English Chess Forum

In another thread I mentioned communications with Jeremy Clarkson.

This was the conclusion :

John

I am so sorry but this is something that at the moment Jeremy is unable to commit to. I am sorry. As I said on the phone he is not happy to be just a name and due to his present work load he is just not able to give you the time he would like to.

So sorry


Lucinda McFarlane
PA to Jeremy Clarkson

It has been suggested to try Carol Vorderman : I will attempt same!

As opposed to Jeremy Clarkson, I don't think anyone has anything against Carol Vorderman.

Well they both have absolutely no interest in chess. I see that as some disadvantage?

Matthew Turner wrote:Well they both have absolutely no interest in chess. I see that as some disadvantage?

What information do you base your conclusion on Matthew?

Their names have never cropped up in connection with chess. Carol Vorderman was a compere for the Short-Kasparov match, but I think this was purely because it was a Channel Four production. I don't know of Carol referring to chess on any other occasion, either publicly or privately. She has certainly never spoken to me about the game.

For those who might have missed the significance of Matthew's comment, Matthew once made the final of Countdown and must have spent several days on set with the crew at the time.

John, forgive me for asking but on what basis/authority are you approaching celebrities to ask whether they want to be ECF President?

Clarkson must have been shocked to be asked! He would have feared losing his reputation overnight ...

Jonathan,
Carol is also about the only famous alumnus of my College
(said half jokingly, with apologies to David Owen)

David Owen would have been a great choice, instead of Steve Davis, all those years ago!

I remember Nosher detailing in NIC a tournament win in China a few years ago, and he mentions that he showed his penultimate round win to Owen and his wife in their place (palace?) around the corner back in Greece ...

I, too, find it a little odd that John Upham is trying to recruit the next President. Whilst both Jeremy Clarkson and Carol Vorderman are incredible entertainers and brilliant at their jobs I just don't see them becoming the ECF President. I really feel the ECF should do everything possible to get David Norwood to become the next President. He is a chess player, he has just retired, has loads of contacts with potential sponsors and he has shown his philanthropic credentials by giving £120m to British Universities. What more can you really want?

Matthew Turner wrote:I, too, find it a little odd that John Upham is trying to recruit the next President. Whilst both Jeremy Clarkson and Carol Vorderman are incredible entertainers and brilliant at their jobs I just don't see them becoming the ECF President. I really feel the ECF should do everything possible to get David Norwood to become the next President. He is a chess player, he has just retired, has loads of contacts with potential sponsors and he has shown his philanthropic credentials by giving £120m to British Universities. What more can you really want?

Are you sure that you haven't added a couple of noughts on there? That's a lot of money!

Richard
I don't think so,
£120,000,000
is the number I am thinking of. As indeed you say, it is quite a lot!

Jonathan Rogers wrote:
John, forgive me for asking but on what basis/authority are you approaching celebrities to ask whether they want to be ECF President?

None whatsoever or, because I can and have the motivation to do so.

Matthew Turner wrote:Richard
I don't think so,
£120,000,000
is the number I am thinking of. As indeed you say, it is quite a lot!

From what i can make out from a quick scan of the internet, making universities money was David Norwood's business (exploiting /developing the commercial potential of their work). Very good for the universities, but not quite the same as making personal philanthropic donations on such a massive scale.

To be making personal £120m donations would indicate one was at least a billionaire I would have thought - which seems to be out by about a factor of 100 from the odd estimate given.

Seems like it has become pick a random celeb to be president. I think that someone with a certain amount of wedge is probably more useful than a random celeb who once decided to be witty and intelligent by trying to include chess into an article. Chess needs a serious amount of money so the basics of "prize money" and "players fees" are at such a level that will draw attention to perhaps the likes of TV. Many corporate sponsors will not think of sponsoring an event unless it has TV coverage. If you get someone with money then they can hire celebs to promote events.

Does Alan Sugar like chess hmmmm..... (or any of the dragons from Dragons Den).

I did notice that Tim Rice is a vp for the ecf (correct me if I am wrong), and he has serious wedge.

Finally, another idea maybe to find out how the hell Bridge got on TV to see if chess can follow a similar route!

Richard,
It was David's idea to partner Universities, firstly through Evolution, the venture then being spun-off into IP2IPO (now IP Group). Yes, there was a primary business motive behind his actions, but, in a way, so what. The fact is British Universities are £120m better off because of David Norwood. That is pretty fantastic when you think about it and it shows that David can raise very large sums of money and develop very creative projects. It is hard for me to think how an individual could be better qualified to lead the ECF.