 1954 British Chess Champion (jointly with Leonard Barden). Author of Chess: Sixty Years on with Caissa & Friends (Caissa Editions, 2003) and The Chess Teacher (Oxford University Press, 1978). Educ. Stockport Grammar School. Amongst many notable games, it is worth checking out his sacrificial win against Golombek from the 1961 British Championship (see below). Wikipedia.

Leonard Barden comments: “Worth mentioning that he was for many years the headmaster of Forest Hill School in SE London, and that he included chess in the school curriculum.”

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John Edward Pike (26 September 1931, London – 23 April 2011 Shorewood, Michigan, USA). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952. Medical doctor. “[Worked for the] Upjohn Company where he significantly contributed in the research of prostaglandins. He received his PhD. in chemistry from Exeter College at Oxford University. He achieved a master’s level in chess ranking and won the 1976 American Open Chess Championship [with Walter Browne and Yasser Seirawan].” (obituary notice) See also this reference.

Leonard Barden comments: “John Pike’s victory with Browne and Seirawan was I think the American Open not the US Open. But the important point is that the three of them appeared on the front cover of Chess Life & Review in 1977. I remember my first thought was ‘what’s John Pike doing there with these two big names?’ The biog you link to says also that Pike shared a flat with Barden and Yanofsky. That is not quite correct. The address at 8 Abbey Road very near to Oxford station was discovered by Bill Bowen [Alfred William Bowen (1918-2021)] in 1938. Bowen played in the British Championship at Buxton 1950 and also at Felixstowe 1949.”

Dr John Pike shares the front cover of Chess Life and Review with Yasser Seirawan and Walter Browne in January 1977,
having shared first place in the American Open with them in the previous November.

Chess Life & Review, February 1977, reported: “Here is one for the books. Our third top winner, Dr. John Pike,
originally from England, was booked at the Miramar Hotel, Santa
Monica, to attend a science convention. He saw the advertisement
for the American Open to be held in the same hotel so he decided,
since he was coming here anyway, to leave early and play in the
tournament. He not only entered it, and played in it, but came out
one of the top winners. This is his first triumph in chess, never
having placed high in tournaments back home in Kalamazoo.” 12th American Open, Santa Monica CA, November 1976: 1-3 Yasser Seirawan (1st on tie-break), GM Walter Browne, Dr John Pike 7/8 ($833 each), 4-8 GM Anatoly Lein, GM Leonid Shamkovich, IM Peter Biyiasas, Nick de Firmian, Julius Loftsson 6½, etc.

Sir Horace Curzon Plunkett (24 October 1854 – 26 March 1932). University College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877. Unionist MP, supporter of Home Rule, Irish senator, agricultural reformer. Wikipedia. Irish Chess History. A relative of Lord Dunsany (Edward Plunkett, 1878-1957), a noted chess player and writer. President of the Dublin Chess Club (1904-23). Drew with Capablanca in a simul, Dublin 1919.

From Sir Horace Plunkett’s diary for Saturday 29 March 1890: “Had my massage man in the morning. In afternoon played chess match – old Oxonians vs old Cantabs. Played 2nd in team versus J.N. Keynes, whom I had played in 3 inter-university matches 12 to 14 years ago. Got a draw.”

Arthur Pollitt (? – ?). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1939 and also the 1940 unofficial match. Nothing else known.

Ernest Walter Poynton (22 March 1872 – 20 April 1943). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1893, 1894. Educ. Marlborough. B.A., 1894, M.A., 1896. Ordained, 1900; curate, Pucklechurch, 1903-4, curate, St John’s Church, Waterloo Road, London. 1904, succeeded father as Rector of Kelston. 1916-7, temp. chaplain to the Forces. Represented Somerset at hockey, played cricket and croquet. (Bath Chronicle, 24 April 1943).

Oxford Alumni: “Poynton, Ernest Walter, born in London 22 March, 1872; 6s. Francis John, cler. EXETER, matric. 16 March, 91, aged 18 (from Marlborough) ; HONOURS :—3 classical mods. 92.”

BCM, June 1943, p142: “It is again with a deep personal grief that I have to record the passing of another old chess problem friend, the Rev. E. W. Poynton, of Kelston Rectory, near Bath. He died late in April after a four months’ illness. He composed occasional curios, but his main problem interest was as a solver, and he regularly solved in the British team in the International matches. He was a man of the greatest kindness of heart and kindliness of temperament, and the three of us at 31 Clyde Road will never forget how he helped my small daughter – when she was small – through three years of heart illness. To his widow, in this dark hour, all our sympathy goes out. – T.R.D[awson].”

BCM, Aug 1943, p175: “The Bath and Somerset County Chess Clubs have suffered a great loss in the passing of Rev. E. W. Poynton, M.A., a former Vicar of Kelston, near Bath. Since the death of Mr. Wainwright he played – when available – top board for the Bath Club and occupied a high position in the Somerset County Chess team. For many seasons he also took a board in the annual [Oxford / Cambridge] Past and Present University match. He had a quiet and humorous personality with a whimsical gift of fun and will be missed by his many friends in the local Chess world.

“Rev. Poynton was no mean problem composer and a number of his compositions appeared in important periodicals. He also took a keen interest in solving chess problems and acquired a high reputation in this field.

“He participated in International Team Solving Matches. These contests began in 1928 and continued until the war put a stop to them. In 1929 he joined the British team and remained a member in every subsequent match, maintaining an excellent record.

“Rev. E. W. Poynton was a regular solver for many years in the well-known chess column of the London Observer with a good record of skilful work.”

Clifford Maxwell Precious (9 August 1896 – 9 April 1959) St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1920, 1921. Educ. King Edward VII Grammar, King’s Lynn; Paston School, North Walsham. Matric. 1915, then served in army (private, Middlesex Regt. Reported wounded in 1916, Lynn Advertiser, Friday 11 August 1916). Awarded Kitchener Memorial Scholarship, St John’s C, 1918. Rowed for his college 1st VIII, 1919. Signed a petition in Cambridge in 1919 deploring the pacificist opinions and encouragement of conscientious objectors by the Cambridge Review (Globe, 27 January 1919). Vice-President, St John’s College Chess Club, Cambridge, 1919 (a conscientious objector, L S Penrose, was on the committee of the same society at the same time). Schoolteacher, 1925, East Dereham, Norfolk. Head, Elementary School, Dudley, Worcs, 1939. Good billiards player (ref. Nottingham Journal – Saturday 17 March 1928). Lost to Boris Kostich in a blindfold simul over eight boards, Cambridge 11 May 1920. (Game score given in Cambridge Daily News, 12 May 1920)

Arthur Illtyd Prichard (22 October 1880 – 21* May 1916, Vimy Ridge, France). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1902. Educ. Felsted. Occ. civil servant. Played county chess for Kent (served on the Kent CCA committee, 1915) and London League chess for Lee, before WW1. Kent County Champion, 1908. Published problemist. Corporal, London Regt, 15th Bn (Civil Service Rifles). Killed in action, Vimy Ridge. (* some sources have 22 May or 23 May)

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Arthur Illtyd Prichard QUEENS’ Entered: Michs. 1899 Born: 22 Oct 1880 Adm. scholar at QUEENS’, Oct. 1899. [Eldest] s. of Illtyd Moline [solicitor]. B. Oct. 22, 1880, at Lewisham. School, Felsted. Matric. Michs. 1899; B.A. 1902. Entered the Home Civil Service, 1903; a Clerk in the Office of Works. Married and had issue. [not true – he was unmarried – JS] Served in the Great War, 1914-19 (Private, London Regt. (Civil Service Rifles)); killed in action at Vimy Ridge, May 23, 1916. (Al. Felsted.; Univ. War List; The Times, June 13, 1916; Camb. Year-Book.)

De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour: PRICHARD, ARTHUR ILLTYD, Corpl., 15th Battn. (Civil Service Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), eldest s. of llltyd Moline Prichard, of Lee, S.E., Solicitor, by his wife, Ellen Adelaide, yr. dau. of John Standing, of Dacre House, Lee, S.E.; and brother to Lieut. E[dward]. O[wen]. Prichard (q.v. – brother also KIA; b 1895, d 1917); b. Lee, Blackheath, S.E., 22 Oct. 1880 ; educ. Felsted School (Classical Scholar), and Queens’ College, Cambridge (Mathematical Scholar); passed the Indian Civil Service Examination, and was appointed to H.M. Office of Works, being subsequently Private Secretary to the First Commissioner of Works; joined the Civil Service Rifles 30 May, 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in action at the Vimy Ridge 22 May, 1916. Buried 100 yards from the German trenches there; unm.

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Richard Henry Prior (15 September 1870, Cashel, Co. Tipperary – 19 August 1956, Kilkenny). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1890. Educ. Cheltenham College; Bedford Grammar. Occ. landowner, mine owner. From 1894 known as Captain Richard Henry Prior-Wandesforde. Member of Kildare Street Club, Dublin, and RAC in London. Won the Armstrong Cup (Irish team chess championship) with Dublin in 1933.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Richard Henry Prior (post Prior-Wandesforde) College: TRINITY Michs. 1888 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, May 21, 1888. [Eldest] s. of Charles Butler (1860), of [Crossogue House, Co. Tipperary and] Comer Lodge, Bedford (and Dora, dau. of Richard Phillips, of Gaile, Co. Tipperary). B. [Sept. 15], 1870, at Cashel, Co. Tipperary. Schools, [Cheltenham College and] Bedford Grammar. Matric. Michs. 1888; B.A. 1891. Succeeded his grandmother, 1892. Of Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, and Kirklington and Hudswell, Yorks. J.P. and D.L. High Sheriff of Co. Kilkenny, 1894. Assumed, by Royal Licence, the additional surname of Wandesforde, May 16, 1894. Served in the Great War, 1914-19 (Capt., R.F.A.). Married, Mar. 17, 1896, Florence Jackson von Schwartz, dau. of the Rev. Ferdinand Pryor, R. of Dartmouth, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and had issue. (Cheltenham Coll. Reg.; Burke, L.G. of Ireland; Univ. War List; Fox-Davies, Armorial Families; Kelly, Handbook.)

William Ernest Baker Pryer (3 Feb 1902 – 26 April 1993). Pembroke College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1921, 1922, 1924. Born Axminster, Devon, died Watford, Middx. Listed as a Watford player, graded 188 on the 1969 BCF Grading List. Still playing in 1975. Was 3b (201-208) on the 1956 Grading List (Hertfordshire). No obit in BCM. Schoolmaster, teaching history at Elizabeth School, Guernsey, 1924/25. Photo as part of the 1921 Varsity team.

Walter Tyrrell Quin (30 January 1873 – 17 February 1899). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1895, 1896. Educ. United Westminster School; Newcastle High School. Read Natural Sciences (2nd, Part 1, 1893; 2nd, Part 2, 1895); B.Sc. (London), 1895. Occ. clergyman.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Walter Tyrrell Quin CAIUS Michs. 1891 Died: 17 Feb 1899 Adm. at CAIUS, Oct. 1, 1891. S. of Cornelius, of Brixton Hill, London. B. [Jan. 30], 1873, in London. Schools, United Westminster and Newcastle-under-Lyme High. Matric. Michs. 1891; B.A. 1895; M.A. 1898. B.Sc., London, 1895. Ord. deacon (Rochester) 1897; C. of St Mary Magdalene, Peckham, 1897-9. Died Feb. 17, 1899, at Guildford. (Newcastle High Sch. Reg.; Venn, II. 521 and addenda, 1940; Crockford.)

Allen Beville Ramsay (3 August 1872 – 20 September 1955). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1894. Educ. Eton College. Schoolmaster, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge (1925-47), Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University (1929-31). Published poetry in Latin. Played for Windsor & District CC in chess matches in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Wikipedia. Photo in National Portrait Gallery.

Cambridge Alumni: “Ramsay, Allen Beville. Adm. at KING’S, Oct. 2, 1891; a scholar from Eton.
Eldest s. of Beville, of Croughton House, Brackley, Northants. [Capt., 62nd Regt.] (and Sarah Maria, dau. of the Rev. Matthew Carier Tompson, R. of Woodstone, Northants., and V. of Alderminster, Warws.).
B. Aug. 3, 1872, at Croughton.
School, Eton.
Matric. Michs. 1891; Scholar, 1893; Browne medal, 1893-4; B.A. (Class.
Trip., Pt I, 1st Class) 1894; M.A. 1901.
Assistant Master at Eton, 1895-1916; Lower Master, 1916-1925.
Master of Magdalene College, 1925-47; retired. Vice-Chancellor, 1929-31. Author, Inter Lilia; Ros Rosarum; Frondes Salicis. Of Allan Bank, Graham Road, Great Malvern, in 1952. (King’s Coll. Reg.; Schoolmasters’ Directories; Burke, L.G.; Kelly, Handbook; Who’s Who.)”

Excerpts from DNB entry: “He became a close friend of Montague Rhodes James, the provost of King’s and then of Eton; the two men cycled together on the continent during the Easter vacations… Ramsay had no pretensions to be a serious academic; he was therefore considered a suitable college master. He was appointed master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, on 27 October 1925, and took up the post in January 1926. He succeeded A. C. Benson, who had earlier been horrified at the thought of Ramsay being a candidate for Eton’s headmastership: ‘Ramsay is a poky, narrow-minded, parochial, stubborn, pig-headed little fellow … He knows nothing of the world except Eton’ … Ramsay was chiefly responsible for the expulsion from Magdalene’s fellowship of William Empson for sexual misconduct, on the discovery of ‘engines of love’ (that is, contraceptives) in Empson’s possession. A colleague who regretted the decision (F. Salter) nevertheless thought that Ramsay had been fair, and ‘behaved quite well’; Empson called him ‘shockingly unscrupulous’ in a letter to I. A. Richards… The election of Stanley Baldwin as the university’s chancellor fell within his period of office… He was also president of Cambridge University Cricket Club. Friends spoke of ‘his love of the three Cs: classics, cricket, chess’ (The Times, 22 Sept 1955).

Sunday Dispatch, 19 January 1936, by Edward Chichester, 6th Marquess of Donegall: “I used always to be lost in admiration when my tutor, Mr. A. B. Ramsay, went for walks with another master and played mental chess.
Eric Hatry and I tried it on the ship, but we had such a row over the position of a pawn after three moves that we gave it up.”

Charles Edward Ranken (5 January 1828 – 12 April 1905). Wadham College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but credited with founding Oxford University Chess Club in April 1869 and becoming its first president; also played in the Oxford Past v Oxford Present match in 1887. Educ. Bishop’s College, Bristol; King William’s College, Isle of Man. B.A. (Oxford), 1850; M.A. (Oxford), 1852; M.A. (Cantab), 1858. Clergyman, vicar of Sandford-on-Thames (succeeding his brother Rev. William H Ranken from 1867), living in Oxford, before moving to Malvern in 1871. Co-author of Chess Openings Ancient and Modern (publ. 1889, with later editions up to 1910). Prolific tournament player between 1851 and the 1890s. In the 1880s and 1890s wrote articles for British Chess Magazine, usually on opening theory. Wikipedia. See Varsity History File for more biographical information (Chess-Monthly, May 1891, p258).

Alumni Oxonienses: Ranken, Charles Edward, 1s. Charles, of Brislington, Somerset, cler. Wadham Coll., matric. 15 Oct., 1845, aged 17; B. A. 1850, M. A. 1852, vicar of Sandford-on-Thames 1867-71, etc.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Charles Edward Ranken. Entered: Oct. 15, 1845, Died: 1905. M.A. 1858, incorp. from Oxford. [Eldest s. of the Rev. Charles (above), of Brislington, Somerset. B. Jan. 5, 1828. Schools, Bishop’s College, Bristol, and King William’s, Isle of Man.] Matric. from Wadham College, Oxford, Oct. 15, 1845; B.A. (Oxford) 1850; M.A. (Oxford) 1852. Ord. deacon, 1852; priest, 1853; C. of Burton-on-Trent, 1852-4. C. of Tooting, 1854-6. C. of Trinity Church, Cheltenham, 1859-64. C. of St John’s, Richmond, Surrey, 1867-71. V. of Sandford-on-Thames, 1867-71. C. of Great Malvern, 1871-5. Author, Chess Opening. Died in 1905. Brother of the next and of William H. (1858). (Al. Oxon.; Crockford; Clergy List; King William’s Coll. Reg.; F. P. White.)

Francis Hooper Rawlins (30 May 1861 – 14 October 1925, Paris, France). Peterhouse, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but represented Cambridge University versus a Ladies Chess Club team in 1902. Regular competitor in BCF Congresses (nine of them from 1904 to 1923). Committee member, Somerset Chess Association. One of the 15 founder members of FIDE (1924). Served in the Boer War but not the Great War due to poor health (despite what the Cambridge Alumni record says). Photo of Rawlins on his wedding day, 1903: the marriage ended in divorce in 1910 after his desertion. The website says that Rawlins was “later painter, poet and musician in Paris”. Further biographical information on the English Chess Forum.

“Two years ago he attended the Olympia in France as the sole British chess representative.” (Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette – Saturday 31 October 1925)

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Francis Hooper Rawlins PETERHOUSE Entered: Michs. 1880 Born: 30 May 1861 Died: 1925 More Information: Adm. pens. at PETERHOUSE, Oct. 1, 1880. [Eldest] s. of the Rev. Francis John (next), of St Leonards-on-Sea. B. May 30, 1861. School, St Leonards-on-Sea. Matric. Michs. 1880; B.A. 1884; M.A. 1887. Lieut., Royal Anglesey Engineers Militia, 1886; Capt., 1892. F.R.G.S. Served in the Great War, 1914-19 (Major, R.E.). Married, 1903, Evelyn, dau. of Major George Smijth-Windham, the Rifle Brigade, and had issue. Died in 1925. (T. A. Walker, 559; Univ. War List; Army Lists; Fox-Davies, Armorial Families.)

Thomas Stobart Rawlinson (born 1926). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1945. 2nd Lt., East Lancashire Regt., 1949. From Barton in Lancashire, lived in Reading, Berkshire, circa 2002. Son Mark also went to Sidney Sussex in the 1970s.

Edward Lancelot Raymond (29 June 1860 – 31 March 1940). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884. Read mathematics at Cambridge.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Edward Lancelot Raymond. Entered Michs. 1879. Born 29 Jun 1860. Matric. Non-Coll., Michs. 1879. S. of William. B. June 29, 1860, at Yeovil. School, Yeovil Grammar. Migrated to Christ’s, Apr. 9, 1880; B.A. 1883. Assistant tutor for many years at Eton House, Tonbridge, a well-known ‘crammer’s.’ Lived latterly at Weymouth, where he died c. 1936. (G. L. Herman; Peile, II. 672.)

Reginald Colebrooke Reade (25 August 1853 – 29 June 1891). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1876, 1879 and 1880. President of CUCC, 1876-7. Architect & surveyor. Entered King’s, Michaelmas 1873. Adm. at King’s, a scholar from Eton, Oct. 11, 1873. 4th s. of Alfred (1832), Esq., of Datchet, Bucks. B. Aug. 25, 1853. Matric. Michs. 1873; B.A. 1877; M.A. 1880. An architect. Of Torquay, Devon. Surveyor of ecclesiastical dilapidations in the diocese of Exeter for the Archdeaconry of Totnes. Secretary and Manager of St John’s National School, Braddon Street, Torquay. An active member of the Torquay chess club. Author, A Mexican Mystery (1888); Wreck of a World (1889), written under the nom de plume of W. Grove. Died June 29, 1891, from injuries received falling from a cliff at Willow Cove, near Dartmouth. (Torquay Directory, July, 1891; King’s Coll. Reg.) Monument erected where he fell from the cliff.

Guy Garland Reaks (21 August 1917 – 20 May 2011). Oriel College, Oxford. Varsity match 1938. Born in Simla, India, died in Lewes, Sussex. 2nd Lt., Devonshire Regiment. Worked in the leather industry.

David Rees (29 May 1918 – 16 August 2013). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity chess match but took part in the Bletchley vs Oxford University match 1944. Post-war head of Mathematics Department and later Emeritus Professor of Pure Mathematics at Exeter University. Fellow of the Royal Society. Wikipedia.

Harold Talbot Reeve (9 July 1908 – 18 February 1940). Oriel College Oxford. Varsity matches 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931. Educ. St Paul’s School, London. Local Government Officer (Assistant Director of Education) in Newport, Isle of Wight, from 1939 to his death; previously held posts at Borough Road Training College, London, and in Warwickshire and West Riding. Played in BCF Congresses in 1929, 1931 and 1932. Died in his lodgings in Newport when he apparently fainted and fell on the fire and was asphyxiated.

Peter Reid (26 November 1910 – 16 August 1939). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1931, 1932. First in Maths Part 1, 2nd in Maths Part 2. Scottish chess player and mountain climber. Occ. insurance agent. Played board for Scotland in the 1937 Stockholm Olympiad, scoring +3, =3, -11. Died while climbing a mountain (An Cioch) in the Cuillins range on the Isle of Skye. Wikipedia. Chess Scotland. Chessgames.com.

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Ernst Robert Reifenberg (28 Oct 1928, Berlin – 23 June 1964, Dolomites). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1948, 1949, 1950. (Not to be confused with Leonard Richenberg/Reichenberg.) Preferred to be called Peter. “He had from a very early age shown a remarkable talent for mathematics and chess—there is a story of him beating a surprised adult at chess on his way to Palestine at the age of five.” (JC Shepherdson, Journal of the London Mathematical Society, 40 (1965) pps 370-377) Author of works on mathematics found on the web. German Wikipedia. Died as the result of a rock fall while rock-climbing in the Dolomites in 1964. left Germany for Czechoslovakia in 1933, then moved to Palestine later the same year, Tel Aviv 1934, Berlin in 1937, then UK from August 1938. Attended private school in London, then Bembridge School, Isle of Wight. Major scholarship in mathematics to Trinity, Cambridge, 1946. Prize Fellowship at Trinity in 1951. In 1952 he went to the University of California at Berkeley as a Commonwealth Fellow and in 1954, in the last year of his Trinity Fellowship, came to the University of Bristol as a lecturer. He spent the academic year 1959/60 on leave of absence at Oregon State University. He was appointed Reader in Mathematics in the University of Bristol in 1961; he spent the summer of 1963 as a visitor at Brown University. “… main interests were in chess, bridge, mountaineering and motoring. He played chess for Cambridge against Oxford, but he began to feel that chess took too much of his time, and although he continued to play the occasional game for County teams his main game in recent years was bridge, which he played regularly and well. Mountaineering was his chief pleasure.” (same source as above)

James Meadows Rendel (31 January 1854 – 27 August 1937). Balliol College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1927 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match. (Though listed in match result as “JR Rendel”.) His wife’s brother was Lytton Strachey and his grandson, also named James Meadows Rendel (1915-2001), was a notable geneticist (and a keen chess player and a friend of Lionel Penrose).

Men-at-Bar (Joseph Foster, 1885): Rendel, James Meadows, B.A., Balliol Coll., Oxon, 1878, a student of the Inner Temple 13 May, 1876 (then aged 22), called to the bar 9 June, 1880 (eldest son of Alexander Meadows Rendel, of London, C.E.); born 1854.
44, Lancaster Gate, W.: 9, New Square, Lincoln’s Inn, W.C.

Balliol College Register, 1832-1914: Rendel, James Meadows : b. Jan.
31, 1854 ; s. of Sir A. M. Rendel,
K.C.I.E. ; m. Dec. 16, 1882,
Elinor, d. of Sir Richard Strachey,
G.C.S.I. Issue : three sons, two
daughters. Educ. Marlborough
(Sen. Sch.) ; Balliol 1873-6
(T.H.G., R.G.T.) ; Open and Jenkyns Ex. ; 2nd Cl. Mods. 1874; 1st Lit. Hum. 1876; B.A. 1878.
Barrister, L.L, 1880; Director of
Assam-Bengal (Managing) and
Southern Punjab Railways, and of
Denison House, Ltd. ; Poor Law
Guardian, Kensington ; Manager
of Kensington and Chelsea Poor
Law Schools. Club : Reform.
Address : 7 Courtfield Road, Kensington, London, S.W.

