Martin Cath

[Simon Lea]

H Martin Cath 1938 - 2023

I am sorry to inform you that Martin has died, peacefully at home on 23 July 2023 at the age of 85.

President, loyal, and very long standing member of South Norwood Chess Club.

He will be greatly missed.

[Angus French]

I'm very sorry to hear this news.

Martin was the mainstay at South Norwood Chess Club, one of the organisers of the Surrey Chess Congress which, in its time, at Sutton Library at Easter, was one of the biggest tournaments in the country, and long time Tournament Director of Surrey County Chess Association. He was a kindly chap and a diligent and competent organiser.

[Leon Watson]

Very sad news.

Martin was just the nicest man. Always welcoming, always jovial. He will be a big loss to the South Norwood.

Condolences to everyone at the club.

[John Saunders]

That's very sad news. Angus and Leon have already described him perfectly. Martin was unfailingly cheerful, helpful and reliable. In my view people like Martin rank above grandmasters in the hierarchy of chess; without them organised chess couldn't exist. Condolences to his friends and relatives.

[Mike Gunn]

Martin's contribution to Surrey Chess extended over 50 years as an office holder (36 years inter-club tournament controller, 16 years as grader amongst others). I always looked forward to seeing him for his friendliness and knowledge of Surrey chess history. A few weeks ago I found amongst old Surrey Chess Congress documents 2 SCCA trust deeds dated 1948 countersigned by 2 characters with the surname "Felce" (I'm currently competing for the Felce Trophy, a section of the Surrey Individual) and I was looking forward to asking Martin about the identities of these two) but sadly that question will never now be put.

[John Saunders]

A few weeks ago I found amongst old Surrey Chess Congress documents 2 SCCA trust deeds dated 1948 countersigned by 2 characters with the surname "Felce" (I'm currently competing for the Felce Trophy, a section of the Surrey Individual) and I was looking forward to asking Martin about the identities of these two) but sadly that question will never now be put.

Harold George Felce (1895-1974) was a strong player with scalps of Sultan Khan and Dr JM Aitken to his credit. He was the son of George Albert Felce (1868-1956) who was also a noted player and organiser.

[Martin Smith]

As said above, Martin was one of the true gentleman of chess, and Streatham and Brixton Chess Club mourns his passing. He was unfailing in his welcome whenever we arrived to play at South Norwood. A personal reminiscence concerns my first match game, after a long break, against Martin. My rustiness with the clock was plain to see, and he sportingly contrived not to notice when my flag fell one move short.
This was but a minor example of his generosity, manifested on a larger scale when we were reconstructing our club's 150 year history. The story of the Felce dynasty and their long association with Brixton CC and beyond, spanning the two World Wars, (as told in Movers and Takers) is due entirely to Martin's enthusiastic assistance as he mined his extensive archive.
We will remember him fondly.
Martin Smith. President, Streatham and Brixton CC.

[Paul Habershon]

I think H G Felce was National Grader, at one point in tandem with Bedford's W A (Sandy) Cordon (later a BCF President), in the days when grades were calculated on the back of the proverbial envelope.

[John Foley]

I took over from Martin as Tournament Controller for Surrey. It was only after I had done so that I realised what a substantial amount of work he had undertaken. Martin made a major contribution to Surrey Chess over many decades. I attach a photo taken at the funeral of Bill Waterton, another Surrey stalwart with whom he ran the Surrey Chess Congress from 1975 for many years.

From left Scott Freeman, Peter Lawrence, Martin Cath and Paul Durrant.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"I took over from Martin as Tournament Controller for Surrey."

The SCCA website seems to disagree.

https://www.scca.co.uk/hist/hist_index.html

[Richard Tillett]

So sad that we have lost Martin Cath.
The Croydon & District Chess League is indebted to him. He was instrumental, with David Hodgson, in securing the League's survival when it fell upon hard times in the early 1990s; and he remained a pillar of support for many years as a committee member and fount of wise and practical advice.
Thank you Martin, how we shall miss you.
Richard Tillett, Chair, Croydon & District Chess League

[Owen Phillips]

Very sorry to hear about Martin’s passing-he was a true gentleman and did a great deal for the Surrey chess scene. He was also a very keen player and I saw him on numerous occasions hold or win tricky endgames-which I believe was his forte. He will be greatly missed by SCCA Members and in particular at South Norwood Chess Club.
RIP Martin Cath -Owen.

[Simon Lea]

Martin’s funeral will be held next Wednesday, 16th August.

Many of you will have received details by email from Ken Chamberlain, if you have not and would like to attend please contact him or me.

Martin's sister and daughters have been following this topic and thank everyone for their kind words.

[Neill Cooper]

I was very sad to hear the news of Martin's death.
One of the highlights of playing South Norwood was that Martin would enjoy his game whether he won or lost, and he was always welcoming to the away team whether or not he was playing in the match. He was a true gentleman and it was fitting that one of his last games was in the H Martin Cath Trophy. He was dedicated to serving the chess community throughout his life and we are dependent on people like him for the chess world to thrive.

[Paul Dupré]

I was very sad to hear the news of Martin's death.
One of the highlights of playing South Norwood was that Martin would enjoy his game whether he won or lost, and he was always welcoming to the away team whether or not he was playing in the match. He was a true gentleman and it was fitting that one of his last games was in the H Martin Cath Trophy. He was dedicated to serving the chess community throughout his life and we are dependent on people like him for the chess world to thrive.

Yes, it was very sad and ironic. If he had beaten the chap he played South Norwood would have won the Martin Cath Trophy

Final table https://ecflms.org.uk/lms/node/128203/table

Match details https://ecflms.org.uk/lms/node/134382