English Chess Forum

David Sedgwick (five years ago) wrote:Many happy returns to Leonard Barden, who is 80 years old today.

Leonard Barden (five years ago) wrote: Thanks, dear friends, for your kind words.

In truth, birthdays don't inspire me very much. The milestone now is 28 September 2013.

My first Guardian column was 8 September 1955 after my predecessor Julius du Mont had a stroke. I have never missed a week since so this is now the world's longest continuous running chess column, almost 54 years to date.

Herman Helms, the legendary Dean of American chess, wrote a weekly column in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from October 1893 till March 1955, but with a break from 1907-11. Allowing for that, his column ran for around 58 years, which I consider the current world longevity record for a chess column with or without a break. (Just to anticipate dissent from Worcestershire, TEW Widdows's column had an approximate six-week break every summer).

Helms's world record would be surpassed if both the Guardian column and myself survive intact till September 2013. It's possible, though not very likely.

Andrew Stone wrote:Happy Birthday Leonard! Hope I have your energy when I am 85. Hope I get to 85!

Michael Farthing wrote:Five more years! Five more years!

IanRogers wrote:Leonard and I had an email debate a few years ago about the longevity of Garry Koshnitsky's weekly chess column in the Sydney Sun/Sun-Herald, which started in 1935 and finished in 1994, having had a four or five month break in 1988. Whether or not that column lasted longer than Helms', Leonard has now beaten Koshnitsky's record as well as Helms'.
Happy Birthday Leonard!

Leonard Barden wrote:Thanks to all of you for your kind words. I'll discuss column longevity records in a separate thread, which may take a while to prepare.