John George Rennie (abt 1888, Shanghai, China – 19 February 1925, Manchuria, China). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1908, 1909.

BCM, April 1925, p157: “We deeply regret to hear of the death at Harbin, Manchuria, February 19th [1925], of Mr. John G. Rennie, in his 37th year only. Mr Rennie represented Oxford University at chess in 1908 and 1909. Playing on the sixth and third boards respectively against Cambridge, and winning on both occasions. After a period with the Metropolitan C.C., in 1913 he joined the City of London. He won the Mocatta cup in 1917 and smaller prizes in other competitions on various occasions.

“He was the son of Sir Richard Rennie, Judge of the Supreme Court in China, and grandson of Rennie, the celebrated builder of bridges. During the War his health broke down, and he was invalided out of the army, besides being badly handicapped in his commercial career. He had not been very long in his post out in China when death so prematurely cut him off.

“His many chess friends will sincerely lament the loss of John Rennie, a talented player and a man of pleasing personality. He leaves a widow and young son, to whom we offer our respectful sympathy.” P.W.S[ergeant].

Geoffrey Irving Rhodes (6 April 1920 – 10 January 1984). Selwyn College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity matches 1940, 1941. Born Bradford, Yorks, died Harrow, Middx. Matric. 1938. Was an inventor (Proctor & Gamble). Played in the British Championship in 1963. NCCU Champion 1965. Listed as a member of the Newcastle club in 1969 (when graded 201).

Herbert Gibson Rhodes, M.C. (4 February 1896 – 28 May 1981). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1920, 1921. Born Ormskirk, Lancashire, died Bexhill, Sussex. Educ. Manchester Grammar School, where he played in goal for their soccer team. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, King’s (Liverpool Regiment), 27 January 1916, and served during the Great War with the 2/7th Battalion on the Western Front from February 1917; promoted Lieutenant, 28 July 1917. Photo as part of the 1921 Varsity team.

Military Cross citation, London Gazette, 2 December 1918: “Lt. Herbert Gibson Rhodes, 2/7th Bn., L’pool R., T.F. ‘For conspicuous gallantry in attacking parties of the enemy, who were trying to get machine guns into action. He reached his objective and brought heavy fire to bear on them as they retreated. Though wounded, he would not leave his post until it was securely consolidated. His splendid leadership resulted in the capture of fifty prisoners and twelve machine guns.'”

B.A., 1921. Law Society exams passed 1923 and 1925. Solicitor by profession. 4th in the 1921 BCF Major Open. Scored 4/11 in the 1937 British Championship. 2nd= in the 1947 BCF Premier Tournament, joint last in 1948 BCF Premier Tournament, scored 4/11 in the 1949 British Championship. He also played in the 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1956 British Championships, scoring 4, 4½, 4½ and 5½ respectively. He finished joint first in the 1955 BCF Major Open. British Correspondence Chess Champion, 1953. Played a six-game match with Tartakower (Southport, 24-29 April 1950) losing by 1½-4½, the results (from Rhodes’s point of view) being 00½0½½. (BCM, June 1950, p187)

Leonard Barden on Rhodes (English Chess Forum, 2015): “Hastings 1948-49 was not the first time I played Rhodes or Bolland [Percivale David Bolland was another chessplayer who was awarded the MC in WW1]. I had beaten Rhodes in the final round of the BCF Premier (effectively the Major Open) at London 1948, so improving my placing from last to joint last. I remember the ending of our Hastings game because I reached two rooks and bishop against queen and knight, expecting to draw easily but finding myself crushed. Afterwards Rhodes told me that the queen-knight duo was almost always superior, and I took the tip to heart, used it a couple of times years later, and even mentioned it in one of my books. Rhodes had the air of a slightly diffident scholar, pleasant but restrained. Solicitor suited him well. He never gave any hint of fighting in the war, and I could not have imagined him as a soldier or as a soccer goalkeeper… He had serious ambitions then, as evidenced by his six-game match at Southport in April 1950 with Tartakower, presumably financed by Rhodes just after Tartakower had shared first with Bisguier at Southsea. Tartakower won +3=3-0, and used one of the finishes in the book of his best games.”

William Edward Cole Richards (1907–14 April 1989). Hertford College, Oxford? Didn’t appear in a Varsity match but may have played for Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past. I am basing this on a player called W H Richards who represented Combined Universities vs Metropolitan CC on 14 March 1949. I suspect this is a typo for W E C Richards. He worked at the Patent Office and represented them in the Civil Service League. He was also a member of the Harrow CC and played county chess for Surrey.

David John Richards ( ). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1956, 1957, 1958. Author of Soviet Chess: chess and communism in the USSR (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1965) and the translator of Suetin’s Modern Chess Opening Theory (Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1965). Lecturer, later Reader, in Russian, Exeter University. Played for Buckinghamshire, 1950s. Won Exeter CC championship five times between 1960/61 and 1966/67.

John Edward Richardson (20 November 1922 – 23 October 1949). Jesus College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1946, 1947, and the unofficial matches of 1941, 1942. British Boys’ (Under 18) Champion, April 1940 (at his fourth attempt, according to BCM). Attended Stowe School, Bucks, from where he won an open exhibition in history to Jesus College, Cambridge. Died on 23 October 1949 at the Caves, Chislehurst, Kent, according to probate records, but on 22 October 1949 in Italy according to the Old Stoics’ Magazine for December 1949. Funeral held in Redstone Cemetery, Reigate – coincidentally where another prematurely deceased British junior chess champion Jessie Gilbert (1987-2006) is buried. (N.B. His birth registered as Edward J Richardson, in Reigate, in the 1st qtr of 1923. Parents Percy John Richardson and Nancy (née) Hurst)

CHESS, Sept 1944, p189: “It is difficult to realise it is five [sic] years since Stowe schoolboy Jack Richardson won the last British Boys’ Championship. In 1941, he confirmed this early promise by defeating Imre König, the Hungarian-born Yugoslav expert, in a six-game match. Now, A/B Richardson is serving on a destroyer in foreign waters. Post-war chess should find well to the fore.”

Jon D’Souza-Eva, English Chess Forum, 11 Oct 2010: “I’ve just received an email from … the Old Stoic’s (Stowe old boys) office who told me that John Edward Richardson died aged 26 on 22nd October 1949.”

Leonard Judah Richenberg1 (16 May 1922 – 1 November 2000) Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1946, 1947, 1948, and the unofficial matches of 1941, 1942. Company Director, Pan Polychord Ltd and others. Referred to as an “economics professor (sic) at Oxford and a former adviser to the MacMillan government” in the book Can’t Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain and America by Jonathan Gould, and managing director of the Triumph Investment Group which at one time owned 25% of the Beatles’ business. Former member of the RAC chess circle. See also Quotes & Queries entries 5819, 5827 and 5833 in the 2007 BCM (refs. BCM, August 2007, p447; BCM, October 2007, p554; BCM, December 2007, p666). (1 Gaige gives spelling as ‘Reichenberg’ but this is definitely wrong.)

Schoolfriend of Kingsley Amis at City of London School: Life of Kingsley Amis by Zachary Leader: “Richenberg and Amis had been friends and desk-mates since the third form and were stars of the Classical side. But both came to question the utility of a Classical education. Richenberg was good at maths and wanted to become a mathematician; Amis wanted to be a writer and was keen on studying English. In the end, only Amis made the switch. At Oxford, Richenberg read PPE at Corpus Christi, was awarded a double First, took a B.Litt. in economics, and became an economics don at Jesus College, though only for a year. He then moved to the Treasury as an economic adviser and eventually went into business, where he made and lost a great deal of money. He and Amis remained friends even after a misunderstanding over Amis’s novel I Want It Now (1968), in the first chapter of which a party is held at the home of a rich, celebrity-seeking couple named Reichenberg. Len Dowsett, Richenberg’s successor as School Captain, remembers him as brilliant, on one occasion playing and winning three simultaneous games of chess while blindfolded. [Denis] Norden describes him as ‘dazzling, the one we thought would leave a mark’.”

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Max Mark Lion Rittenberg (18 April 1880, Sydney, Australia – 15 January 1963, London). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1902. Educ. Tonbridge. Changed his surname to Ritson. Occ. advertising, PR; writer of detective fiction in periodicals (London Magazine; Boys’ Own Paper; The Strand); science reporter for the Daily Mail.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Max Mark Lion Rittenberg (post Ritson) CAIUS Entered: Michs. 1899 Born: 18 Apr 1880 Adm. at CAIUS, Apr. 19, 1899. [Only] s. of Benjamin, commercial-agent, of 23, Earl’s Court Gardens, London, S.W. B. Apr. 18, 1880, in Sydney, Australia. [School, Tonbridge.] Matric. Michs. 1899; Exhibitioner, 1899; Scholar, 1900; (Nat. Sci. Tripos, Pt I, 1st Class, 1901); B.A. 1902. Sometime Assistant Master at Swansea Grammar School. An advertising consultant. Senior Partner in Max Rittenberg and partners. Author, Effective Postal Publicity, etc. Editor of The Organizer. Of 33, Henrietta Street, London, W.C. in 1927. (Tonbridge Sch. Reg.; Venn, II. 394.)

André Raymond Rivier (18 May 1914 – 28 April 1973). St Peter’s Hall [College], Oxford. Varsity match 1950. Swiss classicist. Academic, professor at University of Lausanne, 1957-73. German Wikipedia. Leonard Barden comments: “… the son of the Swiss master Rivier who played inter alia at the elite tournament of Berne 1932.” (William Jules Rivier)

Christopher Thurston Rivington (20 June 1920 – 6 September 2018). Trinity College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity matches 1940, 1941. One of the (Thurston) Rivington book-trade dynasty. Attended Radley College. Served as a Lieutenant, RNVR 1941-6, and was Master of the Stationers’ Company in 1983. No chess references.

Harold Northway Robbins (29 October 1874 – 31 May 1973). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1895, 1896. Occ. solicitor, Richmond on Thames. Also poet and science fiction writer under the pseudonym “Cassius Minor” (work The Finding of Mercia, Kegan Paul, 1909).

John Drew Roberts (23 October 1864, Kingstown [Dun Laoghaire], Ireland – 8 June 1931). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1885. Regarded as a chess prodigy in Ireland. Pages 131-133 of Edward Winter’s Kings, Commoners and Knaves (Russell Enterprises, 1999) are devoted to Roberts’ chess feats as a teenager – the article has since been reproduced online, with some updates. Educ. Sherborne School. Ordained priest, 1893.

Sherborne Register: Roberts, John Drew, son of Michael Roberts, Senior Fellow, Trinity Coll, Dublin; born, 1863; (S.H.) ; vi.; Latin Verse, 1883; 2nd xv.; left, 1883. Sizar, Sidney Sussex Coll. Camb.; Scholar, Hertford Coll. Oxf.; ordained, 1892 ; curate of Newport, Mon.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: John Drew Roberts. SIDNEY Entered: Michs. 1883 Born: 23 Oct 1864 Died: 1931 Adm. sizar at SIDNEY, Oct. 11, 1883. S. of Michael (Trinity College, Dublin, 1833), Senior Fellow and Professor of Mathematics at Trinity College, Dublin. B. Oct. 23, 1864, at Kingstown. School, Sherborne (The Rev. E. M. Young). Matric. Michs. 1883. Adm. at Hertford College, Oxford; Scholar, 1887. Ord. deacon (Lichfield) 1892; priest, 1893; C. of Newport, Salop, 1892-4. C. of St Andrew’s, Wolverhampton, 1895-7. C. of Hawarden, Flints., 1897-9. C. of Mitcham, Surrey, 1899-1901. C. of Lewisham, Kent, 1900-2. V. of Hither Green, 1902-8. C. of St Mary-le-Bow, 1910-15. V. of St Andrew’s, South Wimbledon, 1915-24. Latterly of Sanderstead, South Croydon. Died June 8, 1931. Brother of Michael T. (1874). (Sherborne Reg.; The Times, June 15, 1931.)

Alumni Oxonienses: Roberts, John Drew, born at Kingstown, co. Dublin, 1864; 2s. Michael, fellow Trinity coll, Dublin, and professor of mathematics of Dublin university. Hertford, matric. 15 Feb., [18]87, aged 23 (from Sherborne school and Sidney Sussex college, Cambridge, matric. 22 Oct., 83), scholar 86.

BCM, July 1931, p316: “Several of the leading papers noted the death of the Rev. J. Drew Roberts, who died after an operation. He played for Cambridge in the ‘Varsity match of 1886 [actually 1885 – JS], but in the following year he won the Hertford Scholarship and played for Oxford! That a player should represent Oxford and Cambridge respectively in two successive Inter-Varsities matches is probably a record.” [Roberts’ later appearance for Oxford was NOT in the Varsity Match proper but in other matches including the 1887 match between past members of OUCC and the current OUCC team – JS]

John Ouvry Lindfield Roberts (22 September 1925 – 19 October 1999). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity match 1946, the unofficial matches of 1944 and 1945, and the notable 1944 Oxford University vs Bletchley match. Doctor. Born in Abergavenny, Wales. Died in London whilst on vacation, having emigrated to Canada.

Henry Edwin Robinson (Oct/Nov/Dec 1865 – 2¶ January 1935). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge (n.b. listed as ‘non-collegiate’ when he played the 1886 Varsity match). Varsity matches 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890. Clergyman. Rector of Little Stanmore (Whitchurch, Middlesex) from 1897-1915. Later rector, Tingrith, Bedfordshire, 1915-35. (¶ The Times obit, published 4 January 1935, gives 3 January 1935, but probate record gives 2 January 1935)

Cambridge University Alumni: “Matric. Non. Coll., Easter, 1884. Adm. at ST CATHARINE’S, Oct. 11, 1886; B.A. 1889; M.A. 1893. Ord. deacon, 1890; priest (Rochester), 1891; C. of Christchurch, Streatham, Surrey, 1890-7. R. of Little Stanmore (or Whitchurch), Middlesex, 1897-1915. R. of Tingrith, Beds., 1915-35. Died Jan. 3, 1935; buried at Whitchurch. (Crockford; The Times, Jan. 4, 1935.)”

James Reginald Wyndham Robinson (December 1880 – 7 March 1919). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1901, 1902. 2nd Class, Classical Mods., 1901. Occ. junior clerk, civil service (Colonial Office), 1911. From 1916, was private secretary to Sir George Vaudeleur Fiddes, Permanent Under-Secretary of State.

Peter David Robinson ( ). Queen’s College, Oxford, Varsity match 1955. Educ. King Edward VII School, Sheffield. Open Scholarship, mathematics, 1950. State scholarship, 1951. Was reserve for the 1954 Varsity chess match. Played for Sussex in the 1960s, when he was listed as Dr PD Robinson.

Sir Robert Robinson (13 September – 8 February 1975). Magdalen College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity chess match but represented Oxford University in various chess matches, including the notable Oxford University vs Bletchley match in 1944. Eminent chemist and Nobel laureate. Keen chess player. President of the British Chess Federation from 1950–53. Authored a chess book in collaboration with Raymond B Edwards: The Art and Science of Chess (Batsford, 1972). Wikipedia.

Basil Rose (15 September 1918 – 16 March 2014). Jesus College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1940. Nuclear physicist at the UK Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell.

Henry Delacombe Roome (16 May 1882 – 8 June 1930). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity Matches 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905. Lawyer, Treasury Counsel.

BCM, July 1930, p230: “It was a great shock to his friends when the death was reported on June 8th, at Retford (Notts) Hospital, of Henry Delacombe Roome, aged only forty-eight. A distinguished Treasury counsel, Mr. Roome was educated at Winchester and at Merton College, Oxford. He played chess for his university for four years, 1902—1905, beating B. Goulding Brown on board 3, losing to H. Bateman on board 2, drawing with B. Goulding Brown on board 1, and losing to G. Leatham on board 1. He also played in the cable match against the American Universities in 1903, losing on the 4th board to —. Richardson, of Princetown.

“The cause of his death was a motor accident on June 6th, when on a holiday tour with his wife. A tyre burst, and the car overturned, Mrs. Roome was happily spared, but her husband died after an operation had been performed.

“A Cambridge friend of twenty-eight years writes : Though the obituary notice may have been correct which expressed the view that Roome’s chief quality as a lawyer was soundness, the remark made elsewhere about “his abundance of caution” as a chessplayer was certainly wrong. Ingenuity was his chief chess characteristic, and he was often unsound; but he played his unsound attacks with compelling confidence, and he did possess abundant resource.

“As a friend, the sweet features, the caressing voice, the graceful gestures, the quiet dignity, the whole gracious personality will never be forgotten. He was one of those whom the Greeks called Charieis. Requiescat in pace. He was a kind man, and a wise, and a good.”

Arthur Reed Ropes (23 December 1859 – 14 September 1933). King’s College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but represented Cambridge University in other matches in the 1890s, is referenced in other Varsity material and received a fulsome obituary in BCM, October 1933, p416, thus: “Arthur Reed Ropes, president of Sydenham Chess Club, died on September 14 [1933], at his home in Church Street, Kensington. He was widely known under his pen name of Adrian Ross, for he had written the lyrics for many popular musical comedies. He was a man of wonderfully broad vision and wide interests. Born on December 23, 1889 [misprint – the correct year was 1859], at Lewisham, he learned the moves of chess at the age of nine from his uncle, W. C. Gillibrand, whose home was at Albyns, Essex. He was educated at Priory House School, Clapton, Mill Hill School, City of London School, and King’s College, Cambridge. He played for the University and later for Athenaeum, Sydenham, and Kent County, and won the championship of Sydenham and Forest Hill C.C. in the nineties. He described himself as an author, and his publications include Poems, 1884; Short History of Europe, Lady Mary Worthy Montague’s Letters, On Peter’s Island, and The Hole in the Pit. In 1881 he was awarded the Chancellor’s medal for English verse and the members’ prize for English essay. He was bracketed eleventh Wrangler in 1882. History was one of his great subjects, and he specialised on Frederick the Great. But he has left a deep mark on the lighter side of poetry as represented in lyrical verse, and may be heard in Morocco Bound, San Toy, A Country Girl, The Cingalee, The Merry Widow, The Dollar Princess, The Quaker Girl, Gipsy Love, Monsieur Beaucaire, Lilac Time. One of his favourite jokes about his chess position was that the Sydenham Club elected him president because he was able to fill the chair better than any other member of the club (a reference to his actual size, being squarely built and broad !). His death leaves a gap in the ranks of Chess, Poetry, Music, Mathematics and History.”

Herbert Jennings Rose (5 May 1883, Orillia, Ontario, Canada – 31 July 1961, St Andrews, Scotland). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908. Classical scholar, university professor, author on Greek mythology. Educ: private tuition; Collegiate Institute, Ottawa; McGill University, Montreal (1st class honours, classics, 1904). Rhodes scholar. Double first, Greats, Oxford. Fellow and lecturer, Exeter College, Oxford, 1907. Associate professor, McGill University, 1911-1915. WW1 service as private, Canadian light infantry, 1915-19. Professor of Latin, Aberystwyth, 1919-1927; Professor of Greek at St Andrews, 1927-1953. Drew with Capablanca in a cable chess match three days before playing top board in the 1907 Varsity match. Wikipedia.

BCM, September 1961, p254: “We learn with regret the death of Prof. H. J. Rose, Professor of Greek in the University of St. Andrews from 1927 until his retirement in 1953, at the age of 78, on July 31st last. A native of Orillia, Ontario, he graduated at McGill University, Montreal, in 1904, and later came to Balliol College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. He played for Oxford and was top board of the Oxbridge team in the 1907 Cable Match against Harvard, Yale, and Columbia when he drew his game with J. R. Capablanca.”

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Alexander George Gordon Ross (13 April 1866 – 10 May 1938). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1887, 1889. Educ. Eton College. Clergyman. President, British Chess Federation, 1921-38.

BCM, June 1938, p259: We much regret to report that Canon A. G. Gordon Ross, President of the British Chess Federation, died suddenly at Oxford on 10th May [1938]. Only those in close touch with the working of the Federation will know how great a loss chess has sustained, but a very large number of players to whom he had endeared himself by his integrity, benevolence and administrative ability, will feel a deep sense of loss.

For 45 years he was Vicar of St. Mark’s, Swindon, and was wonderfully popular throughout Wiltshire. His lifelong hobby was chess and he was a strong player in his younger days.

When the British Chess Federation was formed in 1904 he entered wholeheartedly into the work and took the chair at the inaugural meeting; it was largely owing to his tact and personality that the difficult negotiations were carried through with a minimum of friction.

It is interesting to recall the words of the late A. E. Moore at the close of the meeting at Holborn Restaurant on 4th July, 1903, when the British Chess Federation was founded. He said: “I have a pleasant duty to perform which I should like to undertake now, and that is to propose that the very best thanks of everyone present be tendered to Mr. Ross for his most excellent services before and at this meeting. I have had a long experience of chairmen at chess meetings, but I have never had the privilege and pleasure of sitting under a chairman who has conducted a meeting with such admirable tact and patience as Mr. Ross has this afternoon.”

In a letter written in September last [1937] the late Canon said: “Till then (founding of the B.C.F.) I was completely provincial. Mr. [Arthur] Schomberg, Hon. Sec. of S.C.C.U., said, ‘Let me nominate you as Vice-President and you will automatically succeed as President next year – there is nothing to do!’ Under that condition I accepted, and thought it would be pleasant to get to know chess players and that experience of chairmanship would be useful parochially.

He was appointed Chairman of Committee, and held that post till the death of Sir John Thursby in 1921, when he was unanimously elected President. He was a hard working official and always spent as many days as possible at the Annual Congress. His presence was invaluable to the Congress Controller, and he usually spent the whole of the last two days in bringing the scores up to date and writing out the cheques and prizes.

His generosity in subscribing to all tournaments and meetings is well known. Each year he gave £50 for the Annual Congress, and never failed to support any additional enterprise such as the Folkestone Team Tournament when he added £100 to his opening gift.

What he has done privately to help chess players in trouble will never be known, but a list of his gifts would surprise even those who knew him well. He was always identified with the Wiltshire Chess Association and helped that body through many difficult seasons.

The sudden death of this great chess worker is a heavy blow to the progress of the game, but he has left an example which all future officials should gratefully follow. It is impossible to describe the personal loss to those who knew him intimately. R.H.S.S[tevenson].

Who Was Who: ROSS, Rev. Alexander George Gordon.
Educ: New College, Oxford (MA); Wells College. Work: Ordained, 1891; curate of St Mark’s, 1891-1903; Vicar of St Mark’s, Swindon, 1903-37; Hon. Canon of Bristol, 1909-37, Canon Emeritus since 1937. Address: Newnham Court, Maidstone, Kent. Died 10 May 1938.

Alumni Oxonienses: ROSS, Alexander George Gordon, 2s. Alexander Henry, of London, arm. New Coll., matric. 16 Oct.,. 1885, aged 19.

Oxford Men and their Colleges, 1880-92: ROSS, rev. Alexander George Gordon, born in London 13 April, 1866; 2s. Alexander Henry, major and M.P. Maidstone, deceased. New Coll., matric. 16 Oct., 85, aged 19 (from Eton), B.A. 89 (Honours:—3 mathematical mods. 87, 2 theology 89); curate of St. Mark, New Swindon, 91.

