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David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 9:58 am
by Alex McFarlane
I'm sorry to report that David Welch, the past ECF Chief Arbiter, died early this morning.
The 4NCL will observe a moments silence before the start of play today.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:25 am
by JustinHorton
Very sorry indeed to hear this.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:04 am
by Nigel Short
A great servant of British chess.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:39 am
by David Sedgwick
Nigel Short wrote: ↑Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:04 am
A great servant of British chess.
Indeed so. He loved arbiting at all types of chess events, whatever the format and whatever the strengths of the players.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 12:21 pm
by Mike Gunn
This is sad news. I will miss him.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 12:50 pm
by Andrew Martin
Very sorry to hear this. RIP David.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 1:08 pm
by Michael Farthing
A sad loss, but perhaps a blessing for David who has been deprived for well over a year from the active and vivacious life he enjoyed.
There must be thousands of chess players who have benefitted from his clear and firm but gentle and sympathetic arbiting. From the many memories I have of him this comes to mind, where David was seeking (with success) to bring about an orderly start to round one of a congress:
Would you all sit down please. You're making the room look untidy.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 1:26 pm
by Andrew Zigmond
A terrible loss to English chess. My thoughts are with his family and friends today.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 2:10 pm
by John Upham
Very sad news.
I am putting together an obituary here :
https://britishchessnews.com/2019/11/09 ... welch-rip/
If you would to like to contribute to this then please email me
at
[email protected]
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Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 3:36 pm
by Jim Wadsworth
RIP David
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 4:21 pm
by Matt Mackenzie
This is indeed sad news, even occasional congress goers like me came to see him almost as a friend.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 5:06 pm
by John Swain
I only got to know David fairly well a year or two before his final illness when I helped to organise the Under 19 National Schools Chess Championships in 2016 and then became Organiser in August 2016; David was Chief Arbiter at the Finals in 2016 and 2017, a position he had held for many years. Prior to 2016, I had been a teacher in charge of chess at Nottingham High School; NHS had been fortunate to attend several NSCC Finals run by the "Dynamic Duo": Richard Haddrell as Chief Conductor and David Welch as Chief Arbiter. In that capacity, David always commanded complete respect and attention from players and staff. His approach was always friendly, fair and firm. He knew that the best arbiters operate in an understated way - never officious or seeking the limelight but always vigilant in anticipating problems or resolving them with the minimum of fuss.
He was also instrumental in improving pairing systems for jamborees and latterly in setting up the format for the sixteen-team U19 NSCC Finals.
I have a collection of old Dragon magazines (the Bulletin of the Cambridge University Chess Club) which includes some from the mid-1960s, when David was a student at Queens' College. He served CUCC as Junior Treasurer, Librarian and Bulletin Editor. The issue for October 1967 (No. 25) records that he was graded 6a or 164 so his play must have been considerably stronger in his prime than more recently (140ish). David played board 1 for Cambridge University III at the BUCA Tournament in Sheffield 1965 and scored 3.5/8 in the Cambridge University Championships in 1966.
My sincere condolences to David's family and friends. RIP David; you will be greatly missed.
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 5:40 pm
by John Saunders
Very sad news about Dave Welch, whom I worked alongside at numerous Isle of Man, Gibraltar and 4NCL events over the past 20 years or so.
I've posted a personal tribute here:
http://johnchess.blogspot.com/2019/11/d ... -2019.html
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 6:24 pm
by Alan Ruffle
Sincere Condolences
Alan and Ann Ruffle
Re: David Welch
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 8:03 pm
by IM Jack Rudd
RIP David. It was always a pleasure working with him.