English Chess Forum

One of the most cherished characters in British chess, FM Bernard Cafferty, celebrates his 80th birthday today. It was my privilege to work closely with Bernard between 1999 and 2010, when I was editor of BCM, and I still regularly discuss various aspects of chess with him. My predecessor as BCM editor, Murray Chandler, told me that "you ignore Bernard's advice at your peril" and he was so right.

Biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Cafferty

Bernard making a short speech at Hastings CC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzI7b9fuEvM

Collection of Bernard's games: http://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/pgn/caf ... iewer.html

I remember him from the early sixties, when he took the trouble to come to talk to our school's chess club. I found him very encouraging. Happy birthday, Bernard Cafferty!

Welcome to the octogenarian club, dear Bernard, though I still regret not choosing a sharper opening line in the final round of Leamington 1958....

And you'll both always remain heroes to me..

[I've still got the well thumbed "Ruy Lopez" on the bookshelf, though its treatment of the Berlin is rather dismissive.. ]

Bernard scored 6/7 for Hastings in the mid sussex league this year, which speaks for itself.

A strong and most courteous opponent; having dealt out an absolute thrashing to me 4-5 years ago, he was politeness itself in the post-mortem - saying things like "well this was an interesting idea.. " when the more normal response would have been "good grief why have I travelled all the way across Sussex on a horrible winter evening to play a pub game against this moron"

Happy birthday!!

A book I've read many, many times: Bernard Cafferty's translations of Soviet sources on the 1971 series.

John Saunders wrote:One of the most cherished characters in British chess, FM Bernard Cafferty, celebrates his 80th birthday today.

That makes him a day younger than my mum

Happy Birthday to Bernard from me as well! I still remember well the party for his 70th at the tennis courts in Hammersmith.

Much valued for all he has done - and all that he is and has been.

For me, I particularly appreciate:
His support of Birmingham schools chess in the 1960s and 70s - especially at St Phillip's GS
His excellent leadership in the Birmingham Chess Club in the same era
The qualities he brought to the editorship of the BCM - not least a focus on accuracy and the provenance of information

Has written some very interesting stuff on Soviet chess - both on the board and off it - down the years.

I recall his debunking of the idea that J V Dzughashvilli was ever any good at the game

The December 2010 issue of British Chess Magazine contained an article by Steve Giddins entitled

Bernard Cafferty - 30 years at his post!

Sorry I'm a day late.

and I agree with all the compliments. Bernard has always being friendly and helpful, when I have sought information.

His book on the Soviet Championships, co-authored with Taimanov, is an absolute pleasure to read.

Happy Birthday indeed!

From the picture above, Bernard doesn't appear a day older than when, as a schoolkid, I played him nearly fifty years ago. Marvellous!

David Robertson wrote:Happy Birthday indeed!

From the picture above, Bernard doesn't appear a day older than when, as a schoolkid, I played him nearly fifty years ago. Marvellous!

I played Bernard as an adult 53 years ago and think your memory is deluded.....