Leon Rosselson (born 22 June 1934, Harrow, Middlesex). Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1954, 1955, 1956. Educ. William Ellis School, London. Songwriter, folk singer, children’s writer. Wikipedia. Played for Hampstead CC, and later Willesden & Brent CC, in London team chess and also represented Middlesex in county chess. Active in chess from 1949 to 1957 and then again from 1972 to 1978. Took part in the 1957 Bognor Regis International, scoring 5½/10. Peak BCF grade of 3b (equivalent to 201-208 or 2208-2260) in 1957. Collection of games at BritBase. Comments on chess in his blog (2019).

Klaus Friedrich Roth (29 October 1925 – 10 November 2015). Jesus College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1944. German-born British mathematician and first British winner of the Fields Medal. After Cambridge, research at UCL. Professor at University College London in 1961, and moved to a chair at Imperial College London in 1966, a position he retained until official retirement at 1988. He then remained at Imperial College as Visiting Professor until 1996. Wikipedia. Published problemist – BCM, Jan 1945, p28, also endgame studies. (Imperial College obit, 2015)

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BCM, 1951, pps 225, 240, 305. “[After Cambridge Roth] became a junior master at Gordonstoun, where he divided his spare time between roaming the Scottish countryside on a powerful motorcycle and playing chess with Robert Combe. On the first day of the first British Chess Championships after the war, Klaus famously went up to Hugh Alexander, the reigning champion, to tell him that he would not retain his title. He was of course right—the previously largely unknown Robert Combe became the new British Champion.”

Noel James Roughton (25 December 1885, London – 14 July 1953, Kenya). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908. Educ. Winchester. Civil servant, India and Kenya.

BCM, August 1953, p212: “An older generation of home chess-players will probably recall the name of N. J. Roughton who died suddenly in Kenya, after an operation, on July 14th [1953]. He was sixty-six years of age. Noel J. Roughton had a brilliant academic career at Winchester and at New College, Oxford, and in 1908 he captained the Varsity side in the annual match against Cambridge. In the same year he also took top board in the various matches which the combined University side played against the leading London clubs, in the course of which he recorded wins against R. P. Michell and J. H. Blake and a draw against W. Ward. He also played at top board for the Combined Universities in the cable match against the American Universities in 1908, winning his game. Soon after this he joined the Indian Civil Service and thus England lost the services of one who would otherwise undoubtedly have left his mark on British chess. He nevertheless retained an active interest in the game and participated in various home tournaments whenever these coincided with periods of home leave. Amongst these may be mentioned the Victory Congress at Hastings in 1919 and the British Championship Tournament at Scarborough in 1927. While in India he made the acquaintance of the brilliant Indian player M. Sultan Khan, with whom he contested many games, and it was mainly through Roughton’s representations to the B.C.F. that Sultan Khan was selected to play in the British Championship in 1930; a tournament which he won, thereby introducing a new star on the horizon of master chess. He came to Kenya in 1947 and was President of the Nairobi Chess Club until the time of his death. He won the European Championship of Kenya in 1951 – the last occasion when this was contested. Roughton was a modest and unassuming man with an extremely pleasing personality. He possessed a first-class brain and as a chess-player was, in his day, undoubtedly in the very first flight of British amateurs. His style was sound, combined with a vivid imagination and he possessed a very thorough theoretical knowledge of the game in all departments. He liked an open game and once confided to the writer that he had never opened a game with 1 P-Q4 in his life! His active participation in the game continued to the very end and the present writer is proud to think that he contested with him what were to prove the last games of his career. He was a life-long subscriber to the “B.C.M.” Like so many chess-players, he was also, in his day, a bridge-player of more than average ability. He leaves a widow and one son, resident in Kenya, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy. – B. Barton-Eckett.

India Office List 1933: ROUGHTON, Noel James, C.I.E., B.A. Indian C.S. [financial secretary. to govt., Central Provs.) (b 25th Dec., 1885).—Educ. at Winchester, and New Coll., Oxford; apptd. after exam, of 1908; arrived 22nd Nov., 1909 and served in the Central Provs. as asst, commr.; regr., judl. commr.’s court, July,. 1913; under-sec. to chief commr., Jan. 1918 to March, 1919; dep. commr. (provl.) Dec., 1920; eonfd., Nov., 1921 ; dir. of industries and regr. of co-op. societies, Central Provs., July, 1923 ; dep. sec. to govt, of India commerce dept., June, 1925 ; finl. secty. to govt., C.P., April, 1928; C.I.E., Jan., 1933.

Walter William Rouse Ball (14 August 1850 – 4 April 1925). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877. Mathematician, lawyer, magician. Fellow, Trinity, Cambridge (1878-1905). Founding president of the Cambridge University Pentacle Club in 1919. Wikipedia.

Franklin Ferriss Russell (2 March 1891 – 29 March 1978). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1912, 1913, 1914. Born New York, died Englewood NJ, USA. Who Was Who in America, Vol. VII, 1977-81, p. 1968 (Gaige) “Franklin F Russell was a Rhodes Scholar from the USA, at Brasenose College, Oxford… from Brooklyn High School, and came up to Oxford with a chess reputation already made.” (A Century of British Chess) Publ. Outline of Legal History. New York: Russell, 1929. FF Russell letter to BCM, publ. March 1957, p59: mentioned how he nearly played Bonar Law in 1914. “I still play some ‘skittles’ and keep up with the news through your magazine”. Leonard Barden (writing to JS in May 2021): “A few weeks before the 1978 Varsity match I received a letter from FF Russell recalling his own participation in 1912-14. He told me that Oxford had at that time unsuccessfully applied to the Blues Committee for award of half-blues but were rebuffed, so decided to wear ties at the match with their own creation of representative colours. I replied that over the years there had been many such unsuccessful applications, including in my own time, when Oxford were National Club champions, British lightning team champions (Ilford 1953) and had very large numbers of active players (100 teams of 3 in Cuppers). We had hopes of success, but as on all other occasions the Blues Committee turned down the application pronto. Russell then sent a packet of representative colour ties for each member of the team, with one for me and maybe one for Henry Mutkin. Alas, on the day only two or three of the Oxford players wore their ties. I reported this to Russell, but am not sure whether my letter reached him before he died that same month.” Chess Notes 7160 on Russell (with a photo)

Arthur Rutherford (4 January 1866 – Oct/Nov/Dec 1958). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity match 1886. Born in Liverpool and educ. Great Crosby School. Originally matriculated at Worcester College, Oxford, 19 October 1882, but then won a scholarship at Brasenose, 1883-85, exhibition in 1885 and B.A. 1886. Called to the bar but subsequently worked as a solicitor. Had two chessplaying brothers; William Watson Rutherford (1852-1927), who became Lord Mayor of Liverpool, a Conservative MP and was awarded a baronetcy, was a member of Liverpool CC (obit, BCM, January 1928, p39), later becoming its president, awarding the Rutherford Cup for the club championship; and Charles Henry Rutherford (1858-1930) who was also a Liverpool CC member. Arthur was Liverpool CC champion in 1895. County chess for Lancashire. He and his brother Sir (William) Watson Rutherford both played in the 1893 North vs South chess match. Post WW1 Arthur Rutherford appears to have moved south to London and later Surrey. Arthur was due to play in the 1927 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match but defaulted. Arthur Rutherford appears in the 1932 group photo with Alekhine, Sultan Khan, Vera Menchik, etc. Living in Stoneleigh, Epsom, Surrey in 1939 and died in Surrey in 1958. Further info on the Rutherford family at Yorkshire Chess History.

Alumni Oxonienses: Rutherford, Arthur, born at Crosby, co. Lanc., 4 Jan., 1866; 5s. William, gen. Worcester, matric. 19 Oct., 82, aged 16 (from Great Crosby school); scholar Brasenose 83-5, B.A. 86 (Honours: 1 mathematical mods. 84, 1 mathematics 86); bar.-at-law, Middle Temple, 90.

Dr Vickerman Henzell Rutherford (6 December 1860 – 25 April 1934). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but appeared in Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past matches. Dermatologist and Liberal politician. MP for Brentford between 1906 and 1910. Later switched to the Labour Party. Wikipedia. Educ. Royal High School, Edinburgh. Took part in a subsidiary tournament of the 1925 BCF Championship.

Henry Alec Samuels (born abt 1930). Magdalene College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1951, 1952. Educ. Selhurst Grammar School, Croydon. Better known as Alec Samuels – played in the 1958 British Chess Championship – see English Chess Forum comments by Leonard Barden. Played for Bournemouth CC. University lecturer, Southampton University.

Wilfrid Edward Sandbach (30 July 1908 – 28 November 1993). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1928, 1929, 1930. Educ. King Edward’s School, Birmingham. Matriculated 1927. Schoolmaster, Leys School, Cambridge, straight from university in 1930. School friend of Hugh Alexander and they played both chess and table tennis together. Cambridge University table tennis champion. Taught German. (The Leys Fortnightly, 12 July 1968). Squadron-Leader, RAF Intelligence Branch, WW2 (1941-46).

Peter Darrell Sanderson (4 July 1934 – 15 December 2013). Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, Varsity matches 1953, 1954, 1955. Read Natural Sciences (physics) at Cambridge. Joint 1952 British Under-18 Champion. Represented England in the 1952 Glorney Cup. Leicestershire and Rutland Chess Association Open County Champion: 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1981. Educ. Ashby de la Zouch Grammar School.

William Courtney Sandford (3 December 1870 – 15 August 1925). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1890, 1892. Educ. Felsted School, Essex. Occ. barrister; farmer. Took part in the New Zealand chess championship whilst living there in 1903/04. Played for Imperial CC in the 1920s.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: William Courtenay Sandford QUEENS’ Michs. 1889 Died: 18 Aug 1925 Adm. at QUEENS’, Oct. 1889. [6th] s. of the Rev. George (1836) (and Elizabeth Anne, eldest dau. of the Rev. Henry Barlow). B. Dec. 3, 1870, at Sheffield. School, Felsted. Matric. Michs. 1889; Scholar, 1890; B.A. 1892. Sometime farming in New Zealand. Called to the Bar (Inner Temple), Apr. 24, 1907. On the North Eastern Circuit. Chairman of the Courts of Referees, under the National Unemployment Act. Married, Dec. 9, 1905, Caroline Hamilton, only dau. of William Hawkins Herbert, of Paradise House, Painswick, Gloucs., and had issue. Died Aug. 18, 1925. Brother of Folliott G. (1880) and Francis B. (1883). (Felsted Sch. Reg.; Law Lists; Fox-Davies, Armorial Families; Burke, L.G.; The Times, Dec. 11, 1905.)

BCM, October 1925, p404: News of the death of W. C. Sandford came as a painful shock to members of the Imperial Chess Club, of which he was champion in 1923. Mr Sandford played fifth board in the Cambridge University team of 1892 (with H. E Atkins at board 1) and won his game v. G. A. Heginbotham [sic]. Soon after he went to New Zealand and became a close friend of F. K. Kelling. Returning to England after the war he joined the Imperial and City of London Chess Club and played for Lewisham St Mary’s in the London League.

Frederick James Saunders (22 November 1886 – 27 March 1985). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1909, 1910. Educ. City of London School. Won a classical scholarship/exhibition, 1905. Son of G[eorge] W Saunders [law publisher’s stock-keeper], 32 Hawkstone Rd, Rotherhithe, SE. 1st Class 3rd Div, Classical Tripos, 2nd Class, Mediaeval & Modern Languages Tripos, 1910. (City of London School Record). Became a baptist minister in Somerset (Hatch Green).

Hans Georg Artur Viktor Schenk (6 April 1912 – 22 August 1979). Exeter College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity match 1942. (He also took part in the notable 1944 match between Oxford University and the Bletchley Park code-breakers) History academic. D.Phil., M.A. (Oxon). Came to Oxford from Prague in 1939. Prior to then he had studied at Prague and Munich universities and later at The Hague. Author of historical works. 1939 – researching into international relations (European romanticism) at Exeter College, Oxford, taking his D.Phil. in 1944. 1949 – appointed lecturer, Oxford University. 1995 – fellow, University College, Oxford. 1968 – founding fellow (and later Dean) of Wolfson College, Oxford. In his 1947 book The Aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars (Oxford University Press), Schenk credited Peter Copping (board 4 in the 1942 match) with helping him with his English style. Strong chess player who took part in the 1939 Hampstead Invitational, the 1946 BCF Major Open (Section 3) and 1947 BCF Premier. Seems to have played less into the 1950s. In 1935 he beat Capablanca in a simul in Prague. Died in 1979 in Nice/Marseilles, France. Primary biographical source (in German).

Leonard Barden comments: “Hans was lecturer in European History at Exeter College, Oxford. He dearly wanted to be a professor but it was never awarded. His 1966 book The Mind of the European Romantics can still be found online.

“Hans had lived in Prague pre-war and knew Salo Flohr, so when the USSR team came here in 1947 he made a trip to London hoping for a reunion chat. But this was the occasion when Levenfish met [Dr Paul M] List for the first time since Carlsbad 1911, their reunion was seen by the security man, and Levenfish was barred permanently from travel. Probably Flohr knew that, so he terminated the reunion with Hans after a couple of minutes.

“Hans was Oxfordshire champion in 1948 and played in the Hastings Premier Reserves Major along with Horne, DB Scott and myself in 1948-9. He played on a high board in Oxfordshire’s teams which won the inter-county title in 1951 and 1952. He was the university club President and took an active and friendly interest in my own career.  A charming man. When I failed Latin in my second term and was threatened with expulsion, his wife¶ gave me cramming during the summer so that I passed. He died on a trip to France in the 1970s when they were having an al fresco lunch and Hans suddenly complained of a headache and died within a few minutes.” 

Here is the score of Hans Schenk’s 1935 simul win against Capablanca:

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(¶ Leonard knew Schenk’s wife as Hazel – marriage records show her maiden name was Joyce Marjorie Hazell – she married Schenk in Brentford in 1944. Joyce/Hazel died in 2007, aged 88. Hans Schenk’s 1939 address was 86C Banbury Road, Oxford. At the time of his death his address was 4 Capel Close, Summertown, Oxford.)

Arthur Schomberg (4 October 1847 – 7 March 1924). Oriel College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but I think he (rather than his younger brother Reginald) played in the 1894 Oxford Past v Cambridge Past match. Occ. none. Involved in organising chess in Wiltshire, circa 1900. Hon. sec. of the county association and of the SCCU. (BCM, 1896)

Alumni Oxonienses: Schomberg, Arthur, 2s. Joseph Trigge, of Kensington, Middlesex, arm. Oriel Coll., matric. 29 Oct, 1867, aged 20.

Reginald Brodrick Schomberg (23 February 1849 – 21 March 1932). New College, Oxford. Varsity match 1873. Barrister, married to Frances Sophia (1839–1922), daughter of Thomas Charles Morris, gentleman, of Llansteffan and his wife, Mary… Roman Catholic … had converted while a student at New College, Oxford… family home in Upper Richmond Road in south-west London. (From the DNB notes to Schomberg, Reginald Charles Francis (1880-1958), army officer and explorer, son of RB Schomberg – sister Mary). Elder brother Arthur Schomberg was also a chess player who represented Oxford University.

Alumni Oxonienses: Schomberg, Reginald Brodrick, 3s. Joseph Trigge,of Chelsea, Middlesex, gent. New Coll., matric. 18 Oct., 1867, aged 18; B.A. 1871, bar.-at-law, Lincoln’s Inn. 187s. See Foster’s Men at the Bar.

George Adolphus [Augustus¶] Schott (25 January 1868 – 15 July 1937). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1887, 1888. Professor, scientist, author. FRS 1922; BA Cantab., DSc London; b Bradford, Yorks; m 1913; one d. Educ: Bradford Grammar School; private schools. Went to Aberystwyth as Demonstrator of Physics, 1893; Head (Professor) of the Department of Applied Mathematics, 1909-33; Vice-Principal, 1933-34; adjudged the Adams Prize of Cambridge University, 1909. Publications: Translation of vol. i of Hertz’s Collected Papers (with D. E. Jones), 1896; Electromagnetic Radiation, 1912; [etc]. Recreations: chess, golf, music. (Who’s Who)

Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society Vol. 2, No. 7 (January 1939), pp. 451-454: “Outside mathematics, Schott had many gifts. He was a brilliant pianist, almost of professional standard. He spoke at least three languages fluently. He had a great gift for sketching, and at chess he was capable of playing a game with a friend when walking out together. Out of doors he was a great walker and played a good game of golf.” (¶ the FRS obituary gives his name as George Augustus Schott)

Whilst still living in Bradford, he played in various chess competitions between 1887 and 1891. Whilst living in Aberystwyth, he took part in the 1895 British Amateur Championship at Hastings and the 1898 and 1899 Craigside Llandudno tournaments. Yorkshire Chess History.

Guy Edgar Schubert (4 June 1922 – 24 May 1943). Trinity College Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1941 (but may have defaulted his game. Born Sofia, Bulgaria. Lived at 37 Trinity Street, Cambridge, in 1941. “SCHUBERT – Previously reported missing from air operations, now known to have lost his life in May, 1943, and buried with his crew in Holland, GUY EDGAR SCHUBERT, B.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, R.A.F., aged 20, dearly beloved elder son of G[eza] O[tto] Schubert and Vera Schubert, and brother of Reginald, of Castle Field, Calne, Wiltshire.” (14-12-1943, Andrews Newspaper Index Card) Rank: Sergeant Trade: Pilot Service No:1334705 Date of Death:24/05/1943 Age:20 Regiment/Service:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 78 Squadron. (Flying a Halifax bomber) Grave Reference: Row B. Coll. grave 3-7. Cemetery: WIERDEN GENERAL CEMETERY.

David Bernard Schultz (later Scott) (27 August 1915 – 7 November 1993). Magdalene College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938. Born London, died Hove, Sussex. Mathematics professor. Biography, London Mathematical Society. David Bernard Schultz later changed his name to David Bernard Scott (and became a professor). He was a cousin of Leonard Richenberg who played in the 1941-42 and 1946-48 Varsity matches. Lecturer in Mathematics, Queen Mary’s College, London 1939-46; Lecturer in Mathematics, Aberdeen University 1947; Lecturer in Mathematics, King’s College London 1947-53, Reader 1953- 62; Professor of Mathematics, Sussex University 1962-80 (Emeritus); married 1939 Barbara Noel Smith (four sons; marriage dissolved 1972); died Hove 7 November 1993. He was the founding Professor of Mathematics at Sussex University, from 1962 to 1980, and the Independent’s first chess writer. [Independent obit, 18 Dec 1993]

Obituary in BCM, Dec 1993, p677: “We report with regret the death of D. B. Scott (London, 27.viii.1915 – Hove, 7.xi. 1993) a player prominent in Middlesex and Sussex circles. He was a mathematician who graduated from Cambridge, held posts at the University of London from 1939 onwards and founded the maths department at the University of Sussex, where he was professor from 1962 to 1980.
A member of the Hampstead club, he helped R. C. Griffith keep the BCM afloat during the war by contributing game notes (including a win of his against Winter) and was Sussex Champion in 1965. I recall him telling of a wonderful occasion for him when, at a pre-war Margate tournament, Capablanca made an observation about his game of that day, then sat down to show a missed winning method and then duly refuted suggestions from a voice at the back of the crowd which happened to come from … Flohr! Resident in Hastings since 1987, Bernard Scott was very helpful and friendly in many ways. He attended some of the Kasparov-Short games and wished to reconcile Tony Miles and Ray Keene at that time. B[ernard].C[afferty].”

David Bernard Scott – see David Bernard Schultz

Laurence Prestwich Scott (10 June 1909 – 2 September 1983). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1931. Newspaper publisher. Succeeded to the chairmanship of the Manchester Guardian and Evening News Ltd on the death of his father John Russell Scott in 1949, and as a grandson of Charles Prestwich Scott, editor of the Manchester Guardian from 1871 to 1932, was of the third and last generation of the family to preside over the fortunes of the paper and company. Founding director of Anglia TV, 1958-80. [DNB] Educ. Rugby School. Degree in economics.

Napier Baliol Scott (25 December 1903 – 19 September 1956). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1923, 1924, 1925. Civil servant. The Times obituary, 24 September 1956: “Mr N. Baliol Scott – Expert Organizer – Mr. N. Baliol Scott, who died recently at the age of 52 as the result of a road accident, had been an under-secretary at the Minister of Supply for the past four years or so first as Director of Organization and Methods and latterly in charge of the general division. Napier Baliol Scott was born on December 25, 1903, the elder son of Edward Baliol Scott, of the ancient family of Scott of Scot’s Hall, Smeeth, Kent, which traces its descent from John de Baliol, founder of Balliol College, Oxford, and father of John Baliol, King of Scotland. He was educated at Westminster and was elected to an exhibition to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1922, where he graduated in 1926. He was an excellent chess player and represented Oxford against Cambridge in 1925…” Mentioned in the BCF Hon.Sec’s report 1956, published in the 1956/57 BCF Yearbook (p16). Also in BCM, Oct 1956, p286: “We regret to report the death of the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Supply, Mr. Balliol Scott. He died on September 19th [1956] as a result of injuries received in collision with a motor vehicle on a pedestrian crossing. As President of the Ministry of Supply Chess Club he was greatly esteemed and his death has come as a great shock to those who knew him.”

Frederick George Scovell (16 March 1869 – 8 March 1951). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1891, 1892. Educ. Charterhouse. Occ. clergyman. Played chess for Somerset, the Church Institute CC and later Sharrow in the Sheffield Chess League. Father of the poet E. J. (Edith Joy) Scovell (1907-1999).

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Frederick George Scovell QUEENS’ Michs. 1889 Born: 16 Mar 1869 Adm. pens. at QUEENS’, Michs. 1889. S. of Augustus Charles (Christ Church, Oxford, 1851) (and Annabella Barrington, dau. of Capt. Vincent Frederick Kennett, of Dorchester, Oxon.). B. Mar. 16, 1869, in London. School, Charterhouse. Matric. Michs. 1889; B.A. 1892; M.A. 1896. Ord. deacon (Worcester) 1893; priest, 1894; C. of Halesowen, Worcs., 1893-6. C. of Bath Abbey, 1896-1901. C. of Doncaster, 1901-3. V. of St Andrew’s, Sharrow, Sheffield, 1903-15. Hon. Canon of Sheffield, 1927. R. of Rawmarsh, Yorks., 1915-47. Married, July 22, 1903, Edith, dau. of Charles Hall, of New Zealand. Latterly of Cromwell House, Ely, Cambs. Died Mar. 8, 1951, at Lincoln. (Charterhouse Reg.; Crockford; Yorkshire Who’s Who; The Times, Mar. 13, 1951.)

Douglas Liston Secretan (14 August 1870 – 29 September 1957). Pembroke College, Oxford. Varsity match 1893. Educ. Merchant Taylor’s School; Eastbourne College. Occ. clergyman. Ord. deacon, 1895, ord. priest 1896 (Chich.). curate, Brighton, Sussex, from 1895. Vicar of Crawley Down. Later Rector of Balcombe.

Oxford Men and Their Colleges: Secretan, Douglas Liston, born at Selhurst, Surrey, 1871; 2s. Philip, gen. Pembroke, matric. 28 Jan., 90, aged 19, from Eastbourne coll.

Philip Walsingham Sergeant (27 January 1872 – 20 October 1952). Trinity College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895. Professional writer on chess and other popular historical subjects. One of his most important works was A Century of British Chess (1934), which has been of inestimable value in compiling these Varsity chess records. His father Lewis was also a strong player who introduced his son to many important chess people. Educ. St Paul’s School, London. Read Classics at Oxford. Defeated Capablanca in a simul in 1913. Second cousin of the strong English amateur player Edward Guthlac Sergeant. Wikipedia. Sergeant’s non-chess books (listed at Chess Notes)

Oxford Alumni: “Sergeant, Philip Walsingham, born in London 27 Jan., 1872; 1s. Lewis, author. Trinity, matric. 17 Oct., 1891, aged 19 (from St. Paul’s school), scholar 89; Honours :—1 classical mods. 93.”

