Fischer Number

[Stewart Reuben]

Christopher >I once met Princess Diana as a child. Does that count?<

Whichever of you was the child (or both), certainly that would count. Definition of a young person: somebody ten years younger than oneself.

[David Sedgwick]

But what is your number for the Queen? I have met Prince Phillip, but only shaking hands. What would the number be if I really wanted to communicate with her privately? Probably three via a politician.

Surely you must have a 2 through both Margaret Thatcher and Jim Callaghan. (World Championship Match 1986) Or have I misunderstood?

[Stewart Reuben]

David S >Surely you must have a 2 through both Margaret Thatcher and Jim Callaghan. (World Championship Match 1986) Or have I misunderstood?<

Indeed yes. I just thought Prince Phillip was more direct. Neither Margaret Thatcher nor Lord Callaghan would now be much use as a contact. Lord Callaghan I grew to know quite well after 1986. You may have a more valuable true link via Prince Edward.

[JustinHadi]

That means I have a link of 3 to the Queen. I knew having dinner with Stewart Reuben would be worth it's weight in platinum.

[John Clarke]

But what is your number for the Queen? I have met Prince Phillip, but only shaking hands. What would the number be if I really wanted to communicate with her privately? Probably three via a politician.

One solid 3, plus several tenuous 2's.

At one time we saw quite a lot of a lady who'd been a paid companion to the late Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. (Plus I had a handshake/presentation in 1968 from the Duchess herself.)

Had a brief chat with Johnny Spencer (looking like his own gardener) while visiting Althorp in 1982.

Also well-acquainted with a couple of people who've been invested with honours by Her Maj personally.

[Edit, 4 Dec. Should have added that I once played Trivial Pursuit with David Lange (former PM of NZ). So another 2.]

[Richard James]

Christopher >I once met Princess Diana as a child. Does that count?<

Whichever of you was the child (or both), certainly that would count. Definition of a young person: somebody ten years younger than oneself.

Prince Philip once swore at my dog. Does that count?

I'm pleased Stewart considers me to be young, having just read an article in which someone nine years younger than me was described as 'ancient'.

[Jonathan Bryant]

But what is your number for the Queen?

I have a friend who works at Tower of London so I’m probably a 2. Definitely a 3 as she’s def met Duke of Edinburgh.

[Richard Bates]

I would speculate that the majority of the country are at most a 2 for the Queen (as defined, say, as "met in a personal capacity" or had a two way conversation (however brief) - eg. receiving an honour). She does meet a lot of people.

[JustinHadi]

Brief two way conversation would be too easy.

[Brian Towers]

But what is your number for the Queen? I have met Prince Phillip, but only shaking hands.

When I taught Maths back in the late 70's one or two of the teachers and a few of boys used to annoy the hell out of me by telling me I looked like Prince Charles. I was born in Jos, Nigeria in 1956. Did the Queen and, more to the point, Prince Phillip visit Nigeria in 1955? If not, one of my old mates from university met Prince Harry on a charity golf event a few weeks ago.

[John Saunders]

For elderly forum members still having sleepless nights because their MN is not low enough, I have a possible solution. (Edward) Douglas Fawcett (1866-1960) was an MN 2, having played James Mortimer several times in the 1900s. He was still active up to the end of his life, for example playing in the Hastings Congress of 1959/60. Bob Jones wrote an excellent article about Fawcett on his Keverel blog some years ago. In the 1957/58 Hastings Congress Fawcett played three players (PR Vivian, MW Wills and MJ Freeman) whom I have subsequently played myself (although I am already an MN 4 via another route). And I garnered three more via the the 1955/56 Hastings. MN 4 isn't too difficult for players active in chess from the late 1960s.

Fawcett also provides a direct link to Steinitz and Pillsbury. Bob Jones quotes Bruce Hayden in BCM...

Of the veteran players, ninety-two year old Mr. Douglas Fawcett, of London, played some good games in the earlier rounds, and delighted everyone with his reminiscences of Pillsbury and his first game with Steinitz, which he played in 1879(!)”.

Fawcett lost a game to Ken Whyld in 1950 and referred to it in the November 1998 CHESS...

[Event "BCF Major Open"] [Site "Buxton"] [Date "1950.08.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Fawcett, Edward Douglas"] [Black "Whyld, Kenneth"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C82"] [Annotator "Whyld, CHESS 1998/11"] [PlyCount "32"] [EventDate "1950.08.21"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "ENG"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5 {"I particularly remember this game because here my opponent said 'Ah! Pillsbury played that against me'."} 10. Bc2 O-O 11. Qe2 f5 12. exf6 Rxf6 13. Be3 Bg4 14. Bxc5 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Rg6+ 16. Kh1 Qg5 {Note: D Fawcett was aged 84 in 1950, thus born c.1866.} 0-1

[Martin Regan]

Stewart Reuben wrote:
But what is your number for the Queen? I have met Prince Phillip, but only shaking hands.

Mine's one.

[Mike Truran]

As is mine.

I bought an even smarter suit than usual for the occasion. Plus lunch afterwards at Claridge's for the entire family. Plus taxis to and from home. Cost me an arm and a leg.

[Stewart Reuben]

Mike. Ae you now thus disabled?

[Mike Truran]

The suit is a bit baggier now.