Newsflash by G.H. Diggle

[MJMcCready]

Can it be bought anywhere...would anyone like to profit from selling issues?

[John Upham]

I believe you mean G.H. Diggle

See an article written by GHD

[Richard James]

Do you mean this?

I have a copy in the Chess Palace but it's not for sale at the moment. I can look up anything you want though.

[Richard James]

Some more information here.

I have both volumes in front of me at the moment.

[MJMcCready]

I believe you mean G.H. Diggle

See an article written by GHD

Correct, typo, sorry.

[Gordon Cadden]

Two volumes of "Badmaster" were published by Edward Winter (Geneva) in the 1980's. Extracts from the BCM "Newsflash". The talents of G.H.Diggle were not fully appreciated at the time. Winter may still have some copies available. Mike Basman also produced a classic on how he became an International Master. Can't remember the title; something similar to "Confessions of a Bad Master".

[MJMcCready]

Do you mean this?

I have a copy in the Chess Palace but it's not for sale at the moment. I can look up anything you want though.

Yes that is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for your help, I will consider purchasing it on-line.

[Gordon Cadden]

Phew ! Just looked at the "Badmaster" price tag. The BCF sent the "Newsflash" post free to your door, after paying the usual annual subscription.

[Gordon Cadden]

You can just about find anything online these days. Mike Basman wrote; "Confessions of a crooked Master", which Kingpin Magazine have very kindly published on the internet. I can remember the days when I paid hard cash for "Kingpin". MB did a sneaky retracted move against dear old Baruch H. Wood, and guaranteed that grandmaster Florin Gheorghiu would never set foot on our shores again.

[MJMcCready]

You can just about find anything online these days. Mike Basman wrote; "Confessions of a crooked Master", which Kingpin Magazine have very kindly published on the internet. I can remember the days when I paid hard cash for "Kingpin". MB did a sneaky retracted move against dear old Baruch H. Wood, and guaranteed that grandmaster Florin Gheorghiu would never set foot on our shores again.

Did it deny him a prize? In which tournament did that occur?

[Gordon Cadden]

The 1967/68 Hastings International Tournament. I was actually a spectator at that tournament, but was unaware that skulduggery was taking place.

[MJMcCready]

Thanks to all that helped me acquire G.H.DIggle's Reminiscences of a Badmaster. It's truly wonderful stuff, Diggle is funnier than anyone I've ever come across in chess, I love it to bits.

In 1. Bulging Bookshelves, he quotes the line' You swore blind we could hold the bally pawn!'

Is he referring to a passed pawn here do you think? Never heard the expressions before.

[John McKenna]

'Bally' is an upper-class euphemism for 'bloody' and the 'bally pawn' in question is more likely a gambit pawn that some author has strongly, but wrongly, assured readers can be retained.

[MJMcCready]

Did anyone on this forum ever have the pleasure of meeting Diggle? He seems like a very interesting character.

[Gordon Cadden]

The wall of silence is truly stunning. Who was G.H. Diggle ?
The July, 1934 issue of the British Chess Magazine, celebrated the one hundred years since the La Bourdonnais - MacDonnell match of 1834.
The introduction to this article was by none other than G.H. Diggle.
I have a copy of "Chess Characters" reminiscences of a Badmaster volume 11, by G.H. Diggle. Published by Edward Winter, Chess Notes, 9 rue de la Maladiere, CH - 1205 Geneva, 1987
The "Preface" is evidently the "Swan Song" of G.H.D., and is dated March, 1987
Was he simply a chess enthusiast who wished to remain anonymous ? I suspect that Paul Buswell knows the answer to this mystery.