Harold Seward (10 October 1862 – 14 October 1903). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1884. Educ. Liverpool Institute, where he was head boy (1880). Open scholarship to Balliol, 1878. Occ. civil servant (deputy examiner, Patent Office). F.R.A.S. (Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society). Class 2, Natural Sciences, 1883. Class 1, Final Mathematical School, 1884.

Alumni Oxonienses: Seward, Harold, 1s. James, of Wigan, Lancashire, gent. Balliol Coll., matric. 21 Oct., 1880, aged 18; scholar 1880-4, B.A. 1883.

William Alexander (Campbell) Shearer (30 April 1863 – 4 November 1910). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity match 1884. Educ. Bradford Grammar School. Classical Scholarship to Exeter College. Occ. clergyman; headmaster (from 1897), Latymer School, Lower Edmonton, previously assistant master Merchant Taylor’s School, Crosby, Liverpool. Died following an accident on 3 November 1910 when he had fallen off his bicycle when a mudguard had broken and become entangled with a wheel. He sustained a fractured skull. (Chelmsford Chronicle – Friday 11 November 1910)

Alumni Oxonienses: Shearer, William Alexander, 1s. William Campbell, of Soham, co. Cambridge, cler. Exeter Coll., matric. 20 Oct, 1881, aged 18; scholar 1881-5, B.A. 1885.

John Cedric Shepherdson (7 June 1926 – 8 January 2015). Trinity College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1945. Educ. Manchester Grammar School. Mathematics professor, Bristol University. Bristol University obituary • British Academy obituary • St Andrews Obituary. Would have remained at Cambridge as a fellow of Trinity in 1946 but was pipped to the fellowship by another chessplayer, Peter Swinnerton-Dyer.

Philip L Sherman (30 March 1904, Whitechapel, London – 25 September 1961, Rome, Italy). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1925, 1926. Educ. Central Foundation School, London. Appointed senior maths master, Exeter College, Exeter, in 1928. Mathematician and economist. Travelled back and forth to USA and Canada, late 1940s and early 1950s.

Rev. Hugh William Sherrard (7 October 1862 – 6 February 1892). Non-Collegiate, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1883, 1884, 1885. Educ. Malvern College. Problemist.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Hugh William. Sherrard Entered: Michs. 1880 Matric. Non-Coll., Michs. 1880. S. of the Rev. Hugh [Sherard] (Trinity College, Dublin, B.A. 1849), R. of St Thomas’s, Stourbridge. School, Malvern College. B.A. 1884. Ord. deacon (Worcester) 1886; priest, 1887; C. of Yardley, Worcs., 1886-92. Died Feb. 6, 1892, aged 29, at Stechford. (Malvern Coll. Reg.; Crockford; The Guardian, Feb. 17, 1892.)

Harborne Herald – Saturday 13 February 1892: YARDLEY DEATH OF THE REV. HUGH WILLIAM SHERRARD. We regret to record the death of the curate of Yardley, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, after an illness dating back to Christmas Eve. He was in Birmingham on that day, which was a very cold and foggy day, and on his way homewards had such a sharp attack of inflammation of the lungs that he called at a doctor’s and had to remain there. His illness soon developed into such a serious phase as to cause great anxiety to his friends, and all hopes of his recovery seemed to be precluded. Mr. Sherrard had been curate of Yardley for a period of about four years, and was greatly liked in that parish. He was well known in Birmingham as a brilliant chess player, and the members of the Birmingham Chess Club will regret his loss in common with others who knew him and appreciated his character. Mr Sherrard was the eldest son of the Rev. Hugh Sherrard, vicar of St. Thomas’s, Stourbridge.

The Field, 20 February 1892: DEATH OF THE REV. H. W. SHERRARD.
It is with much regret that we have to record the death of the Rev. H. Sherrard, M.A., which occurred on Feb. 6, at Yardley, at the early age of 29 years. Mr Sherrard played for the first time for his University in the annual match against Oxford in 1883, and successfully subsequently.
He progressed rapidly, and upon leaving Cambridge he developed a taste for the composition of problems, in which speciality he excelled even more
than in the practical game. His compositions were of a superior style, original in idea, elegant in construction, and deep in design. He conternplated shortly before his untimely death the publication of a collection
of his problems, and it is to be hoped that he has left the MSS., so that his desire may be carried out.

Sir Robert Michael Simon (18 July 1850 – 22 Dec 1914).
Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge.
Varsity match 1873. Born in Hamburg, Germany.

Who was Who: Entered: Michs. 1870.
Died: 22 Dec 1914.
More Information: Adm. (age 20) at Caius College, Oct. 1, 1870. S. of Lewis, merchant, of Nottingham. B. at Hamburg. School, Uppingham. Matric. Michs. 1870; B.A. 1874; M.B. 1877; M.D. 1888. At Guy’s Hospital and Berlin. M.R.C.S., 1875; M.R.C.P., 1879; F.R.C.P., 1895. House Physician, Manchester South Hospital for diseases of women and children; Assistant Physician, Birmingham General Hospital, 1880; Physician there, 1891-1914. Professor of Medical Jurisprudence, Mason College, and subsequently Professor of Therapeutics at Birmingham University, 1910-14. Knighted, 1910. Served in the Great War (Lieut.-Col., R.A.M.C.). Married, 1887, Emily Maud, dau. of William Henry Willans, of Holland Park, W. Author, Diseases of Workers in Brass and Copper, etc. Died Dec. 22, 1914. (Uppingham Sch. Roll; Venn, II. 395; Univ. War List)

Kanwar Dalip Singh (2 June 1885 – 13 January 1971). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1905, 1906. Grandson of the Maharaja of Kapurthala and son of Harnam Singh (1851-1930) who was the first president of the All India Conference of Indian Christians, which played an important role in the Indian independence movement, advocating for self-rule and opposing the partition of India. The Hon Kunwar Sir Dalip Singh. b. 1885 at Kapurthala Palace, Badshah Bagh, Lucknow. Educ. Forman Christian Coll, Lahore; Pembroke Coll, Cambridge (BA), and Lincoln’s Inn, London. Barr-at-Law in private practice at the Lahore High Court 1912-1926, Sec Punjab Legislative Assembly 1921-1922, Assist Legal Remembrancer Punjab 1922-1924, Advocate-Gen Punjab 1924-1925, Additional Judge Lahore 1926-1930, Puisne Judge Lahore High Court 1930-1943, Presiding Officer of the Judicial Cttee and Judicial Adviser for the Mandi, Suket and Simla Hill States 1943-1946, Chair UN Cttee on the Progressive Development of International Law and its Codification 1946-1947, Legal & Treaties Advisor at the Ministry of External Affairs 1947, Agent-Gen for the GoI in Kashmir 1947. Trustee of “The Tribune” newspaper 1948-1963. Chair, Forman Christian Coll Brd of Directors, and Punjab Public Library. President, Punjab Lawn Tennis Assoc (PLTA) 1932. Vice-President, All-India Lawn Tennis Assoc. Sec Assoc of Commonwealth Univs (Lahore). Fellow, Punjab Library Assoc. Knighted (23.2.1943), Silver Jubilee (1935), Coronation (1937), and Indian Independence (1947) medals.
[source]

Rev. Arthur Bolland Skipworth (10 June 1830 – 27 November 1898). St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in the 1892 Cambridge Past v. Oxford Past match. Educ. Louth Grammar School. Occ. clergyman. Secretary of the British Counties’ Chess Association and editor of the Chess Players’ Chronicle. A notable chess player from the 1860s to the 1880s. Won the British Counties’ Chess Association Congress in 1865, 1869, 1871 and 1873.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Arthur Bolland Skipworth ST JOHN’S Michs. 1851 Died: 27 Nov 1898 Adm. at ST JOHN’S, May 17, 1851. S. of Philip, farmer, deceased, of Laceby, Lincs. B. there. [School, Louth Grammar.] Bapt. June 30, 1830. Matric. Michs. 1851. Migrated to St Catharine’s, Oct. 11, 1852; Scholar; B.A. 1856. Ord. deacon (Lincoln) June 7, 1857; priest, 1858; C. of Croxby, Lincs., 1857-60. V. of Bilsdale, Yorks., 1860-72. Inspector of Schools, dio. of Lincoln, 1872-5. R. of Tetford, Lincs., 1875-98. A noted chess player. Died Nov. 27, 1898, at Holbeck Hall, Horncastle, aged 68. Brother of the next and of Septimus P. (1856). (Boase, VI. 570; Crockford; The Times, Dec. 1, 1898; P. B. G. Binnall.)

Arthur Eric Smith (30 July 1908 – 25 May 1994). St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Varsity matches 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930. Became a clergyman – often referred to as Rev or Canon Smith in chess reports. Used his middle name Eric. Brought up in Sussex but played for Kent for many years before reverting to his native county. Keen OTB and correspondence player.

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George Ernest Smith (? – ?). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1914. Played in the 1930 and 1932 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past matches (a score of his win vs RH Newman is included in the record of the 1930 match). Because of his common name, I can’t be sure of any other details.

Harry Marsden Smith (13 July 1892, Bolton – 27 February 1917, St Quentin, Flanders). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity match 1914. Educ. Church Institute, Bolton. 2nd in Mathematics Mods, 1913. College soccer colours. Vice-President, Sundial Society 1913. WW1, 1914-1917: joined Oxford OTC, October 1914; 2nd Lt, 11th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. In France, 1915, attached to 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers. Twice wounded, first in February 1916, and more seriously later in the year, he was invalided home and promoted 1st Lieutenant. 30 January 1917 returned to France, 21 February 1917 re-entered the trenches. On 26 February, in the dark of morning, went out with a party to enter the German lines to gain information. He attained his object and was returning when he was hit and rendered unconscious by a bomb from a trench-mortar. Unable to regain lines. Died as a prisoner at the Feldlaz, St Quentin on 27 February 1917, of wounds received in action (aged 24). Corpus’s biographical note to him refers to ‘Henry’ but this appears to be incorrect. Bolton Church Institute Memorial. CWGC record.

Joseph Eric Smith (25 April 1910 – 19 August 1983). Queen’s College, Oxford. Varsity match 1933. Won a scholarship to read mathematics from Bradford Grammar School in 1928. Academic staff of the Glasgow Academy, 1945-46. A player referred to as JE Smith (Birmingham) was listed on the 1956 Grading List. In the 1968 New Year Honours List, the CBE was awarded to Joseph Eric Smith, headmaster, Sheldon Heath Comprehensive School, Birmingham. Played Dr JM Aitken on 13.11.1931 in the first round of the Oxford Major tournament.

Neil Henderson Smith (4 July 1896, Omaha, Rodney, Auckland, New Zealand – 11 January 1984, Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1920. Graduate of Auckland University. Occ. (pre-WW1) schoolteacher, Auckland Grammar School; (post-WW1) merchant. WW1 service from 1917; 27th Reinforcements, New Zealand Medical Corps. Member of the Bristol & Wessex Aeroplane Club, Filton, 1929.

Letter to his mother, 30 March 1917: Dear Mother, … By the way, if you want to know what an appallingly clever son you have got, look in the chess column of Sat 24ths Herald or of this last Weekly News. I have already reached one of those “periods of enforced inactivity” that the editor talks about.

Letter to his mother, 5 August 1917, on board ship whilst sailing to the UK:
Dear Mother,…  I have been playing chess practically every afternoon and evening with the commander of the boat – I mean the Naval Commander not the Military one. We are very even and he is as keen on chess as I am.  We ended up 46-45 in my favour.  I shall get his signature on the magazine I send you home with this.  You’ll probably recollect his name.  He is of South Pole fame. (Added in pencil) Did not get his sig. Forgot. It was Lt. Comm. Evans. [Admiral Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans (1880-1957) – Not to be confused with Edgar Evans of the ill-fated Scott polar party]

Harold John Snowden (5 April 1874 – 4 September 1950). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1893, 1894, 1895. Educ. St Paul’s School, London. Chartered accountant. Played in the BCF Congresses of 1909 (8th=, First-Class Amateur C) and 1924 (2nd=, First-Class A), and also at Margate 1939 (11th, Premier Reserves C).

Cambridge Alumni: “Snowden, Harold John. Adm. pens. at QUEENS’, Oct. 1892.
S. of the Rev. John Hampden (University College, Oxford, 1847), of the vicarage, Hammersmith.
B. Apr. 5, 1874, in London.
School, St Paul’s. Matric. Michs. 1892; B.A. 1895.
A chartered accountant. Of 2, Ravenna Road, Putney, where he died Sept. 4, 1950. Brother of Arthur de W. (1891).
(St Paul’s Sch. Reg.; The Times, Sept. 6, 1950.)

BCM, December 1950, p398: “Harold John SNOWDEN, B.A., F.C.A., died at Putney on Sept 3 [1950]. He was President of CUCC in the days when HE Atkins was Board 1, and for some years President of Lud Eagle CC.”

The Times, 6 September 1950: “SNOWDEN.—On Sept. 4, 1950. Harold John Snowden, F.C.A.. of 2, Ravenna Road. Putney, S.W.15, son of the late Prebendary J. H. and Mrs. Snowden, aged 76 years. Funeral at Hammersmith Cemetery (Margravine Road), at noon to-morrow (Thursday).”

Frederick Soddy, F.R.S (2 September 1877 – 22 September 1956). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1898, 1899, 1900. Educ. Eastbourne College. 1st Class (Hons.), chemistry, 1898. Radiochemist, polymath, academic (professor, University of Aberdeen, 1914; professor of chemistry, Oxford, 1919-36). Demonstrator, McGill University, Montreal, 1900, working with Ernest Rutherford on radioactivity. Nobel Prize, chemistry, 1921. Also wrote about economics. Played in the 1900 Anglo-American cable chess match. Wikipedia.

Harold Goodlake Softlaw (23 May 1878 – 24 March 1912, Johannesburg, SA). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1898, 1899, 1900. Educ. City of London School. Matr. University of London, June 1897. Matric. Trinity Hall, 1897. At the time of the 1901 Census, he was at his parents’ home in Brixton and a visitor to the household was Frederick Kimberley Loewenthal who was also at Trinity Hall and played for Cambridge in the 1901 Varsity match. Softlaw and Loewenthal travelled to South Africa together in 1902 where they married sisters Gladys and Lilian Harris so became brothers-in-law. Occ. Paymaster at the Jumper’s Deep Mine, near Johannesburg.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Harold Goodlake Softlaw TRINITY HALL Michs. 1897 Adm. at TRINITY HALL, 1897. S. of William Roper, Esq., of 3, Wiltshire Road, Brixton, London, S.W. School, City of London. Matric. Michs. 1897; B.A. 1900. Paymaster at the Jumpers Deep mine, Cleveland, near Johannesburg, in 1904.

John David Solomon (25 January 1906 –25 April 1998). Downing College, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but represented Cambridge Past in matches vs Oxford Past. Member of Hampstead CC and very active as a player with some extant games. Resident in Hampstead, a music student / research geologist, 1939. Referred to in BCM (Jan 1943) as representing the Musicians’ Union. Taught Geography at Wandsworth School. [Richard James commented at the Streatham & Brixton blog, 2015] “… played for Richmond. Rejoined Richmond & Twickenham CC briefly possibly late 70s/early 80s. Also a strong bridge player.” In the 1954 BCF Grading List listed as affiliated to Battersea CC and graded 3b (201-208).

(Frederick) Edmund Glanville Southwell (26 June 1889 – 10 April 1917, Battle of Arras). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1910, 1911. 2.2 in Classical Tripos, Part 1, 1911. Occ. schoolmaster; taught at Ripon, 1910-1914; then Head of Classics, Hymer’s College, Hull. WW1, Lt. 4th Bn., East Yorkshire Regt. Killed in action in the Battle of Arras, 1917. Biographical Account. Played in the 1910 Anglo-US universities cable match.

John de Soyres (26 April 1847 – 3 February 1905). Gonville & Caius College.
Varsity match 1873, 1874. Protestant priest, author and scholar. Born Bilbrook, Somerset. In 1888 immigrated to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Wikipedia.

Michael Justin Aylmer Spears (1921, 1st qtr – 13 January 1969). Magdalen College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity match 1941. His mother, the novelist Mary Spears (née Borden), was a close friend of Winston Churchill and the future PM was a sponsor (along with Field-Marshall Viscount French and others) at his christening on 11 April 1921.

Classic Chicago Magazine: “The Spears’ only child, Michael Justin Aylmer Spears, born in 1921, would not have a pleasant life. As an adolescent, he contracted osteomyelitis and would continue to be in poor health from then until his early death at 47.”

Anthony Maitland Spence (31 May 1925 – 31 July 1950). Trinity College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity match 1944. Lieutenant, RNVR, during war, worked for the Aga Heat Company in London. Married 24 December 1949, but died in Leigh-on-sea, Essex, only seven months later.

Richard Terence Spencer (1912? – ?). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity match 1935. May have been in the Colonial Audit Service. No further info.

George Spencer-Brown – see George Spencer Brown

Edward George Spencer-Churchill, M.C., Croix de Guerre (21 May 1876 – 24 June 1864). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898. Educ. Eton College. B.A., 1898 (3rd in mathematics). Captain, Grenadier Guards, 1899. Boer War, 1899-1901; WW1, 1914-18; MC, Croix de Guerre and clasp, c.1918. First cousin of UK prime minister Sir Winston Churchill. Drew with Capablanca in a simul, London, October 1922. Full member, British Chess Federation, as at 1962/63. Chess Notes No.10392.

Archibald Leo Stainer (5 April 1877 – 27 May 1900). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1897. Educ. Queen Mary’s School, Basingstoke, died at Peppard, Oxfordshire (after a long illness). Played chess for Basingstoke, 1893, and Hampshire, 1899.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Archibald Leo Stainer ST CATHARINE’S Entered: Michs. 1895 Adm. scholar at ST CATHARINE’S, May 17, 1895. S. of William Henry. B. Apr. 5, 1877, at Basingstoke. Matric. Michs. 1895; B.A. 1898.

Ronald Grubb Stansfield (17 September 1915 – 25 December 1993). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1935, 1936, 1937. Born Southampton, died Canterbury, Kent, England. Academic, sociologist. Educ. King Edward VI’s School, Southampton (BCM, June 1933, p244). Played in the 1933 British Boys’ Championship. Only child of the physicist Herbert Stansfield (1872-1960) and his wife Edith Grubb. He matriculated at Clare College, Cambridge, in 1933, and was awarded his B.A. in 1936, and M.A. in 1940. Undertook particle physics research at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. During the war he became a Member of the Operational Research Section of Fighter Command. After the war he went to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) later moving to City University as Reader in Industrial Sociology. In addition to being a founder member of the Ergonomics Society he was actively involved with numerous societies concerned with anthropology, history of science, operational research, physics, psychology (BPS), sociology and the British Association. [Various sources online]

Thomas Arthur Staynes, M.C. (22 January 1899 – 31 March 1953). Brasenose College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923. One of a chessplaying Yorkshire family (see Yorkshire Chess History). Born in Wakefield, died in Guy’s Hospital (but resident in Stowmarket, Suffolk). Played on board 3 for Yorkshire vs Middlesex in the 1925 County Championship final. Temp/2nd Lt., 9th Batt., West Yorkshire regt; awarded the Military Cross, 1919, for conduct with 2nd Bn on the Fresnes-Rouvroy Line, 7 October 1918. Subsequently became a schoolmaster (teaching science in Stowmarket, Suffolk, as of 1939. Played county chess for Suffolk on a high board, shortly before and after WW2. Photo as part of the 1921 Varsity team.

Military Cross citation, London Gazette, 30 July 1919 (see also Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 6 August 1919, p2): “T./2nd Lt. Thomas Arthur Staynes, 9th Bn. attd. 2nd Bn. W. York. R.
During the attack on the Fresnes-Rouvroy Line on October 7th, 1918, he led his men forward with fine courage and dash under heavy machine-gun fire from the Fresnes-Rouvroy Line. He personally rushed a machine-gun post and silenced the gun. He subsequently took up an outpost line and for twenty-four hours worked tirelessly, strengthening his position and reconnoitring the forward area, obtaining valuable information regarding the enemy’s dispositions. He did splendid work.”

Herbert Alfred Stead (2 July 1878 – 16 September 1952). Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1902. Occ. clergyman. Played chess for Cambridgeshire (1900), Mid-Herts (1900s), Tunbridge Wells CC (1900s), Crowborough (1900s), Sussex (1900s), Lewes.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Herbert Alfred Stead EMMANUEL Entered: Michs. 1897 Born: 1878 Adm. pens. at EMMANUEL, Oct. 1, 1897. [2nd] s. of the Rev. E[dward] D[ymoke] (ord. Norwich, 1877), of Falmer rectory, Sussex. B. July 2, 1878. School, St Laurence College, Ramsgate. Matric. Michs. 1897; B.A. 1901; M.A. 1904. Ord. deacon (Colchester, for St Albans) 1902; priest (St Albans) 1903; C. of St Peter’s, St Albans, Herts., 1902-5. C. of Crowborough, Sussex, 1906-8. C. of Blakeney with Glandford and Cockthorpe, Norfolk, 1908-9. C. of St Mary’s, Ealing, 1909-11. C. of Shortlands, Kent, 1911-13. C. of St James’s, Weybridge, Surrey, 1913-17. R. of Sotby and V. of Market Stainton, Lincs., 1917-23. R. of St Ninian’s, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrights., 1924-9. R. of Muston, Leics., 1929-33. R. of Thurgarton, Norfolk, 1933-42. Lic. Pr., dio. of Norwich, 1942. Of Pebble Cottage, West Runton, Norfolk, 1951. (St Laurence Coll. Reg.; Crockford.)

Robert Cecil Stephenson (6 March 1868 – 1* January 1924). Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1890, 1891. Occ. actor, teacher of voice production. * last seen alive 1 January 1924, dead body found in the River Thames, 9 January 1924, Brentford. [Probate record]

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Robert Cecil Stephenson CAIUS Michs. 1888 Adm. at CAIUS, Oct. 1, 1888. S. of the Rev. Robert, V. of St James, Southport (and Charlotte Lucy Taunton). B. Mar. 6, 1868, at Aston, Warws. School, private. Matric. Michs. 1888; B.A. 1891. Acted with the Geisha company at Daly’s Theatre in 1898. Teacher of voice production in London in 1910. (Venn, II. 502.)

Lancashire Evening Post – Tuesday 14 March 1911: Debtor’s Assets • Interest in a book on the Voice and a Play • To-day, the publio examination of Robert Cecil Stephenson, late of Liverpool and Harrogate, was held at the London Bankruptcy Court. Debtor, the son of the Rev. Robert Stephenson of Southport, applied to pass upon accounts showing liabilities, £1,123, with assets consisting of his interest in a book on the voice and a play. He stated that he took his degree in law at Cambridge. When he left there his father paid his debts. He intended going to the Bar, but studied voice production instead, starting at Liverpool, where he was engaged as a teacher of voice production and languages. He afterwards underwent a serious operation, which laid him up for a long time, and since then he had been engaged upon a London newspaper. He had written a book on voice production and was joint author of a play, ‘‘The Making of a Business.” He thought there was money in both. He attributed his failure to his household and personal expenses having exceeded his income.

Kenneth Stern (17 February 1930, New York City, USA – 29 June 2011, Albany). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity match 1956. Occ. university professor. B.A., City College, New York. M.A., Ph.D. (philosophy), Yale. Studied philosophy, Corpus. Taught at several colleges and universities, including NYU and Smith College, before taking a position in the philosophy department at the University of Albany, from which he retired in 2000.

