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History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2020 10:56 am
by John Foley
Some traditional chess clubs may not survive Covid given the medical risks associated with over the board play. We need to prepare for the worst. Chess has been a marvellous source of competitive recreation for tens of thousands of people since it was popularised in Victorian times. Future generations will be impressed to know the effort that club members made to maintain league and cup fixtures organised by county and city. The time has come for clubs to consider preparing their histories whilst there are still members around whose recollections contain worthwhile stories of endeavour. It is not just about the games and matches - it is also about the lives of the club members. We cannot take it for granted that chess will leave a well documented social and cultural record. Do not throw away the paper records. Chess clubs provides another perspective on our shared history - they reflect changes in society, employment, transport and housing. Writing a club history requires research skills. The role of chess club historian should be recognised.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:39 pm
by MJMcCready
And the purpose of this post is what exactly?

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2020 5:57 pm
by Paul Habershon
MJMcCready wrote:
Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:39 pm
And the purpose of this post is what exactly?
I see it as a worthy plea to preserve chess club histories. Unfortunately Bedford CC has mislaid much of its 20th century archive, such as it was.

Paradoxically, Mark, you are the author of a treatise on Bedfordshire County chess, so I am surprised you don't sound more enthusiastic.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2020 10:28 pm
by Brian Denman
There is a small book on the history of chess in Bedfordshire and I believe chess columns in the Luton News and Beds and Herts Pictorial. There is material here for anyone, who wants to write a local history.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 4:29 am
by MJMcCready
Yes it wasn't written in 1933. I can provide a link to it if you want.

Thanks Paul if truth be told it was at best the tip of the iceberg.

I did enjoy writing it I must confess.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 11:09 am
by John Foley
It would be great if the ECF kept a page of links to chess histories - for club or county. Perhaps we can start here with a list of histories. This may inspire others to write a history of their area. I am aware that Roy Maddock compiled a 117-page history of Harrow Chess Club for its centenary in 2006.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 12:30 pm
by John Upham
Camberley Chess Club started in 1972 and here is a potted history :

https://camberleychess.co.uk/history/

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 1:48 pm
by Dan Lambourne
Nigel Towers wrote up a brief history of chess in Redditch from 1881 to 2017, for the Redditch club's web pages which were new at the time https://www.redditchchessclub.org/club-history.html.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 3:52 pm
by John Foley
Keep them rolling in. Here is a brief sketch of the history of Kingston Chess Club which needs to be filled out.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 6:19 pm
by Mike Alderson
www.chesterfieldchessclub.weebly.com - check out "History", "Pre-history" and "Joe Hooton's Diaries".

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 9:07 pm
by Nick Grey
John - we should re-publish Bill's book of Kingston chess club then the rest. I LiKE books.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2020 9:15 pm
by Nick Grey
Ken and Peter have good memories and documents.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 2:46 pm
by John Swain
As advertised in the ECF Newsletter, ECF webmaster Andrew Walker has started a section on the history of chess at club, league and county levels:

https://www.ecfresource.co.uk/chess-histories/

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:16 pm
by Geoff Chandler
Edinburgh celebrates it's 200th anniversary in 2022.

Image

There are various celebration plans afoot but someone has come up with an amazing idea, wheels are in motion to
make it happen and if it comes off (I cannot see why not) then it will be an incredible chess coup....watch this space.

Re: History of Chess Clubs

Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:17 pm
by John Foley
John Swain wrote:
Fri Sep 11, 2020 2:46 pm
ECF webmaster Andrew Walker has started a section on the history of chess at club, league and county levels
This level of efficiency from the ECF is frankly incredible. Congratulations to Andrew Walker.