English Chess Forum

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Martin Regan. Martin died on the 5 April aged 54. Further details are available at

https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/2017/04 ... tin-regan/


Harry Lamb

Edit. Date of death corrected from 6 April to 5 April

Absolutely dreadful news.

Always a terrific, highly intelligent gentlemen for whom I had huge respect.

I presume this is the Martin Regan who used to post here and formerly held positions in the ECF?

Its just that the linked obituary makes absolutely no mention of chess?

Matt Mackenzie wrote:Its just that the linked obituary makes absolutely no mention of chess?

There's one sentence saying he used to be the ECF's CEO.

A terrible shock and at no great age at all. Martin Regan will obviously be best remembered for his brief but eventful stint as CEO; his attempts to bring about reform were unsuccessful but his resignation arguably kick-started a genuine discussion about the future of the ECF that led to the improvements we have seen in recent years.

Martin maintained his interest in English chess and contributed to debates around the controversial 2015 AGM. I didn't agree with him on a few things but his contributions were always insightful and good humoured. I very much enjoyed our exchanges to the point where I always looked forward to possibly meeting him properly and being able to continue the discussion over a beer. Obviously now I never will. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

This is very sad news. I only knew him through reputation and his posts on the forum. His acerbic style was very recognisable, examples can be seen here (for logged-in members):

http://www.ecforum.org.uk/search.php?st ... or_id=7616

The tribute here resonates with the style he brought to chess discussions and politics:

http://www.themarpleleaf.co.uk/2017/04/ ... n-rip.html

"He was a man with a hinterland, a chess master, author, art collector, football lover, a writer and a father."

Condolences to his friends and family. RIP.

I'm in shock.

RIP, my friend. My ally

http://altrincham.today/2017/04/06/hale ... t-dies-54/

Sad news - I didn't always agree with what he said, but I liked his style.

David Robertson wrote:I'm in shock.

RIP, my friend. My ally

http://altrincham.today/2017/04/06/hale ... t-dies-54/

David

This is a great shock and a big loss to English chess and Martin was certainly one of the the best leaders English chess has had in my long time as a chess player.

Martin and I both came from the same part of Manchester and our first chess club was Wythenshawe CC where we both played for the 1st team in the 1970's and we were both reminded of and remembering those days in the last year or so when we were on the same side again after a nearly 40 year absence trying to bring much needed reform to the lumbering dinosaur that is the current ECF.

Martin will be sorely missed

Chris

Rather a shock as not much older than myself and sad news indeed.

Martin Regan was a man with whom I had many disagreements. I nevertheless recognise that he worked tirelessly for the ECF during his eighteen months as Chief Executive. His resignation in April 2008 was occasioned by the perceived lack of enthusiasm by the ECF Council for OMOV. It is a sad irony that he should have died shortly before his ideas are finally to be considered at today's ECF Council Meeting, nine years later.

Indeed, hopefully the meeting will include him in the growing list of people that are a loss to English chess

I enjoyed meeting him; shame I didn't get chance to do so again; RIP Martin, thoughts with his friends and family