Gilbert Henry Stevens (20 February 1889 – 14 February 1982). Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1910, 1911, 1912. Assistant master, Wellingborough Grammar School, 1912-15; military service (Lt., Royal Field Artillery), 1915-19; master, Orme Boys’ School, Newcastle, Staffs, 1919-28; Wolstanton County Grammar School, Staffs, 1928-?, still a maths master in 1939. Achieved a first in the Maths Tripos.

George Bertram Stocker (19 March 1856 – 9 October 1913). King’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1877. Founder and Director of the Scholastic, Clerical, and Medical Association, Limited, 1884-1913. Composed a chess problem published in the Huddersfield College Magazine (1874/5, page 60).

Alumni Cantabrigienses: “Adm. at King’s, Oct. 8, 1875. S. of James, of Burnham, Bucks., and Guy’s Hospital. School, Felsted. Matric. Michs. 1875; exhibitioner. Assistant Master at Mr Nash’s School, Nice, France, 1877-8; at the Wick School, Brighton, 1878-80. Founder and Director of the Scholastic, Clerical, and Medical Association, Limited, 1884-1913. Married, June 2, 1887, Alice Mary, eldest dau. of Lieut.-Col. Cadman Hodgkinson. Died Oct. 9, 1913, aged 57. (Al. Felsted.)”

George Herbert Stoker, C.I.E., O.B.E (1874 – 9 January 1935). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Educ. City of London School (school captain). Varsity match 1897. Occ. civil servant, India Office. Companion of the order of the Indian Empire, New year’s Honours, 1929; Chief Accounting Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for India. Placed 15th in the open competitive examination for the Civil Service of India, 1897.

India Office Register: STOKER, George Herbert, O.B.E., B.A., Office of High Commr. for India (chief accounting officer).—Educ. at the City of London Sch., and Corpus Christi Coll., Oxford (scholar, 1893-97); junr. clerk, 11th Oct., 1897; assessor of income tax, March, 1908; senr. clerk, April, 1912; O.B.E., June, 1918; additl. asst, acctnt.-gen. (actg.), Oct., 1920; services lent to high commr. for India from April, 1921, as chief accounting officer.

The Times, 11 January 1935: “MR. G. H. STOKER. Mr. George Herbert Stoker, C.I.E., died suddenly on Wednesday at his home at Hove, at the age of 60, only a few months after retiring from the responsible post of Chief Accounting Officer to the High Commissioner for India.

“The son of Mr. G. N. Stoker, he was sent to the City of London School, and went up to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, as a scholar, and obtained a first class in Moderations, and a second Lit. Hum [Classics]. He entered the India Office as a junior clerk; and, as he showed aptitude tor accountancy work, he was made in 1908 Assessor of Income-Tax. This position required both patience and skill, since he was concerned with the numerous technicalities and perplexities connected with the liability to British income-tax of officers on long leave from India, as well as of Service pensioners resident in this country. He was promoted to be a senior clerk in 1912, and for special work arising from War conditions was made an O.B.E. in 1918. Two years later he held the acting appointment of Additional Assistant Accountant General.

“When in 1921 the late Sir William Meyer became the first High Commissioner for India, his eye for good men led to Mr. Stoker’s being selected to be his Chief Accounting Officer, and he gave great assistance to Sir William in establishing the new office on sound accountancy lines. He also gained the confidence and regard of Sir Atul Chatterjee and of the present High Commissioner, Sir Bhupendra Nath Mitra: and he bore with success the extra burdens placed upon him by the building of India House, in Aldwych, and the transfer of the office of the High Commissioner thereto. He was made a C.I.E. in 1929. A wide circle of friends will regret that he lived for so short a time to enjoy his recent release from official duty. He is survived by Mrs. Stoker, a daughter of the late Rev. Henry Cotton, and a daughter.” [n.b. one obituary claimed that he collapsed whilst making a winning tennis shot at the Hove seafront courts]

William Stoney (June/July 1866 – 14 January 1932). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890. Educ. Wolverhampton School. Matric. 1885, B.A., 1889 (1st mathematical mods 1887, 1st mathematics 1889). Barrister, Lincoln’s Inn 1891. Born in Loughborough, Leicestershire, died Middlesex (nursing home). (Oxford Men and Their Colleges, 1880-1892) Retired to Italy, 1920s.

Alfred William Stonier (21 March 1905 – 27 June 1980). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1924, 1925, 1926. Educ. Westminster School. PhD. Tutor and Senior Lecturer in Political Economy, University College, London (1953); economist. Competed in the 1923 BCF Congress in a subsidiary section. Co-authored (with Douglas C Hague) A Textbook of Economic Theory (1953-1982).

Bertram Herbert Russell Stower (19 August 1880 – 17 September 1942). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1906, 1907, 1908. Educ. Sudbury Grammar School, Suffolk. Occ. clergyman. Ordained priest, St Albans, 1909. Curate, Wanstead until 1911 when he took up a post as senior curate at St John’s, Notting Hill, London. Played for Combined Universities vs House of Commons, 2 April 1907 and again on 19 May 1908 when he defeated former prime minister Bonar Law. Took part in the Anglo-US universities cable match, 21 March 1908.

Edward Leslie Stuart (1 April 1918 – c.July 2005). Merton College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1938, 1939. Known as Leslie Stuart. Played in the 1952 British Championship, scoring 7/11 to finish in a six-way tie for second place. Also played in the 1962 British Championship, scoring 4½/11. Won the Northumberland Zollner trophy in 1949. Was graded 204 in 1969, playing for the Ministry of Labour CC. Took a lengthy break from chess until the late 1980s, returning when he was domiciled in the north of England and thereafter staying active into the 21st century, taking part in the 2001 Monarch Assurance Isle of Man Masters. (See Sean Marsh’s blog for an informative article about Leslie Stuart)

James Fearn Sugden (1st qtr of 1857 – 1 August 1925). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1878, 1879, 1880. Clergyman. James Fearn, M.A. Cam. P(became clergyman?) 1890, cur. 1889, S. Luke, Old-street, London E.C. 16. Helmet-row, St. Luke’s, E.C. (Clergy List 1896). Moved to become vicar of Welton, Northamptonshire, 1906. Born Westminster, reg’d, 1st q of 1857, died Welton, Northamptonshire. Unmarried. Champion of Battersea CC, 1885, and also club president (BCM, 1896, p240). Played for Surrey county. Later played for the Northampton club after he moved to the area. Also played cricket for Battersea.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: SUGDEN, JAMES FEARN. Adm. pen. at Trinity Hall. Oct 5, 1876. S. of William, Esq., of 170 Battersea Bridge Road, London, S.W. School, City of London. Matric. Michs, 1876; B.A. 1880; M.A 1855. Ord. deacon (London) 1889; priest, 1890; C. of St Luke’s, Old Street, London, 1889-1906. V. of Welton, Northants., 1906-25. Died Aug. 1. 1925, aged 68. (Crockford, The Guardian, Aug. 28, 1925).

Shah Muhammad Sulaiman (3 February 1886 – 12 March 1941). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1910. Graduated from Allahabad University, 1906 and topped the list. Awarded the Provincial Government Scholarship to study abroad. Senior Optime (2nd Class Hons.), Mathematical Tripos, Part 1, 1909; 3rd Class Hons., Law Tripos, Part 2, 1910. Hon. LL.D, University of Dublin, 1910. Returned to India, 1911, and went into legal profession. Knighted in 1929: known as Sir Shah Sulaiman or Sir Sulaiman. Chief Justice, Allahabad High Court, 1932-1937: first Indian and one of the youngest to hold the post. Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University, 1938-1941. Wikipedia.

Peter William Reginald Summerson (21 August 1921 – 2 October 2010). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity match 1939 and also the 1941 unofficial match. Was, I think, a blind player – he attended Worcester College for the Blind.

Cecil Carol Winton Sumner (8 January 1875 – 15 January 1964). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1896. Occ. schoolmaster; clergyman. Member of Newcastle CC, 1929. Problemist.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Cecil Carol Winton Sumner ST JOHN’S Michs. 1893 Adm. pens. at ST JOHN’S, Oct. 5, 1893. S. of the Rev. George (B.A. Trin. Coll., Dublin), of the Chaplain’s house, H.M. prison, Warwick (and Fanny Laura Stedman). B. Jan. 8, 1875, at Cheetham, Lancs. School, Stamford (The Rev. Dr Barnard). Matric. Michs. 1893; B.A. 1899. Assistant Master at Monmouth School; at Blundell’s School, Tiverton; at Merchiston, 1903; at Framlingham College, 1903-5. Ord. deacon (Durham) 1907; priest 1909; C. of Hunwick, Durham, 1907-10. C of St Oswald, Hebburn-on-Tyne, 1910-14. C. of St Aidan’s, West Hartlepool, 1914-17. C. of St Paul’s, Gateshead, 1917-20. C. of Shildon, 1922-6. P.C. of Benfieldside, 1926-9. P.C. of Nenthead, Northumberland, 1929-32. P.C. of Greenhead, 1932-45. Of Haydon Bridge, Northumberland in 1952. (Crockford; Schoolmasters’ Directories.)

Chellappah Suntharalingam (19 August 1895 – 11 February 1985). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1919. Sri Lankan academic, politician, MP, government minister. Educ. St. John’s College, Colombo. 1st in mathematics, London University. Matric. 1918, Balliol. 1st in mathematics. Called to the bar, 1920. Professor of Mathematics at Ceylon University College, 1922. Retired from his post in 1940 to enter politics. Wikipedia.

Hugh Findlay Sutherland (1903 – ?). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1925, 1927. Previously at Glasgow University; Lorimer Bursary in Philosophy, 1921. Domus Exhibition in Philosophy, Balliol, 1924. 1st Class degree, PPE Final Class, 1927. Journalist, university lecturer in Political Science (Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, 1928-31). Fleet Street/freelance journalist, writer for stage and radio (example of stage work: May the Lord Have Mercy, performed at the Gateway Threatre, London, 1950). During the Second World War he was a public relations officer for GHQ Middle East Forces. From 1948-50 he worked for the Foreign Office [source]. Stood for parliament as a Labour Party candidate, Cities of London & Westminster (1951) and Caithness and Sutherland (1955), unsuccessfully. Member of Hampstead Borough Council, 1955-1959. Was a member of the London County Council representing Wandsworth Central from 1958 – vice-chairman, London County Council Housing Committee, 1960 – until he resigned in 1962 [note – various websites documenting London councils and councillors record him as having died on 12 November 1962 but this is wrong – the Manchester Guardian, 14 November 1962, p10, records the fact that the LCC Wandsworth council by-election of that month was as a result of his resignation, not death, and the electoral register still shows him as living at 12 Hillfield Road, Hampstead, with his wife Mary P Sutherland, in 1965. An Ancestry.com member’s record gives the d.o.b. and d.o.d. as 21 August 1903 – 5 July 1991 but contains a number of other inaccuracies so may not be reliable. Married Laura Ellen Marx, of Rotterdam, 1937; the marriage ended in divorce and he then married Mary P Rowan, Marylebone, 1946.]

Henry Peter Francis Swinnerton-Dyer, later Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer (2 August 1927 – 26 December 2018). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949. Professor, Dept. of Pure Mathematics, Cambridge University (Trinity and St Catherine’s Colleges) (2004). Also an international bridge player. Son of Sir Leonard Schroeder Swinnerton-Dyer (30 March 1898 – 10 June 1975), 15th bart., president of the British Chess Federation (1956-59). English Chess Forum discussion • Wikipedia.

History of Shropshire Chess (web): “An occasional but welcome recruit to the top board for Shropshire was Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer (b.1927), the son of Sir Leonard Dyer. He has the distinction of being the only player to represent Shropshire who is mentioned in Modern Chess Openings (in the section on the rare Ponziani Opening). Sir Peter, 16th baronet and landowner of the Westhope Estate near Craven Arms, was later knighted for his outstanding contribution to Number Theory in his role as Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University. Here he extricates himself from a bad opening against his well-known opponent and gains a pawn and then a piece when Black blunders in a bad position. In the early fifties Sir Peter gave up chess in favour of bridge.”

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John Bradbury Sykes (26 January 1929 – 3 September 1993). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1949, 1950, 1951. Physicist, linguist, lexicographer, and crossword solver. Dictionary of National Biography. Educ. Wallasey Grammar School, Rochdale High School, and St Lawrence College, Ramsgate. Was at Wadham when playing the 1949 and 1950 varsity matches but had moved to Balliol by the time he played in the 1951 match: “…went up to Wadham College, Oxford, in 1947 as an open entrance scholar to read mathematics, graduated with first-class honours in 1950, and went on, first as a Henry Skynner senior student at Balliol College (1950-52), and then as a Harmsworth senior scholar at Merton College (1952-3), to write a DPhil thesis.” (DNB). Consistently the most successful competitor in the Times national crossword championship, winning it ten times (DNB). Editor, Concise Oxford Dictionary, 1971. Defeated Keres in a simul, Oxford, 30 November 1962. County chess for Oxfordshire.

Victor Tarnofsky (August 1931 – 5 January 2019). Downing College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1954. Occ. civil servant, Patent Office; assistant comptroller. Author of works on intellectual property. Awarded CBE on retirement. Also bridge player, watercolourist. (Downing Newsletter, 2018)

(Creassey Edward) Cecil Tattersall (7 September 1877 – 26 October 1957). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, winning all four games. Educ. City of London School. chessgames.com. Became president of Cambridge University Chess Club, 1897; was later physically assaulted by his predecessor in the role, Aleister Crowley, who was forced to resign from the club as a result.

[Source: BCM, May 1904, p186] MR. C. E. CECIL TATTERSALL
“Few of the London chess amateurs are so popular as Mr. C. E. Cecil Tattersall, the only English solver who thoroughly mastered the intricacies of the now famous ‘Dolan End-game.’ He is connected with the Metropolis by birth, reputation, and associations. He was born at London, in 1877, on the 7th of September—a date interesting to chess players as being the birthday of Philidor. He learned the moves about the age of seven, but did not study the game until he entered the highest form of the City of London School, in 1893, which at that time had an unusually strong chess club—three of the members afterwards played for Cambridge University. In a short time young Tattersall became the strongest player in the school. He won the championship, and retained the honour until 1896, when he left to go to Cambridge, where he went into residence at Trinity College. He joined the University Chess Club, of which he was soon elected hon. secretary, and president after a year had elapsed. He played four times against Oxford University, winning every game, thereby establishing a record of which he is very proud. In the Anglo-American Universities’ Cable Match. Mr. Tattersall played twice, taking first board and drawing on both occasions. He won the chess championship of Cambridge University for three years in succession, without losing a game! After leaving Cambridge, he played very little chess for some time, but last year he started playing regularly in the London Chess League matches for the “Metropolitan,” the championship of which club he recently won without loss! Since 1896, Mr. Tattersall has kept a record of all his important match and tournament games, and the results are: won 134, drawn 40, lost 29. In team matches alone, the figures read: won 66, drawn 28, lost 19. From March, 1898, to March, 1900, he played 35 games without a single loss: Mr. Tattersall has never engaged in a personal match, but during his career he has met and defeated the following players: Dr. Lasker (when he played the City of London Club simultaneously in 1900), Messrs. J. H. Blake, W. H. Gunston, E. O. Jones, R. P. Michell, Jas. Mortimer, O. C Müller, G. E. Wainwright, W. S. Ward, H. W. Trenchard, H. E. Bird, F. J. Marshall, and D. Y. Mills, the last being in ‘off-hand’ games. Mr. Tattersall has paid some attention to the poetical side of chess, and has composed about a dozen problems. We append two of his favourites, and also two of his recent games.”

[BCM, Dec 1957, p311] “Creassey Edward Cecil Tattersall died at Lyme Regis on October 26th [1957], in his eightieth year. Born in London, he was educated at the City of London School and at Trinity College, Cambridge. A former keeper of the Department of Textiles in the Victoria and Albert Museum he was a well-known authority on carpets.

“As a chess-player he was a first-rate amateur and while at Cambridge he won all his four games against Oxford. He will be remembered, however, as an expert on endings. For many years he was the foremost authority on this branch of the game and his book A Thousand End-Games, published in 1910-11, is still one of the most important works in English.”

[who’s who] TATTERSALL, Creassey Edward Cecil –
BA; Keeper of the Department of Textiles, Victoria and Albert Museum (retired);
b London, 1877; s of Edward Tattersall; unmarried. Educ: City of London School; Trinity College, Cambridge. Work: Textiles Department, Victoria and Albert Museum, from 1915. Publications: 1000 End Games (Chess); Hand-Woven Carpets, Oriental and European; Fine Carpets at the V and A Museum; The Carpets of Persia; History of British Carpets; Notes on Carpet Knotting and Weaving; contrib. to Art and Chess Journals. Recreations: painting, chess. Address: Sorrento, Lyme Regis. Died 26 Oct. 1957.

Alumni Cantab.: Creassey Edward Cecil Tattersall TRINITY Entered: Michs. 1896 More Information: Adm. sizar at TRINITY, Oct. 1, 1896. S. of Edward, of 25, Southampton Row, London. B. [Sept. 7], 1877, in London. School, City of London. Matric. Michs. 1896; B.A. 1899. In the Textiles Department, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1915; subsequently Keeper of the Department.

[The Times, 29 October 1957] “Mr C E C Tattersall, a former keeper of the Department of Textiles in the Victoria and Albert Museum and a well-known authority on carpets, died at Lyme Regis on Saturday. He was 80.

“Creassey Edward Cecil Tattersall was born in London, the son of Edward Tattersall, in 1877. He was educated at the City of London School and at Trinity College, Cambridge. He went to the Victoria and Albert Museum first of all as a cataloguer and then worked on the technical side. Eventually, in 1934, in succession to Professor A J B Wace, he became Keeper of the Department of Textiles, which he had joined in 1915. He retired from the museum in 1937. He was unmarried.

“Tattersall’s strong point was his technical knowledge, especially of carpets and he established the now widely adopted practice of entering, in any description, a short technical analysis of the weave and texture of the carpet in question. He collaborated with the late A F Kendrick in two important books published in 1924, ‘Hand-woven Carpets, Oriental and European’ (in two volumes), and ‘Fine Carpets in the Victoria and Albert Museum’. In 1934 there appeared the most important of his non-collaborative works, ‘A History of British Carpets’, which dealt both with the historical aspect and with the great contemporary carpet-weaving establishments. ‘The Carpets of Persia’, issued at the time of the Persian Exhibition in 1931, was an extremely useful short summary of its subject. His ‘Notes on Carpet-Weaving and Knotting’, written for the Victoria and Albert Museum, has proved a very popular little book. Tattersall also wrote on chess.”

Roger John Tayler (25 October 1929 – 23 January 1997). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1949, 1951. Astrophysicist, President of the Royal Astronomical Society. Wikipedia. Obit – obit, Independent – colleagues and co-authors included Stephen Hawking and Fred Hoyle (who played in the 1934 Varsity chess match). A principal organiser of an early BUCA (British Universities’ Chess Association) Congress. (source: Leonard Barden) – discussion about Tayler on English Chess Forum.

Charles Taylor (1855 – 17 December 1920) Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1878, 1880 and 1881. Barrister at law, Northern circuit, then Chancery Bar; later town councillor, Heene ward, Worthing, Sussex; county councillor, West Tarring ward, West Sussex. Born in Manchester, bapt. 2 Sept 1855, Tonge cum Alkrington, Prestwich, Lancashire.

Alumni Oxonienses, 1715-1886: “3s. of James [Taylor], of Manchester, gent. Christ Church, matric. 19 Oct 1876, aged 21, B.A. 1880 (Class 2, Modern History), M.A. 1884.”

In fact, his father’s name was Jacob (not James) and a tea merchant in Salford, b abt 1818, mother’s name Catharine, b abt 1814. Older brothers Albert and Walter.

Worthing Gazette, Wednesday 22 December 1920: “Shuttleworth scholar, Owen’s College, Manchester, and a Cobden and political economist prizeman; and on going to the University he won the only prize at Christ Church, Oxford, for History, and was given the honorary degree of B.A.”

Living with his brother Walter in Burgess Hill, East Grinstead in 1901. Married (March 1907 – see Worthing Gazette, Wednesday 27 March 1907) Constance Truefitt (née Lever, 1870-1933, widow of George Truefitt, b 1824), living in Worthing, 1911. No chess references found.

Charles Edward Taylor (26 June 1868 – 28 January 1941). Trinity College, Cambridge. § Gaige gives his college as “Pembroke” but all available evidence points to this being wrong. Varsity match 1889. Educ: Repton. Occ. stockbroker. Played in the 1927 Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past match. Played for Kent on a high board, 1920s, 1930s. Drew with Vera Menchik, Kent vs Sussex, 1 October 1927.

Alumni Cantab.: Charles Edward Taylor College: TRINITY Entered: Michs. 1887 Born: 1868 More Information: Adm. pens. at TRINITY, May 30, 1887. S. of Seth. of Granards, Putney Park Lane, London. B. [June 26], 1868, in London. School, Repton. Matric. Michs. 1887; B.A. 1891. A stockbroker. Of North Park, Eltham, Kent, in 1922. (Repton Sch. Reg.)

Christopher Taylor (? – ?). Merton College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity match 1944.

Hugh Taylor (24 December 1880 – 18 December 1914). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1902, 1903. Educ. Harrow. Son of a coal-owner in Northumberland; m Mary Stuart, 1907. Was an international player of curling. Unionist candidate for parliament (Sunderland constituency) as at 1914. Commissioned, Scots Guards, 2nd Bn, 1904, reaching rank of Captain in WW1; mentioned in dispatches. Killed in action. Buried, Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery, Fleauebaix, France. Harrow WW1 Memorial.

Balliol College Register: Taylor, Hugh : b. Dec. 24, 1880; s. of Thomas Taylor, of Chipchase Castle, Wark-on-Tyne.; m. 1907, Mary, d. of H. Villiers Stuart, D.L., M.P. Issue: one son. Educ. Wixenford; Harrow; Balliol 1899-1903 (F. de P., J.L.S.D.); 2nd Cl. Mods. 1901; 3rd Lit. Hum., and B.A., 1903; Univ. Chess team v. Cambridge 1902-3; Torpid (2) [rowing competition]. Union Soc. Scots Guards 1904, Lieut. 1905. Clubs: Guards’, Boodle’s, Royal Automobile. Address: Chipchase Castle, Wark-on-Tyne.

John Dudley Taylor (20 September 1934 – 2 December 2021). Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1956, 1957 and 1958. British Under-21 Champion in 1955 and winner of the Battle of Britain tournament in 1965. Graded 3a on the 1958 BCF Grading List (equivalent to 209-216 on the later three-digit scale). Took part in the 1963/64 Hastings Challengers, scoring 4/9, but with his only win scored against reigning women’s world champion Nona Gaprindashvili. Was formerly a member of the Wakefield club and played on a high board for Yorkshire in the 1970s. Later affiliated to Burton CC.

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Andrew Rowland Benedick Thomas (11 October 1904 – 16 May 1985). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1924, 1925, 1926. Biography, Pioneers of Devon Chess (via Wayback machine – may take time to load). Wikipedia. Yorkshire Chess History. Chessgames.com. His father, William Rowland Thomas attended Queen’s College, Oxford, but did not take part in the Varsity match, though he did play for Oxford Past on the opposite side from his son, playing for Cambridge Past, in a match in 1930.

(From Exeter Univ CC website): “Andrew Thomas for many years taught mathematics at Blundell’s School and after retiring continued to live in Tiverton until his death at the age of eighty in 1985. Beneath a calm and humorous exterior lay a fierce determination and a deep love of chess. Indeed in 1973 he published a book called just that — Chess for the Love of It. It contains some of his best games, including wins against Penrose, Najdorf, and Unzicker, and a draw against Euwe. He hated routine play and was always ready with way-out moves in the opening. ‘The English Tartakower’ sums him up as well as anything. He belonged to Tiverton and Exeter chess clubs and only played for Exeter in the National Club Championship on board two after Kitto. They made a formidable spearhead to the team.”

BCM, August 1985, p345: “A. R. B. Thomas died recently [1985] at the age of eighty one. His life is well described in the 1973 book Chess for the Love of It (RKP) where he relates that he was a member of the Liverpool club in its great days, was at Cambridge 1923-26 and then became a public school master in the West Country. He took part in the British Championship on more than 20 occasions, and had successes at Hastings, where he should have beaten Unzicker in an exciting Evans Gambit in 1950-51. He was a great amateur with an aggressive style, and much more at home in open positions than in more sophisticated systems. He turned out for Devon for decades and won the West of England Championship at least eight times. During his long retirement he also wrote Chess Techniques (RKP 1975).”

William Rowland Thomas (8 June 1867 – 4 March 1936). Queen’s College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but represented Oxford Past in a December 1930 match in which his son Andrew Rowland Benedick Thomas represented Cambridge Past. Matr. 30 October 1885, aged 18, from Haverfordwest Grammar School, on a scholarship. B.A., 1889. Honours, 2nd classical mods. 1887, 1st mathematical mods. 1887, 3rd classics 1890. [Alumni Oxonienses] Born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Became a schoolmaster at Merchant Taylors’ School, Crosby, Liverpool. Was match captain of Lancashire for many years. Published an account of his investigations into the life of Captain William Davies Evans of Evans Gambit fame (who also probably attended Haverfordwest Grammar School) in BCM, January 1928, pps 6-18.

John Ormerod Scarlett Thursby (27 April 1861 – 26 December 1920). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1881. President, British Chess Federation, 1905-20. Occ. coal mine owner, barrister.

DNB: THURSBY, Sir John (Ormerod Scarlett) 2nd Bt cr 1887; DL, JP; b 27 April 1861; s of Sir John Hardy Thursby, 1st Bt and Clara, d of Col Williams, RE. S father, 1901; m 1888, Ella Beatrice (d 1915), d of T. Richard Crosse; one d. Educ: Eton; Trinity College, Cambridge (BA). Work: Barrister-at-Law; High Sheriff of Lancashire, 1905; President of British Chess Federation; President of Burnley Chamber of Commerce; Steward of Jockey Club, 1915-18. Heir: half-brother George James Thursby [b 17 Nov. 1869; m 1894, Mary Aug.a, e d of Thomas Hardcastle of Bradshaw Hall, Bolton-le-Moors. Fountain Court, Brook, Lyndhurst. Arthur’s]. Address: Ormerod House, Burnley. Clubs: Carlton, Garrick, Turf, Savile. Died 26 Dec. 1920.

BCM 1921, p52: Sir J. O. S. THURSBY, Bt.
It is with the deepest sorrow that we have to report the death on December 26th, of Sir John Ormerod Scarlett Thursby, Bt., President of the British Chess Federation since 1905. Born in 1861, Sir John Thursby was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was an enthusiastic supporter of chess even in his early days, and in 1881 he represented his University against Oxford. He was a frequent visitor to Simpson’s Divan (then in its palmy days) about this period, and also took a warm interest in problems, in 1883 publishing a collection of his own compositions under a non de plume. Later he joined the British Chess Club. He was at one time president of the Metropolitan Chess Club, and from 1913 to the time of his death he was a vice-president of the City of London Chess Club. The energies, however, for which British chess players have chief reason to be grateful to him were exhibited in connection with the British Chess Federation, to which he was unanimously elected president in 1905, in succession to Mr. F. G. Naumann. A portrait of him and certain biographical details were published in this magazine in the issue of November, 1906, with the report of the Federation’s third annual general meeting. He was a most regular attendant at the Federation meetings from the time when he took up office, and he was largely instrumental in the foundation of the permanent investment fund which gives the central body in British chess its substantial position. We need not enter into Sir John Thursby’s many activities in life, particularly in the world of sport, for they have all been fully recorded in the daily press. But we are sure that in no circles will his loss be more sincerely regretted than in those who have at heart the true interests of chess in this country.

BCM, April 1921, ppn 121-122: THE LATE SIR JOHN O. S. THURSBY.
An Appreciation.
It is with great pleasure, through the kindness of his daughter, are able to give our subscribers a reproduction of a recent photograph of the late President of the British Chess Federation, as a frontispiece to this number.
It needs special attributes to enable a President of such a body is the British Chess Federation to carry out the duties of the office so as to confer real benefits upon the members. It often happens that a President gives only fitful glimpses of his presence (and that upon state occasions), and contents himself with a more or less generous donation, leaving the working of the organization to the other officials, but the Federation has been highly favoured in the personality of their premier official. The late Mr. F. G. Naumann took the closest interest in the details of the actual work, and by his wise advice and material support the foundations of the Federation were well and truly laid. When he retired from the post of President, it was felt how difficult it would be to find a new President who would adequately fulfil the duties even with the ex-President still keenly interested. It was a very, very fortunate chance or great perspicuity that prompted the invitation to the late Sir John O. S. Thursby, to fill the position and it was to the lasting benefit of the Federation that the invitation was accepted. From the day of his election to the day of his lamented death, he joined heartily in the operations of the Federation, guiding and controlling the work with far-seeing advice, using his influence with the Press to secure the widest publicity for the Federation ideas, rarely missing a committee or a council meeting, whose deliberations responded always to his business-like methods so that no time was wasted and much work was done, and yet withal never wishful for personal prominence. It is perhaps only a few who know the time Sir John devoted to framing the various enterprises of the Federation, how he moved in the preliminaries of nearly every Congress and smoothed many difficulties away that might otherwise have proved great obstacles, how he strove to increase the Permanent Invested Fund, interesting his own friends in the scheme, how he handled the details of the launching of the Hastings Victory Congress, and with what generosity he took over the burden of providing a more adequate annuity for the veteran Mr. J. H. Blackburne and his wife than the public subscriptions permitted. It is those few who know fully what an enormous loss to British Chess it is that his generous and unceasing support and guidance are no longer available and that we have had to bid a sad good-bye to a true friend, a reliable advisor, and a strong personality that reflected the brightest credit upon the Federation in which he took so much interest. It behoves us to mark our appreciation of the late President’s endeavours by taking up the work he has left and by increased exertion and additional generosity maintain the high standard of British Chess that was his pride to witness.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: John Ormerod Scarlett Thursby College: TRINITY Entered: Michs. 1880 Born: 27 Apr 1861 Died: 26 Dec 1920 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 1, 1880. [Eldest] s. of Sir John, Bart., of 10, Green Street, London, and of Holmhurst, Hants. (by his 1st wife, Clara, dau. of Col. Williams, R.E.). B. Apr. 27, 1861, at Burnley, Lancs. School, Eton. Matric. Michs. 1880; B.A. 1884. Adm. at Lincoln’s Inn, Nov. 2, 1883. Called to the Bar, Nov. 17, 1891. Succeeded as 2nd Bart., 1901. Of Ormerod House, Burnley, and Tulloch Castle, Dingwall, Ross-shire. J.P. and D.L. for Lancs. High Sheriff, 1905. President of the British Chess federation. President of Burnley Chamber of Commerce. Owner of race-horses and Steward of the Jockey Club. Married, 1888, Ella Beatrice, dau. of T. Richard Crosse, and had issue, a daughter. Died Dec. 26, 1920, at Grenoble, France. (Eton Sch. Lists; Who was Who; The Times, Dec. 29, 1920.)

Sir Frank Tillyard (23 January 1865 – 10 July 1961). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1888. Professor of commercial law. Kt 1945, CBE 1929. Educ. City of London School. B.A., 1st class, mathematics, 1886. Vinerian Law Scholarship, 1888; first class Final School of Jurisprudence, 1888. Work: called to the Bar, 1890; engaged in social work, Mansfield House University Settlement, Canning Town, 1891-96, where he was the founder of the Poor Man’s Lawyer Movement; Head of the Shalesmoor Neighbour Guild, Sheffield, 1896-1904; Organising Secretary Birmingham COS, 1904-13; Lecturer, 1904-13; Professor of Commercial Law, 1913-30, and Warden of Chancellor’s Hall, 1928-30, at the University of Birmingham; Chairman of Court of Referees for Birmingham, 1912-28, and for the Metropolitan Area, 1931-37; Appointed member of Trade Boards, 1910-44, and Chairman of several Trade Boards, mostly in the Midlands; Chairman of the Birmingham Copec House Improvement Society Ltd, 1926-41. Publications: Law of Banking and Negotiable Instruments (6th edition); Introduction to Commercial Law (2nd edition); Industrial Law (2nd edition); The Worker and the State (3rd edition); (joint) Goodwill and its Treatment in Accounts; (joint) Unemployment Insurance, 1911-1948; occasional papers in various journals. (Who was Who). Played for Sheffield in the Woodhouse Cup and for Yorkshire at correspondence chess. Yorkshire Chess History.

Francis George Tims Collins (3 June 1915 – 27 November 1943). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1935, 1936, 1937. Born in Greenwich, died in action over Germany. Won the London Boys’ Championship in (Jan) 1933 (see photo below) and was the London League’s nominee for the British Boys’ Championship in April 1933. Attended Aske’s Hatcham School, London (BCM, June 1933, p244). In 1933 he tied first with Arthur William J Down for the British Boys’ (Under 18) Championship (they both scored 2½/3 in the final), but Down won the play-off. Won the Civil Service Championship (Barstow Trophy) in 1938 and 1939. See John Saunders’ contribution to a thread on the English Chess Forum, 4 May 2015, and John Saunders’ article from the November 2010 issue of CHESS, reproduced here on the ChessBase website)

Francis George Tims Collins (1915-43) receives the trophy for winning the 1933 London Boys’ Championship from Lady Margaret Hamilton-Russell (1874-1938)
(first published as a frontispiece to the February 1933 issue of BCM)

CHESS 1944-03, p85, under the title “Tims Collins Missing”: “According to Mr [Julius] Du Mont, FG Tims Collins is reported missing from a bombing raid. How we hope that this genial and universally popular chess congress-ite managed to bale out!”

Sadly, not so – FG Tims Collins was killed on the night of 27 Nov 1943 in a Lancaster bomber over Heuchelheim, Germany, on a mission to bomb Berlin. He was a Flight Lieutenant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner), in the
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 101 Squadron. Buried Dürnbach War Cemetery, Bad Tolz, Bayern, Germany. (Grave Ref: Collective grave 11. C. 26-28.) Commemorated on the Second World War Memorial in the Chapel Passage,
East Wall, Balliol College, Oxford.

Basil Tomlinson (born 25 March 1926). Queens’ College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1950. Part of the Cambridge University team which won the first National Club Championship on 12 August 1950 by beating Lud-Eagle on bottom board elimination after the match was drawn 3-3. Tomlinson was on board four and beat H Cole. Matr. at Queens’, 1947. Teacher at Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School until 1960 when he went as an Education Officer to Nigeria.

Richard Stoney Topham (13 October 1855 – 13 May 1915). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889. Born in Penistone, Yorkshire, died in Hove, Sussex. Architect and civil engineer (before going up to Cambridge). Matric. 2 October 1885. B.A. 1888. Educ: Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent. An architect. Designed the College boat-house. (Cambridge University Alumni) Represented the Christ Church (Brighton) and Hove clubs in league matches, circa 1912.

Symons Sympson Tovey (26 July 1846 – 20 March 1910). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1880. Clergyman. born 26 Jul 1846 Bristol Gloucestershire, died 20 Mar 1910 Mentone France, son of Charles TOVEY of Clifton Bristol, wine merchant … and Mary SYMONS; married, Emily. Education Manilla Hall Clifton (private) 11 Oct 1877 adm sizar Trinity College Cambridge 1881 BA Cambridge 19 Dec 1880 deacon London for colonies 21 Dec 1881 priest Sydney (111;2) Positions 20 Apr 1881-1883 curate S John Darlinghurst diocese Sydney 18 Jul 1883-22 Aug 1893 organising secretary Church Society diocese Sydney n d 1887-14 Jan 1910 rural dean West Sydney 1892-1893 acting precentor cathedral S Andrew Sydney 22 Aug 1893-20 Mar 1910 rector S John Bishopthorpe diocese Sydney (111) 1895 examining chaplain bishop of Bathurst (8) 1900 added to New Zealand government list of officiating clergy (51) 17 Jul 1903 leave of absence one year 22 Jan 1910 leave of absence one year in ill health (111) Other 1910 probate to widow Emily, £301 (366) 06 Apr 1910 obituary Town and Country Journal 08 Apr 1910 obituary The Guardian. Source: http://www.kinderlibrary.ac.nz/resources/bishop/T.htm [defunct link – John Kinder Theological Library]. Vice-president and founder member, Sydney Chess Club, 1883 (Adelaide Observer, 30 June 1883, p43).

Campbell Tracey (20 April 1855 – 3 October 1911). Lincoln College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877.
Born Dartmouth/Totnes, Devon, died St Thomas, Devonshire (retired schoolmaster), m. 1885 Amelia Ellis [surname unknown] (born Barbados), no children, lived in Exmouth in 1911. Played, organised and refereed croquet. His younger brother Frederick Tracey played in the 1884 Varsity chess match.

Alumni Oxonienses: 2nd son of John Tracey, of Dartmouth, Devon, cler. Lincoln College, matric. 25 Oct 1873, aged 18; scholar 1874-7, B.A. 1878, M.A. 1880.

Frederick Tracey (10 March 1858 – 10 December 1938). Exeter College, Oxford (at the time of the 1884 Varsity match – he had previously been at Lincoln College, Oxford). Varsity match 1884. His elder brother Campbell Tracey played in the 1874-77 Varsity chess matches. Clergyman. After spending some time in Australia, he was second master at Colston’s School, Stapleton (1886-88), then chaplain to the Bishop of Bath and Wells.

Alumni Oxonienses: Tracey, Rev. Frederick, 4s. John, of Dartmouth, Devon, cler. Lincoln Coll., matric. 30 Jan., 1882, aged 23 ; exhibitioner Exeter Coll. 1882-3, B.A. 1884.

Alan Fraser Truscott (16 April 1925 – 4 September 2005). Magdalen College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951. Wikipedia. Bridge player, writer and editor. Bridge columnist, New York Times (1964-2005). Attended Whitgift School, Croydon (as did future Oxford colleague Leonard Barden).

Arthur James Turner (30 September 1889 – 30 September 1971).
Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1911, 1912. CBE 1950; MA, DSc, FTI; Director, 1940-56, of Linen Industry Research Association, Lambeg, Co. Antrim; retired, 1956;
b 30 Sept. 1889; s of A. A. Turner, Camberwell, SE; m 1st, 1916, Winifred (d 1945), y d of Alfred Fisher, Streatham, SW; three s one d; 2nd, 1959, Winifred Doris (d 1970), er d of late Sir Frederick (Joseph) and Lady West, Wilmslow. Educ: Wilson’s Grammar Sch., Camberwell, SE. Gonville and Caius Coll., Cambridge (Scholar and Research Student). Work: Assistant at National Physical Laboratory, 1912-15; Head of Experimental Fabrics Laboratory, Royal Aircraft Establishment, 1915-19; Prof. of Textile Technology, Manchester Univ., and College of Technology, Manchester, 1919-23; Director, Technological Research Laboratory, Indian Central Cotton Cttee, Bombay, 1924-30; Head of Spinning Dept, British Cotton Industry Research Assoc., Manchester, 1931-40; Member of Flax Development Cttee, Northern Ireland, 1940-56; Member of Flax Cttee, Ministry of Supply, 1942-50; Chairman, Flax Utilisation Sub-Cttee, 1943-50; Member of Council of Textile Institute, 1941-48, Vice-President, 1948-52, President, 1952-54; Adviser to Bombay Textile Research Assoc., 1958. Hon. Assoc. College of Technology, Manchester, 1951. Hon. Liveryman, 1923, and Member of Court, Worshipful Company of Weavers, Upper Warden, 1946, Upper Bailiff, 1962. Publications: Quality in Flax, 1955; Technological Reports on Standard Indian Cottons; numerous scientific and technical papers. Recreations: gardening, walking, cricket, chess. Address: Springfield, 12 Lumley Road, Kendal, Westmorland. T: Kendal 22324. Died 30 Sept. 1971.

Theodore Henry Tylor (later Sir) (13 May¶ 1900 – 23 October 1968). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922. Professor, academic lawyer and international chess player, despite being nearly blind. In 1965, he was knighted for his service to organisations for the blind. Fellow and Tutor in Jurisprudence at Balliol College, Oxford for almost forty years. Played in 12 British Championships, his best being in 1933 when he was 2nd to Sultan Khan. Played nine times in the Hastings Premier, finishing 6th= in 1936/37. Finished 12th= at Nottingham 1936 (the best score by a British player). Wikipedia. Games at chessgames.com. Photo as part of the 1921 Varsity team. (¶ The 1939 census gives a d.o.b. of 13 April 1900 but these often prove to be incorrect – JS)

BCM, Jan 1919, p6: “Sir Theodore Tylor – An Appreciation By W[illiam] Ritson Morry. The death of Sir Theodore H. Tylor at the age of sixty-eight was reported in The Times of October 24th [1968]. The announcement will be received with deep regret by the many chess enthusiasts who will remember him as a cheerful and extremely resourceful opponent who triumphed over the handicap of near-blindness and lived such a full and distinguished life that it earned him the admiration and respect of the world.

“The Times has already done full justice to his work as Fellow and Tutor in Jurisprudence at Balliol for nearly forty years and to his service to organizations for the blind for which he was most justly knighted in 1965, but it barely mentioned that side of his life with which we chess-players were more intimately acquainted. His education at Worcester College for the Blind naturally brought him into contact with chess and he became a very strong player.

“In 1925, at the age of twenty-five, he was among the twelve players selected for the British Championship at Stratford-on-Avon and fully justified the selectors’ confidence by taking fourth prize, behind Atkins, Yates, and Edmund Spencer, and ahead of Winter. It was another four years before he became really active, but in 1929 he again played in the Championship and shared fourth prize with J. H. Morrison and W. Winter behind Sultan Khan, H. E. Price, and R. P. Michell. He followed this with his first visit to Hastings and in the 1929-30 congress put up the best performance of his career, sharing first prize with Koltanowski, in front of Flohr, Reijfir, Rellstab, Alexander, Jackson, Noteboom, Vidmar Jnr., and Winser.

“This, by the way, was only a Premier Reserves! This performance evidently impressed the selectors, for the following summer brought an invitation to play for the B.C.F. team in the Hamburg Olympiad, where he won one, drew four, and lost two games. In the 1930-31 Hastings Congress he made the first of nine appearances in the Premier Tourney, but he never managed to maintain sufficient consistency to win honours in this exalted company and was never able to finish higher than equal sixth (in 1936-7). In the nine tournaments he won ten games (of which only two were against non-British opposition – Feigin and Medina) and drew thirty-three (including World Champions Alekhine and Euwe and grandmasters Fine, Flohr (three times), Keres, Sultan Khan, Tartakower, and Vidmar).

“In 1934-5 he again tied with Koltanowski for first place in the Premier Reserves. In twelve British Championships his best performance was at Hastings in 1933 where he finished second, ½ point behind Sultan Khan and lost only to C. H. O’D. Alexander. In nine of the twelve he was in the first six, and was four times a prize-winner. He was chosen to play for England against Holland in 1938, 1948, and 1952, and against Yugoslavia in 1951. In these games he won four and lost four. He was selected to play against the U.S.S. R. in 1946, but had to withdraw at the last minute. In 1936 he was chosen as one of the four British players in the Nottingham International Tournament. This caused some dissatisfaction among other disappointed aspirants, but he came ahead of Alexander, Thomas, and Winter and captured the scalps of Flohr and Tartakower.

“In the same year he was fifth at Margate, where he drew with Capablanca, Lundin, and Stahlberg. Finally, a word should be said about his work away from the board. For six years he was President of the Chess Education Society, in whose work he took a lively interest from its foundation in 1943. He was President of the Midland Counties Union from 1946-9. He played top board for Oxfordshire for many years and captained the team for a period. We mourn a great friend of chess and a fine player who was a true amateur and obviously enjoyed every minute he spent among us.”

John Francis Frederick Whall Ure (12 February 1867 – 17 April 1947). Latterly styled John Francis Frederick Whale-Ure. Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1890, 1891. Educ. Blackheath School. Occ. barrister, schoolmaster. B.C.L., 1893. Took out a patent for wheel tyres, 1913. His son Peter Tillson (1914-79 – the mother was Mabel Hannah Tillson, 1889-1928) was a strong competition chess player for Surrey and the Inland Revenue (Ancestry.com family tree).

Oxford Men and their Colleges: Ure, John Francis Frederick Whall, born at York Feb., 1867; 1s. John, D.Med Christ Church, matric. 12 June, 86, aged 19 (from Blackheath school), B.A. 90; Honours :—2 history 90, 3 civil law 92.

Rein Henri Van Dijk (1927 – 1990). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1951. Owned the company Lysaght & Co. (St Helier, Jersey) from 1968 to his death in 1990. Gaige gives his name as “Rein Henri van Dyke”.

Gilbert Varley (11 March 1874 – 16 June 1933). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1894, 1895, 1896. Engineer, company director. Educ. St Paul’s School, London. B.A. 1896; M.A. 1911. Lost to Blackburne in a blindfold simul, held on 3 October 1896 at the City of London club. (See below.)

Cambridge Alumni: “VARLEY, GILBERT. Adm. pens. at CHRIST’S, Apr. 18, 1893.
S. of John.
B. Mar. 11, 1874, in Kensington.
School, St Paul’s. Matric. Michs. 1893; Scholar; B.A. 1896; M.A. 1911.
An engineer, with experience in many parts of the world.
Director of the Neuchatel Asphalte Co., etc.
Married, 1902, Marion E. D. Duncan. Served in the Great War, 1914-19 (Sergt., R. Fusiliers). Of Broadham Manor, Oxted, Surrey . Died June 16, 1933. ( Peile, II. 782; The Times, June 17, 1933.)

Aberdeen Journal – Thursday 24 August 1933: “Mr Gilbert Varley, Oxted. Surrey, engineer, a director of the Neuchatel Asphalt Co., Ltd., the Gaika Gold Mining Company, the Scottish-Australian Mining Co., and the VarIey Trrust, who represented Cambridge University in swimming and chess, left £222,101.”

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James Malcolm Mitford Veitch (24 March 1926 – 13 October 2002). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1946 and the unofficial match of 1945. Captain of St John’s College chess team 1945/46 and also took part in athletics and cricket. Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, died in Harrogate. Educ. Newcastle Royal Grammar School. J M M Veitch played for Dundee CC in the Richardson Cup in 1974 and was graded 167 in Scotland in 1974/75. (N.B. A Malcolm Veitch was a regular correspondent to BCM’s Q&Q some years ago, and a player of the same name was based in the north of England, perhaps more recently.)

Abraham Verhoeff (16 October 1925 – 11 September 2015). Fitzwilliam House [College], Cambridge. Varsity match 1949. Gaige has A___ Verhoeff (i.e. no full forename) but there was an Abraham Verhoeff who married Elisabeth J Verkerk in Cambridge in 1949 so I’m assuming that’s him. Dutch Wikipedia has a Dutch professor of English Literature at Utrecht University of that name with the dates shown.

Maurice Arthur Vernon (1 June 1906 – 27 August 1988). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1927. Senior Officer, Dept. of Technology, City and Guilds of London Institute (1939).

George Edward Wainwright (2 November 1861 – 31 August 1933). University College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885. His son, also George Edward Wainwright (1887–1950) also played chess. Occ. Principal clerk, local government. chessgames.com.

BCM, October 1933, ppn 415-416: “Though he had dropped out of chess for some years—practically since he retired from Government service and went to live at Box, Wiltshire—the death of G. E. Wainwright came as a painful shock to his very numerous friends of the past, to whom his bright and mercurial temperament was still a pleasant memory. His achievements at chess are also still vivid in the mind—though not of all, since many of them go back well into the past.

“Born in Yorkshire on November 2, 1861, G. E. Wainwright went up to University College, Oxford, in 1880, and in the Michaelmas Term of the following year he was hon. secretary of the O.U.Ch.C. (see an article by his friend C. D. Locock in our January number of the present year), while in 1882 he became president. He played five times for Oxford, a record which he shared with Locock, W. M. Gattie, the Rev. E. H. Kinder, and R. W. (later Sir Richard) Barnett; for in those days there was no such limitation as there is to-day with regard to playing for one’s University. He was 6th board in 1881 and 2nd board in 1882-5, scoring in all 4 wins, 2 draws, and one loss. After leaving Oxford he quickly made his mark in metropolitan chess, indeed in English chess generally. In 1889 he won the Newnes Challenge Cup, which was equivalent to the Amateur Championship. In later days he competed in the B.C.F. tournaments for the British Championship in 1905 (when he was 6th), 1906 (equal 3rd), 1907 (eq. 2nd), 1909 (eq. 6th), 1910 (eq. 4th), 1920 (8th), 1921 (eq. 3rd), and 1923 (5th).

“At the City of London Chess Club he was always to the fore, and won the championship twice, in 1907 and, after a triple tie, in 1918.

“He played in the Anglo-American cable matches five times, in 1899, 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910, his highest board being 4th in 1909. Wainwright will be vividly remembered by all his opponents of old for his remarkably rapid play. Yet the present writer remembers one occasion on which Wainwright took three-quarters of an hour over a single move against him—duly apologising afterwards, though the position was exceedingly difficult. Three-quarters of an hour over a whole game was more like his usual style! He was a great springer of “wild-cats” on his adversaries; and his attacks, even when unsound, were very difficult to meet, inspired as they were by a strong personality, very rapid sight of the board, and a healthy confidence. In addition, he had studied the game deeply, beginning in his University days, if not sooner. P.W.S[ergeant].

A Century of Chess by Philip W Sergeant, page 14, footnote: “I once scribbled a note to pass to G. E. Wainwright when, at the Southsea Congress in 1923, he first appeared with a beard. “Barbatus ille quem videtis, hospites,” I wrote, regardless of scansion. It occurred to me afterwards that I might have gone on “Ait fuisse knavium celerrimus.” As Mr. Wainwright’s opponents know, he was in his prime a remarkably rapid player. [This is PWS’s adaptation of the beginning of Catullus’s Ode 4—”Phaselvs ille, quem uidetis, hospites, ait fuisse nauium celerrimus,” (“the yacht that you see, my friends, was once the fastest of ships.”) PWS’s jocular version was intended to mean “the bearded person that you see, my friends, was once the fastest of knaves.” – JS]

Alumni Oxonienses: Wainwright, George Edward, 1s. David, of Redcar, Yorks, gent. University Coll., matric. 16 Oct., 1880, aged 18 ; exhibitioner 1880-1, scholar 1881-5.

The Times, 5 September 1933: WAINWRIGHT.—On Aug. 31, 1933. George Edward Wainwright, of “Netherby,” Box, Wilts, husband of Alice Margaret Wainwright.

Edward Kingsley Wakeford (15 June 1894 – 16 July 1916, Somme). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1913, 1914. Educ. Borden Grammar School; Clifton College. Mathematics scholarship, 1912. B.A., wrangler. Commissioned, 2nd Lt., 7th Bn., Leicestershire regt., 1914; later 1st Lt. Killed on the Somme on 16 June 1916 – his younger brother George Tarik Wakeford died on the Somme just seven days later (they are both commemorated by a stained glass window in St Nicholas’ Church, Leicester). Buried Flatiron Copse, Mametz. Wikipedia (which gives d.o.d. as 26 July 1916 – this doesn’t match statutory sources). Nephew of HE Atkins (his mother Elizabeth Threapland Atkins (1861-1898) was HE Atkins’ sister). Obituary, London Mathematical Society, Volume s2-16, Issue 1, 1917. CWGC record.

Extract From the London Mathematical Society obituary: “He was the son of Edward and Elizabeth Threapland Wakeford. It may be remarked that his mother was a competent mathematician, and especially excelled in solving problems on conic sections. To his grandfather, the Rev. E. Atkins, he was indebted for much inspiring teaching, while his powers of algebraical manipulation and, even more, his ability as a chess player would remind friends of his uncle, Mr. H. E. Atkins. After spending some time in Hong Kong, where his mother died in 1898, Wakeford was brought back to England at the age of six, and lived, except for a short period, with his grandfather at Leicester.”

David Rangeley Walker (2 March 1936 – 2018). New College, Oxford. Varsity match 1959. Occ. schoolteacher. Appointed Lieutenant in British Territorial Army; New Zealand Cadet Corps, Whanganui Collegiate School, 1965. Spent a year away from NZ, teaching at Geelong Grammar School, Victoria, Australia, 1968-69, then returned to Whanganui Collegiate School and still there in 1978. Took part in the 1954 British Boys (Under-18) Championship, scoring 5½/11; residence given as “Wirral”. Played for Hoylake in the Liverpool and District League, 1959.

Gilbert Walker (19 February 1881 – 13 September 1955, Nakuru, Kenya). University College, Oxford. Varsity match 1902. Educ. Malvern College (1895-1900). B.A., 3rd Class, chemistry, 1903. Trained as a civil engineer with the London & South-Western Railway, 1903-1905. Qualified as A.M.I.C.E. in 1906; resident assistant engineer in charge of reconstruction of railway bridges over the Thames at Kingston and Richmond. Later worked as an engineer in India, South Africa and Vancouver. Captain, RASC, WW1. In 1922 emigrated to East Africa and set up a farm at Bahati, Nakuru, in the Rift Valley in Kenya, pioneering the cultivation of pyrethrum flowers which he brought from the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in 1928; this became an important industry in Kenya.

James Manders Walker (1st qtr 1860, Isle of Man – 5 January 1929). Wadham College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1883, 1884, 1885. Educ. King William’s College, Isle of Man. Occ. clergyman, schoolmaster. Assistant master, Bedford Grammar School, 1890-95. Vicar of Haverhill, Suffolk, 1896-1900. Vicar of Evesham, Worcs. President, OUCC, 1883. Compiled a history of OUCC from club minute books, 1885.

Alumni Oxonienses: Walker, James Manders, 1s. Samuel Sharpe, of Kirk Andrews, Isle of Man, cler. Wadham Coll., matric. 16 Oct., 1880, aged 20; scholar 1879-84, B.A. 1884, M.A. 1887.

Peter Walker ( ). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1955, 1956.

Wilfred Walker (? – ?). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1942. No other info found.

(Sir) John Anthony Wall (4 June 1930 – 1 December 2008). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1949, 1951. Lawyer, visually impaired judge. Blind by the age of 8. Educ. Worcester College for the Blind. Graduated in jurisprudence, 1951. Solicitor, legal adviser to NALGO. High court judge, 1990. President of European Blind Union, 1996-2003. Knighted in 2000. Qualified to play in the 1956 British Championship but did not take up his place. Wikipedia.

William Pitkin Wallace (29 May 1907, Illinois, USA – 14 December 1965, Toronto, Canada). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1930, 1931, 1932. Classics professor. “From Toronto, and a star of the Oxford ice-hockey team.” (The Observer). BA, Toronto, 1928; BA, Oxford, 1932; PhD, Johns Hopkins, 1936. Served in the US Navy, WW2. Professor of Classics, University of Toronto. Rutgers Database of Classical Scholars.

Leonard Charles Walters (14 November 1923 – 29 June 2010). St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1944. B.A. 1945. Played in the unofficial Varsity match of 1944.

His December 1957 letter published in the 1958 St Catharine’s Magazine: “After going down in 1944 I worked for the Ministry of Supply on valve development and research until 1947 when I took a four-year Short Service Commission in the Royal Navy as an Instructor Officer. On returning to civilian life in February 1951, I joined the Plessey Co., Ltd, as a development engineer. I left Plesseys and worked as Senior Engineer in the microwave research laboratory of Decca Radar, Ltd, from October 1954 to September 1955, when I returned to Plesseys as Project Leader in a new research group which moved to Hampshire in 1956. Since October last year we have been living at Hazeldene, Botley Road, near Baddesley, Hampshire. Apart from a briefly renewed acquaintance with Graham Rushton in 1946, occasional contact with J. M. Bee at chess gatherings or matches, and spasmodic meetings at technical exhibitions or lectures with David Paul, my contact with Cath’s men has been confined to the annual dinner of the London Group, but even this, I regret to say, has had to be omitted for the past two years.”

Sir John Charles Walton (14 March 1885 – 1 August 1957). Brasenose College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity chess match but took part in the 1950 Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past match. K.C.I.E., cr. 1942, C.B., 1930, M.C. Educ. Tonbridge. Brasenose, 1st Greats, entered Admiralty, 1908. India Office, 1909. Secretary, Political dept, 1930. Asst. Under-Sec of State for India, 1936. Deputy Under-Sec of State for Burma, 1942. Retired, 1946. Military service with RA, 1916-18.

Cecil Warburton (6 February 1854 – 7 October 1958). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1886, 1887, 1888. Entomologist, schoolmaster.

Biographical Register of Christ’s College, 1505-1905: Volume 2, 1666-1905: “Warburton, Cecil: son of William: born at Salford, 6 Feb. 1854. Schools: Old Trafford, Manchester; Owens College, Manchester. Second Master at Old Trafford School. Admitted pensioner under Mr Cartmell 15 Jan. 1886. BA. (Nat. Sc. Trip. 2nd class) 1889 ; M.A. 1892, Represented Cambridge against Oxford at Chess 1886-7-8, and holder of the University Chess Challenge Cup 1886 and 1887. One of the founders of the Christ’s College Magazine. Zoologist to the Royal Agricultural Society since 1893. On the Government Entomological Research Committee 1909. Lecturer in Agricultural Zoology. Demonstrator in Medical Entomology since 1911. Author of numerous papers on insects and arachnids; of the article on Tracheate Arachnids in Cambridge Natural History, joint author of Monograph on Ixodidae or Ticks. Present address: Yewgarth, Grantchester, Cambridge.”

Illustrated London News – Saturday 18 October 1958

The Times, 9 October 1958, p16: “MR. CECIL WARBURTON –
Mr. Cecil Warburton, doyen of Cambridge entomologists, died at Grantchester on Tuesday at the age of 104. He was born on February 6, 1854, and educated at Old Trafford School, Manchester, and afterwards at Owens College. For a time he was second master at his old school until he came up to Christ’s College. Cambridge, in 1886, at the instigation of an old pupil who was a member of the college, J. G. Adami, afterwards Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University, and among his contemporaries at Christ’s were [Sir Arthur] Shipley, Israel Gollancz, and W. H. D. Rouse. Although he was older than the ordinary undergraduate, and wore a beard, too, his good humour and his cheerfulness easily bridged the gap of years.

“An ardent croquet player beyond his 100th birthday, in those distant years Warburton took part in many college activities; he represented the University against Oxford at chess in 1886, 1887, and 1888, and was president of the University chess club in 1887. After taking his B.A. degree in 1889 he devoted himself to research in zoology. He was especially interested in the Arachnida and was the author of numerous papers and articles on them. His leaning towards the economic side of zoology led to his appointment in 1893 as zoologist to the Royal Agricultural Society. He was a member of the Government Entomological Research Committee in 1909. For many years he lectured in Zoology in the Agricultural School at Cambridge and he demonstrated as well in the Zoological Laboratory. He was appointed Demonstrator in Medical Entomology in 1911 and worked both in the Quick Laboratory, then just started, and in the Agricultural School. When, after the War of 1914-18, the Quick Laboratory expanded into the Molteno Institute, Warburton gave his whole time to work in that department. He loved both fresh air and exercise (he used to bicycle to and fro between Cambridge and his home at Grantchester until late in life), and throughout his life he retained a freshness and vigour that were remarkable. He was unmarried. On his 100th birthday he was entertained at luncheon by the Master and Fellows of Christ’s College.”

Arnold Sandwith Ward (8 November 1876 – 1 January 1950). Balliol College, Oxford. Varsity match 1896. Educ. Eton College. Classical scholar of Balliol: double 1st. Played in the Eton vs Harrow cricket match and one first-class match for Oxford University. Occ. journalist, politician, lawyer. Times correspondent, Egypt, Sudan, India, 1899-1902. Inner temple, 1903. Conservative MP for Watford, 1910-1918 (his party dropped him because of his strong stance against female suffrage). WW1 service: commission in the Hertfordshire Yeomanry. Wikipedia.

Cyril Aidan Oswald Warman (20 August 1908 – 5 March 2001). Pembroke College, Oxford. Varsity match 1930. Clergyman. Ordained by his father, Dr Guy Warman, Bishop of Manchester, in 1932. Vicar of Shepshed, Leicestershire (1939) and appointed to the living of St Luke’s, Manningham, Bradford, in 1946.

(Alexander) Percival Waterfield, K.B.E., C.B. (16 May 1888 – 2 June 1965). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911. First cousin of Frederick Waterfield who played in the 1900 Varsity match. Educ. Westminster School. Hertford Scholarship at Christ Church, 1909. 1st, Classical Mods, 1909; 1st, Lit.Hum., 1911. Occ. civil servant (from 1911). No WW1 (defective eyesight). In 1920 left Treasury to work for Peter Jones Ltd at the invitation of former schoolfriend (John) Spedan Lewis (also a keen chess player), but within the year was back as a civil servant, this time in Ireland. Treasury Remembrancer for Ireland, 1920-1922; principal assistant secretary in the Treasury (1934–9); Palestine partition commission (1938); part-time deputy secretary, Ministry of Information (1939–40); First Civil Service Commissioner, 1939-1955. C.B., 1923; knighted, 1944; K.B.E., 1951. Took part in the 1908 and 1910 Anglo-US universities cable matches. Played for Exeter CC in county competitions and for Devon in county competitions in the period 1905-1920 (OTB and CC); later for Cheltenham CC (c1910-11) and Oxfordshire (1911). Played for Wallingford CC in the Berkshire League in his retirement, 1950s. Wikipedia.

Frederick Waterfield (27 December 1879 – 26 June 1940, Villa Jouvence, Pau, France). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity match 1900. First cousin of (Alexander) Percival Waterfield who played in the 1908-11 Varsity matches. Educ. Westminster School. Indian civil servant. Son of Sir Henry Waterfield, GCIE, KCSI, CB (1837-1913), also a colonial civil servant. Known as Derick Waterfield, he and his wife Barbara created a house and garden in the South of France called the Clos du Peyronnet where they lived between the wars. The Times, 9 July 1940, p1, reported his and his wife’s undated deaths in the same notice. They both died on 26 June 1940. After WW2, their grandson William lived and looked after their villa until his death in 2021.

Westminster School Register: Waterfield, Frederick, son of Sir Henry Waterfield [q. v.], by his first wife ; b. Dec. 27, 1879 ; adm. Sept. 22, 1892; Q.S. Jan. 28, 1898; Capt. of the School 1897 ; elected to Ch. Ch. Oxon. July 1898, matric. Michaelmas 1898; 1st class Classics (Mods.) 1900; 2nd class Lit. Hum. 1902 ; B.A. 1902; I.C.S. (Bengal) 1902; arrived in India Nov. 30, 1903; Assist. Commissioner, Punjab; m. Oct. 27, 1905, Barbara, only child of John Pritt Gardner, of Hagley Hall, Rugeley, Staffs.

Allen Watkins (2 March 1889 – ? March 1977). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1911, 1912. Born Tupsley, Herefordshire, died Cheltenham, Gloucs. Son of a master miller and became one himself, at Slad, Gloucs. Article in the BCM, August 1916, pps 263-267 on ‘chess shorthand’ by Allen Watkins. See Chess Notes CN5880.

Sir Duncan Amos Watson (10 May 1926 – 21 April 2015). St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity match 1945. Lost his eyesight aged 16, in about 1942. Educ. Worcester College for the Blind (where he was chess captain). By profession a solicitor and senior civil servant; disability activist. Became president, World Blind Union and chair of RNIB. Awarded CBE (1986) and was knighted in 1993. Obituary in the Guardian.

Emanuel Wax (1 May 1911 – 23 April 1983). New College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1931, 1932. First-class degree in law, qualified solicitor. Literary agent, known as Jimmy Wax, who founded Theatrical and Cinematic Ltd (ACTAC) after serving as a judge in the British Army of Occupation in post-war Europe. From 1957 to his death in 1983, was literary agent to the playwright Harold Pinter. On Wax’s death, Pinter wrote “We … spoke daily and met weekly for almost twenty-six years. [He was my] backbone, through thick and thin. I shall never forget his warmth, his kindness, his constancy. He was a rare man, a true friend. His death is, for me, “a very limb lopp’d off” (Jimmy, Pendragon Press, 1984, pps 49-50).

Stanley Weall (4th qtr 1861 – 31 August 1939). St John’s College, Oxford. Varsity match 1883. Occ. advertisement commission agent, poet. Published Babylon Bound, A morality, and other poems (London, 1886).

Alumni Oxonienses: Weall, Stanley, 2s. William, of Brixton, Surrey, arm. St. John’s Coll., matric. 17 Jan., 1880, aged 18; scholar 1883-5, B.A. 1883, bar.-at-law, Inner Temple, 1884.

John Henry Weatherall (23 September 1868 – 15 January 1950). Exeter College, Oxford. Varsity match 1894. b Liverpool, 1868; m 1st, 1897, Florence (d 1915), d of George Atkins, Leicester; 2nd, 1917, Mary (d 1945), d of Rudolph Neele, London; one s one d. Educ: [Wavertree national school] Liverpool; Owens College, Manchester; Unitarian College, Manchester; Exeter College and Manchester College, Oxford. Work: Unitarian Minister, Darlington, 1896-98; Professor of Hebrew and Hellenistic Greek in the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, 1898-1904; Minister of Bank Street Chapel, Bolton, 1904-14; Minister of Essex Church, London, 1915-30; Principal of Manchester College, Oxford, 1931-38; London University Extension Lecturer in European Literature, 1917-29; Preacher to American Unitarian Association, Boston, 1921; and at Centenary Service of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association, London, 1925; Preacher to Czecho-Slovakian Church, Vinorhady, Prague, 1934. Publications: The Books of the Old Testament, 1902; Twelve Sermons, 1907; Recollections of an Oxford Student at Manchester College, 1929; The significance of the Unitarians, Essex Hall Lecture, 1938; various contributions in The Inquirer, Manchester Guardian, Hibbert Journal. Recreations: chess (Oxford University Chess Team v Cambridge, 1894) and walking. Address: 26 Llanedeyrn Road, Cardiff. Died 15 Jan. 1950. (Who’s Who)

Oxford Alumni: “Weatherall, John Henry, born at Liverpool 23 Sept., 1868; 2s. William, cler. Non-Collegiate, matric. 11 Oct., 90, aged 22 (from Wavertree national school, and Owens coll.); migrated to Exeter 21 Jan., 91.”

Ronald Cherry Weaver (8 April 1905 – 16 October 1981). Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1926, 1927. Clergyman, son of a clergyman. Educ. King Edward VII School, Sheffield. Ordained 1928, after studying at Corpus and later Ridley Hall, Cambridge; became curate, Rotherham. Also curate at St. Paul’s Church, Norton; appointed (1935) chaplain at Atbara, in the diocese of Egypt and the Sudan. Rector of St James’s Church, Didsbury, from 1940s, retired c.1971.

Christopher Anderson Webb (18 October 1917 – 28 December 1975). Jesus College, Cambridge. Unofficial Varsity match 1944.

Herbert Anthony Webb (8 February 1882 – 31 January 1961). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1901, 1902, 1903. Educ. Bath College. Fellow, Trinity, from 1903 (bracketed 3rd Wrangler, 1902; 1st, Part 2, 1903); mathematics coach; later, lecturer, Engineering, Cambridge University. President of CUCC, 1902, and won the CUCC Challenge Cup twice. Played in the 1902 and 1903 GB vs USA university cable matches. Member of Sevenoaks CC, 1903. Represented Cambridgeshire in county chess and also Kent.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Herbert Anthony Webb TRINITY Entered: Michs. 1899 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 25, 1899. S. of Anthony Edward, of 4, Woodland Place, Bath. B. Feb. 8, 1882, at Bath. School, Bath College. Matric. Michs. 1899; Scholar; Stewart of Rannoch Scholar, 1900; B.A. (3rd Wrangler) 1902; (Math. Trip., Pt II, 1st Class, 1903); Smith’s prize, 1904; M.A. 1906. Fellow, 1903. A mathematical ‘coach.’ Of 9, Highfield Avenue, Cambridge, in 1953.

Hyman Weisberg (12 December 1890, London – 21 July 1976). Christ’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1913, 1914. Parents born Odessa, Russian Empire; the family was naturalised, 1894. Educ. Rutland Street School, Stepney; Central Foundation School. Father a tobacconist. Wrangler, Mathematical Tripos Part 2, 1913. WW1, RASC, private. Occ. senior civil servant from 1914 (Malaya; Straits Settlements; as financial officer, his signature appeared on Malayan bank notes of the 1930s and early 1940s; later Foreign Office). Appointed CMG, 1942.

John Francis Welsh (23 June 1856 – 21 July 1916). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1881, 1883. Bishop of Trinidad, 1904-1916. Wikipedia.

Alumni Oxonienses: Welsh, John Francis, 2s. Robert, of Huddersfield, Yorks, arm. Christ Church, matric. 8 June, 1878, aged 21; B.A. 1881, M.A. 1886, principal of Warminster Missionary College 1886.

DNB: WELSH, Rt. Rev. John Francis DD; Bishop of Trinidad since 1904; b Huddersfield; y s of Robert Welsh of Tweedsmuir, Peeblesshire, and Huddersfield; m 1882, Jane, e d of Matthew Brown of Scaurbank, Arthuret, JP for County of Cumberland. Educ: Christ Church, Oxford (BA 1881; MA 1886); DD (hon. causa) 1904. Work: Deacon, 1881; Priest, 1882; Curate of St James, Whitehaven, 1881-83; Lecturer of St Bees’ Theological Coll. 1883-86; Principal of Warminster Missionary Coll. 1887-1904. Recreations: music, well-known chess-player; was Pres. of Oxford Univ. Club. Address: Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, WI. Telegraphic Address: Bishop, Port-of-Spain. T: 499. Club: West Indian. Died 21 July 1916.

BCM 1916, p284: OBITUARY.
It is with feelings of very deep personal regret that we announce the death of the Bishop of Trinidad, better known to English chessplayers as the Rev. J. F. Welsh, who passed away at Warminster, Wilts, on July 22nd, at the age of sixty years, deeply regretted by all who knew him.
Dr. Welsh was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. in the early eighties, and D.D. [honoris causa), in 1904, and we well remember the keen pleasure he took in showing us through his Alma Mater during the Federation Congress at Oxford in 1910.
After serving as curate at St. James’, Whitehaven, he was appointed lecturer at the Theological College of St. Bees, Cumberland, and later was principal of St. Boniface College, Warminster.
In 1904, Dr. Welsh left England as Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago, and it was only a few weeks ago that he wrote us quite cheerily saying that he was leaving for England for a holiday.
During his sojourn in Cumberland, Dr. Welsh was instrumental in forming the Whitehaven Chess Club, and after his removal to Warminster he was a pillar of support to chess in Wiltshire, also to chess in the South of England generally.
He was an ardent chess enthusiast and a consistent adherent of the British Chess Federation.

John Elliott West (24 April 1904 – 3 August 1959). Downing College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925. Played in the 1924 GB vs USA Cable Match. British Correspondence Chess Champion, 1929/30. From Ashton-under-Lyne, played for Lancashire in OTB county chess, 1920s.

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Walter Roland Tracy Whatmore (1893/4 – 27 July 1962). Christ Church, Oxford. Varsity matches 1912, 1913, 1914. Chartered accountant, Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co, City of London. Lt. Colonel of the 2/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regt, WW1. Awarded Military Cross, WW1, 1918 New Year Honours List. Drew with JH Blackburne in a simul given on 12 October 1910 at the King’s Restaurant, Leicester (game score not available). [chessgames. com Blackburne page]

George Shorrock Ashcombe Wheatcroft (29 October 1905 – 2 December 1987). New College, Oxford. Varsity 1925, 1926. University law professor, expert on taxation. Professor of English Law, LSE (1959-68). Represented England at the Stockholm Chess Olympiad of 1937, served as president of the British Chess Federation (1953-56), and was an expert bridge player.

Leonard Barden comments: “I always understood that he was the man who originated VAT.”

Indeed so – Wheatcroft’s biography at the LSE website tells us that Wheatcroft was a “Professor of Law at the School from 1959-1968 and from 1971 to 1972 was the official advisor to the Customs and Excise on the introduction of VAT.” His son Timothy Martin Wheatcroft (25 January 1934 – 13 June 1987) was also a chess player who played in the 1963 British Championship in 1963, scoring 5½ out of 11. Wikipedia.

William Timothy Whiffen (21 May 1925 – 8 July 2010). St John’s College, Oxford. Unofficial Varsity match 1944. Clergyman. Canon. Former Vicar of St. Mary’s, Woughton-on-the-Green and lately of Lovat Fields Village, Willen Park, after spending some time in Sri Lanka.

Rev. Benjamin Whitefoord (26 Dec 1848 – 29 Nov 1910¶). New College, Oxford. Varsity match 1873. D.D., M.A. Principal of Salisbury Theological College (c1883). He died on 29 Nov 1910¶ without issue. He was educated in New College, Oxford. Parents: Rev. Caleb WHITEFOORD M.A. and Sarah LAMBERT. He was married to Hon. Marion Sybil HEADLEY (daughter of HEADLEY 3rd Baron and unknown) on 13 Nov 1890. (not in Gaige). WHITEFOORD, Rev. Canon Benjamin [who’s who] –
DD; Vicar of Potterne, Wilts, and Rural Dean; Prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral from 1887;
b 26 Dec. 1848; s of the Rev. Caleb Whitefoord, MA, late Rector of Whitton, Salop; m 1890, Hon. Marion Sybil Powell, y d of 3rd Baron Headley and widow of late Alexander Powell of Hurdcott House, Wilts. Educ: New Coll., Oxford (MA, DD). Third-class Classical Moderations; 3rd class Final Classical School; 4th class Jurisprudence School. Work: Asst-Master, Lucton School, 1875-76; Curate of St Maurice, Winchester, 1877-84; Principal of Salisbury Theological College, 1883. Publications: joint author of a Book of Latin Phrases; frequent contributor to the Expositor and the Expository Times; contributor to Hastings’ Dictionary of the Gospels. Recreations: chess (President of the Oxford University Chess Club, 1873; played against Cambridge University, 1873), golf. Address: Potterne Vicarage, Wilts. Club: Athenæum. Died 29 Nov 1910¶. (¶ n.b. biographical records give d.o.d. variously as 1911 and 1912 but statutory records indicate the date as given here.)

Ewart Whitehead (5 December 1900 – 25 February 1991). Jesus College, Oxford. Varsity match 1922. An invalid, staying with his parents in Paignton in 1939. His father was a congregational minister.

Basil Thomas Wigoder (12 February 1921 – 12 August 2004). Oriel College Oxford. Unofficial Varsity match, 1940. Lord Wigoder of Cheetham (1974). Royal Artillery, 1942-1945, continued his studies at Oriel College, Oxford, after the war. Degree in Modern Languages in 1946, President of the Oxford Union in the same year. Called to the Bar in 1946, became a QC in 1966. Ran for parliament as Liberal Party candidate in 1959 and 1964, unsuccessfully. No other chess references found. Wikipedia.

Sir Edgar Wigram (23 November 1864 – 15 March 1935). Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in Cambridge Past vs Oxford Past matches. Was the 6th baronet, succeeding to the title in 1920. Between 1926 and 1927 he was Mayor of St Albans.

[BCM, April 1935, p172]: “Sir Edgar Wigram died in London on March 15, aged 70. For some years he had been in poor health, and had lived at Wells, in Somersetshire.

“He identified himself with Hertfordshire chess since the County was reorganised in 1913, and played top board on many occasions. He was a member of the City of London Chess Club for many years, and had also represented the Carlton Club in the Hamilton-Russell Cup competition. To the end he retained his membership of the Imperial Chess Club, and his charming personality made him popular at all times.

“Edgar Thomas Ainger Wigram was the eldest son of the Rev. Woolmore Wigram, and was born on November 23, 1864. He was educated at Kings School, Canterbury, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he was elected a scholar in 1884 and took his degree in 1886. He qualified as an A.R.I.B.A., and did work for the Great Northern Railway.

“He was the author of Northern Spain and The Cradle of Mankind. He is succeeded by his nephew, Mr. C. W. Wigram.”

Clement Christopher Wiles (29 June 1878 – 1 December 1964, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1899, 1900, 1901. Headmaster, Graeme College, South Africa. Played in the 1900 and 1901 GB-USA universities’ cable matches.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Clement Christopher Wiles ST JOHN’S Entered Michs. 1897 BornJune 29, 1878 Adm. sizar at ST JOHN’S, Oct. 19, 1897. S. of Joseph Pitts (1868), schoolmaster, of Warkworth House, Cambridge (and Mary Helen Barker). B. there, June 29, 1878. School, Warkworth House, Cambridge (Mr J. P. Wiles). Matric. Michs. 1897; B.A. 1901; M.A. 1904.

Peter Anscar Williams (14 July 1916 – 29 September 2000). Corpus Christi College, Oxford (1944-46 and 1952). Unofficial Varsity match 1945. Died in Tower Hamlets, London.

Henry Gaye Willis (December 1847 – 28 January 1937). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1875. Schoolmaster at Manchester Grammar School, 1911. Entered St John’s, Michaelmas 1872. Adm. pens. at ST JOHN’S, May 15, 1871. S. of the Rev. Henry Mark (1836) (and Maria Simpson Gaye). B. at Littledean, Gloucs. Bapt. Dec. 23, 1847. School, University College, London. Migrated to Clare, June 6, 1872. Matric. Michs. 1872; Scholar, 1872; B.A. (14th Wrangler) 1876; M.A. 1879. Assistant Master at Dulwich College, 1876-7; at Manchester Grammar School, 1879-1918-. Author, Conic Sections; Elementary Modern Geometry, etc. (Dulwich College Register).

Alan John Willson (26 September 1932 – 18 January 2014). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1952, 1953. Played in the Glorney Cup for England in 1950.

Nigel Guy Wilson (born 23 July 1935). Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Varsity match 1957. Occ. academic (classics), author. Wikipedia. Fellow and tutor, classics, Lincoln College, Oxford, until 2002. Played for Oxfordshire in the 1960s.

Philip Wilson (13 August 1876 – 31 March 1963). Balliol College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but took part in Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past matches in 1925, 1926 and 1930. Educ. Dulwich College. Balliol (1895-99): 2nd class mods., 1897, 3rd class Lit.Hum. [Classics] and B.A., 1899. M.A., 1902. 1st class assistant, Department of Printed Books, British Museum; civil servant. Author of a book entitled The Beginnings of Irish History (1913). Retired to Bournemouth by 1939. Died in Hastings.

William Winter (11 September 1897 – 17 December 1955). Clare College, Cambridge. Varsity match 1919. Wikipedia. Chess Notes Biography (¶ BCM actually gives 1898 as the year of birth but I have corrected this as it is now known to be incorrect. Statutory records show his year of birth to be 1897.)

BCM, Feb 1956, p28 (by JG – unidentified – a typo for HG = Harry Golombek?): “William Winter died on December 17th last [1955]. He was born near Alton [Medstead] in Hampshire, on September 11th, [1897¶ – see note above], of Scottish parentage, and was thus in his fifty-eighth [59th¶] year. Although in failing health for the past few years, he remained cheerful and mentally active to the end.

“In his boyhood he was taught the game by his father. He made rapid progress and devoted much time to the game. At Cambridge he became University Champion in 1919, and about that time he won promotion to the first class of the City of London C.C. In the same year he played in the strong Hastings International Tournament, but obviously suffered from lack of experience of master play.

“The milestones of his subsequent progress can be briefly noted. He came fifth in his first British Championship, 1925, third in 1928, and equal second in 1931. The successive years 1935, at Yarmouth, and 1936, at Bournemouth, saw him Champion. In 1918 he was first in a strong tournament at Scarborough; in 1939 he was equal second in the Scottish Championship.

“Winter represented his country in four international Team Tournaments: Hamburg, 1930; Prague, 1931; Folkestone, 1933; and Warsaw, 1935. He acquitted himself well, In the radio match with U.S.S.R. in 1946, he defeated young Bronstein in the first round. It will also be remembered that in the last round at Nottingham, 1936, he drew with Botwinnik, thus depriving the present World Champion of the outright first prize.

“He will, above all, be remembered as a writer and teacher. A second edition of his Chess for Match Players was published in 1951 and later his Kings of Chess. For about ten years he edited the chess bulletins of the Society for Cultural Relations with the U.S.S.R. Also, for six years until 1951 he was chess editor of the Daily Worker. With D. V. Hooper he produced the World Championship Candidates’ Tournament Book, 1953. In his writing, and in his annotations, he was lucid, putting into a sentence as much as many others put into a paragraph.

“All his pupils agree that he was a great teacher. He had a vast knowledge of all aspects of the game of chess, but in addition he had the ability to expound the ideas behind the moves.

“An International Master of F.I.D.E. and British Master of BCF, Winter never reached, however, the highest rank in chess, although he gave most of his life to the game. It may be that he lacked the stamina necessary for play in the best circles. Probably he had not the determination and will to win, although well aware of Lasker’s pronouncements on this subject. A most gracious loser, he would concede a loss where other players would fight on and put difficulties in the way of the opponent.

“Winter was a cultured man of high intellectual attainments, as befitted the nephew of Sir J. M. Barrie. Let it be admitted that he had his failings, and his views were not always acceptable to the majority. But to his friends he was a charming man, always courteous, and tolerant of all, even of the youngest chess-players. His passing is a great loss to his friends and to chess. – J. G.”

Mervyn Edward Wise (24 January 1917 – ??). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1937, 1938, 1939. Academic, expert on the mathematics of medicine. Lived with his parents in Merton, Surrey, in 1939, listed in the census as B.A. mathematics & geography. Based at Leiden University in the Netherlands in the 1990s and active in chess there as late as 1995. “An active London and Surrey player in the mid 1950s and I played him in a Richmond (?) congress. Maybe he was a Richmond CC member.” (Leonard Barden)

Thomas Arnold Wise (30 August 1860, Sydney, Australia – 27 June 1940, Bexhill, Sussex). Lincoln College, Oxford. Varsity match 1882. Educ. Rugby School (from 1873, where he was head of school). Occ. founder and headmaster, Oakfield prep school, Rugby, 1888-1929. Two of his sons were killed in WW1. Borough councillor, Rugby, 1899-1932.

Alumni Oxonienses: Wise, Thomas Arnold, 3s. Edward, of Enmore, near Sydney, Australia, arm. Lincoln Coll., matric. 13 Oct., 1879, aged 19; scholar 1879-83, B.A. 1883, M.A. 1886, assistant-master Lockers Park, Hemel Hempstead, brother of Bernhard R. See Rugby
School Reg.

Coventry Ernest Woodhouse (27 November 1885 – 21 April 1962). Pembroke College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1907, 1908. Occ. produce broker, 1911; colonial broker, 1939.

Edmund Samuel Woodley (12 February 1892 – 20 September 1942). St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Varsity matches 1919, 1920. Educ. Worcester College for the Blind (as an adult, aged 22 – he was later hon. sec. of their old boys’ union). Represented his old school as a past member in representative matches into the 1930s. Married (in 1919 to Gladys Violet Stevens) and living in Newbury with his wife in 1921. College magazines show him to have been active as a chess player and singer in college in 1921.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette – Saturday 22 July 1922: “Another instance of victory over blindness was demonstrated last evening at the concert given in aid of the National Institute for the Blind. One of the performers was Mr. E. S. Woodley, B.A. (Oxon), a blind tenor, and, naturally, he received a well-merited ovation. Mr. Woodley is a brother of Mrs. Ware, of 73, St. Leonard’s-road, Exeter, with whom he is staying with his wife on a visit. An accident while employed under H.M. Government in the Electrical Engineers’ Department, deprived him of his sight in 1914. The following year he went to Worcester Blind College, and in less than three years he mastered in the Braille system Greek, Latin, French, mathematics, etc. In 1918 he passed the entrance examination for Oxford University, and has since taken his B.A. degree. Eventually he hopes to be ordained in the Church of England. Mr. Woodley is well known as a rower, and annually journeys to Worcester to take part in the regatta of his old school: he has rowed in St Dunstan’s regatta at Putney on different occasions. Another of his recreations is swimming, and he is captain of his College Swimming Club. Keenly interested in chess, he is a player ot merit, and has for two years in succession represented Oxford in the Inter-Varsity chess match. He has, furthermore, played for the county, and is a member of the Newbury Club. Mr. Woodley, whose vocal efforts last evening were much appreciated, is now representing the National Institute for the Blind for Berkshire.”

Duncan Wakeman Wooldridge (25 April 1889 – 2 February 1974). St John’s College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1911, 1912. Solicitor, chess administrator. Born Hay Green, Worcs., died Stourbridge, Worcs. (Father Henry was a ‘Frost cog manuf’r’, mother Elizabeth.) Matriculated 1908, B.A. 1911. M.A. 1915 (also LL.B.). Played chess for Worcestershire in 1939 on board 4. Vice-president, Birmingham CC, 1930. Lived in Harbourne in 1915; solicitor in the firm New & Wooldridge, Temple Row, Birmingham, 1940.

Robert Douglas Wormald (10 June 1900 – 13 August 1964). Balliol College, Oxford. Did not play in a Varsity match but represented Oxford Past in matches vs Cambridge Past. Assistant master, Manchester Grammar School, 1921; Classics master, Monmouth Grammar School, 1922-26; Classics master at Worcester Royal Grammar School from 1927 to the 1960s. High board for Worcestershire, president and captain of the county and Worcester Evening News chess columnist for ten years. Co-authored, with Reginald Walter Bonham (also playing for this team), Chess Questions Answered (1945) and More Chess Questions Answered (1948), both published by Jordan & Sons, London. (BCM obit, October 1964, p300)

Charles Wreford-Brown (9 October 1866 – 26 November 1951). Oriel College, Oxford. Did not play in the Varsity match but appeared in Oxford Past vs Cambridge Past matches. All-round sportsman – captained the England association football team and was a county cricketer. Wikipedia. Chessgames.com. Took part in an unofficial chess Olympiad, Paris 1924. Played in the 1933 British Championship but dropped through out through illness after scoring 1½/2. Article at John Saunders’ Chess Blog.

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Francis Michael Wright (1856 – ?). Queen’s College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1875, 1877, 1878. 1st son of William, of Doncaster, Yorks, gent. Queen’s College, matric. 28 May 1874, aged 18; exhibitioner 1874-9, B.A. (1st class, maths & physics) 1877, M.A. 1883 (Alumni). In 1881 he was an assistant master at Tonbridge Grammar School, Kent. Later taught for a year at Haileybury College, from where he emigrated to the USA in 1885, naturalised in 1890, eventually became a patent lawyer and author, based in San Francisco, California. Married Bertha Tracy Bennett (1872-1945) in abt 1895. Parents William Wright and Sarah Oldall married Dronfield, Derbyshire, 2nd qtr 1855.

Joseph Edmund Wright
Photo: The Sphere, 23 June 1900

Joseph Edmund Wright (6 January 1878 – 20 February 1910, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1899, 1900, 1901. Educ. Liverpool Institute. Entered Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1897, where his college tutor was Walter William Rouse Ball who played in the first five Varsity chess matches. Senior Wrangler in 1900 (Mathematical Tripos, first part), and in the first division of the first class in the second part of the Tripos in 1901; Smith’s prizeman in 1902; elected a fellow of Trinity in 1903. Associate professor at Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, from 1903.

Paul Ian Wyndham (9 October 1900 – 14 February 1986). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1922, 1923. Member of Hampstead CC, 1928. Played on a high board for Middlesex in the 1930s. County player for Sussex up to (at least) 1972.

Daniel Abraham Yanofsky (25 March 1925, Poland – 5 March 2000, Canada). University College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1952, 1953. Canadian chess grandmaster; lawyer. First Canadian to qualify as a grandmaster (1964); eight times Canadian champion between 1941 and 1965. Represented Canada at 11 Olympiads between 1939 (when aged 14) and 1980, six times at board one, and at two interzonals (1948 and 1962). 1953 British champion. First equal at 1952/53 Hastings and second at 1951/52 Hastings. Science degree, University of Manitoba, 1944; law degree there in 1951. Studied law at Oxford University, 1951-53. Later practised law in Winnipeg. Wikipedia. Chessgames.com.

Leonard Barden comments: (re a flat which Barden and Yanofsky shared in the early 1950s) “The address at 8 Abbey Road, very near to Oxford station, was discovered by Bill Bowen in 1938. The landlady Olga Dunkel was a refugee from Latvia and her son Chris was the chess secretary for Morris Motors which then had a thriving club. After the war the room passed on to Pike and when he left he passed it on to me for my third year. Olga was duo patriotic in that she had a picture of the Queen over one side of the fireplace and of Stalin on the other side. When Joe died she wept for a day. She did introduce me to peroshkis, a Russian dish which I have never since had the pleasure of eating. Then the Yanofskys came and the top floor was made into a flat with them. So Pike and I never lived there together. I was in the same building as Yanofsky for a year, but we never played or analysed together in all that time. The arrangement came to a sticky end when Hilda Yanofsky became pregnant and Olga developed an anxiety state and accused Hilda of stealing her spoons.”

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Edward Young (4 July 1869 – 1 February 1954). Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Varsity matches 1891, 1892, 1893. Educ. Monkton Combe School. Occ. none. Played for North London CC in 1897, British CC in 1898 and took part in the 1898/99 City of London CC Championship. Living with his wife Isabel(la) in Ringwood, Hampshire, 1911. Became a rural councillor in Tisbury, Wiltshire.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Edward Young CORPUS CHRISTI Entered: Michs. 1889 Born: 1869 Adm. pens. at CORPUS CHRISTI, Oct. 1, 1889. Of Lancs. S. of Edward, wine-merchant. B. July 4, 1869, at Birchfield, Farnworth, near Widnes. School, Monkton Combe. Matric. Michs. 1889; B.A. 1892. Brother of Vincent (1876) and Alfred (1892). [Vincent Young, 1856-1941, was a clergyman; Alfred Young, 1873-1940, also a clergyman and teacher]

Frederick Mortimer Young (14 March 1860 – 7 June 1927, Hobart, Tasmania). Trinity College, Cambridge. Varsity matches, 1882, 1885, 1886. Active in chess in Hobart, Tasmania, from the later 1880s – see chessgames.com.

Alumni Cantabrigienses: Frederick Mortimer Young TRINITY Entered: Michs. 1881 Born: 14 Mar 1860 Died: 1927 Adm. pens. at TRINITY, June 13, 1881. S. of Francis [Mortimer], of 5, The Lawn, Balham Park, London. B. Mar. 14, 1860, at Leeds. School, Cheltenham College; and at London University, 1876. Matric. Michs. 1881; B.A. (Nat. Sci. Trip., Pt I, 1st Class) 1884; (Nat. Sci. Trip., Pt II, 1st Class, 1885). Of Hobart, Tasmania. Chairman of the Board of Public examinations, Tasmania. Rendered eminent service to the University of Tasmania. Designed many works of construction in Hobart. Died June 7, 1927, at Hobart. Brother of Francis J. (1866). (Cheltenham Coll. Reg.)

David John Youston (1 March 1931, Birmingham – 29 March 2008, Toronto). Hertford College, Oxford. Varsity matches 1950, 1951, 1952.

[CHESS, Sept 2008, p39] David Youston and The Aston Defence: “David Youston was born in Birmingham on March 1st 1931. His father had used some of his demobilisation money after the First World War to buy a chess set and board. He became a member of the Kynoch Chess Club (ICI) and David followed in his footsteps joining the club as a teenager. He also became a subscriber to CHESS and knew BH Wood who founded the magazine and lived in nearby Sutton Coldfield. David played on his School team and for the County. He went up to Oxford in 1949 to study Mathematics at Hertford College and played for the University and in matches in the UK and Europe.

“Among his team mates were Leonard Barden, chess columnist for The Guardian, and the late Alan Truscott who later became a bridge expert for the New York Times. David won the Oxford University Chess Championship playing against D. Abe Yanofsky, a Rhodes Scholar from Winnipeg, Manitoba, who became a lawyer and was the first Canadian Grandmaster. David also won the City of Oxford Championship in a game played with living chess pieces on the lawn of Balliol College against the city champion Andrew Wyeth on June 7th 1952. While doing his National Service with the Royal Signals in Berlin he played regularly, and was invited to play with a German team.

“After his National Service he worked as a Systems Analyst and in Operations Research in the UK and Canada where he and his wife Evelyn emigrated to Toronto in 1963. David continued to read CHESS with avid interest and after retirement he often sent comments and viewpoints to the Editor. In August 2007 he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and despite successful treatment on a clinical trial the Leukaemia returned. He died a very peaceful death on March 29th 2008. His two great enthusiasms were Chess and Music. We send our condolences and best wishes to Evelyn and all the Youston family. David was one of our longest running subscribers and a regular and witty correspondent. We think he would approve of the publication of the following original articles in his memory. They relate to a new opening variation he had discovered in the 1950s which he named after the area of Birmingham where he lived. He was under no illusions that his line might one day be busted by either computers or the younger generation – but he just wanted readers to analyse it and give him their conclusions. In celebration of 60 years as a CHESS magazine reader. Anyway, sound or unsound, he felt the Aston [1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Bc4 Nf6 5 0-0 Nxe4 6 Re1 f5] gave Black real winning chances!”

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Louis Bernard Zapoleon (21 December 1886 – 27 December 1969). Fitzwilliam House [College], Cambridge. Varsity match 1934 (aged 48 – probably the oldest player to have played in the Varsity chess match series). Born Grodno, Belarus, died Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Of Washington, DC. Acted as an adjudicator at an Emanuel Lasker simul, Mechanic’s Institute, San Francisco, 22 March 1926 (reference). Finished last in the 1913 New York National tournament, lost to Capablanca (erroneously given as a draw in some sources), but drew with Marshall. chessgames.com biography

References to “Gaige” are to Jeremy Gaige’s 1987 booklet Oxford-Cambridge Chess Matches (1873-1987). I was sent a copy of this invaluable work by Timothy Whitworth (1932-2019) some years ago and it was the starting point for my Varsity chess match research.

References to “Oxford Alumni”or “Alumni Oxonienses” are to the work by Joseph Foster entitled Oxford Men and Their Colleges, 1880-1892, published by James Parker and Co, Oxford, 1893.

PWS = Philip Walsingham Sergeant’s work A Century of British Chess, published by Hutchinson & Co, London, 1934.

All material © 1997-2022 John Saunders