Roger Lancaster

[John Upham]

In another place (The EJCOA Chess Tutors Forum on WhatsApp) I have seen the sad news that Roger Lancaster passed away in the last couple of days. I never knowingly knew Roger but he was well liked and contributed a huge amount to English Chess.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

That is sad to hear. I enjoyed reading his posts, and I did notice what he said here (one month ago) about not having much time left himself.

I hope those who knew him better can share more. I think it would be appropriate to link here to the announcement of the ECF award that he received in June this year (2025):

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecfs-pr ... lancaster/

Many congratulations to Roger Lancaster, who recently received the ECF’s President’s Award for Services to Chess. Roger is a highly respected junior coach and organiser at Watford Chess Club, and was nominated by Watford Chess Club for his long and valued service to the chess community over many years. A link to Roger’s award citation can be found here: https://www.ecfresource.co.uk/wp-conten ... ation.docx

RogerLancasterECFAward.jpg (207.48 KiB) Viewed 5336 times

A short quote from the citation document (it could maybe be quoted in full):

Roger’s contribution to both King’s Head and Watford Chess Clubs has been immense, and is highly valued by all his many club colleagues and friends.

A nice game against Eric Schiller in there as well! (When Roger was rated 2200 ELO in 1982).

Does anyone know what strength Roger was at his peak rating?

EDIT: Adding this from the Watford Chess Club home page:

https://watfordchessclub.org/

Announcement: In Memory of Roger Lancaster

We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved juniors coach, Roger Lancaster, passed away on 20/09/2025 following an illness. Roger was a cherished part of Watford Chess Club — his dedication to the game and especially our junior members will be remembered with gratitude and affection.

Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.

[Kevin Thurlow]

Very sad - I don't think I met him, but, "Roger was a cherished part of Watford Chess Club — his dedication to the game and especially our junior members will be remembered with gratitude and affection." says it all.

[John Moore]

Sad news - Roger's posts on here were always sensible and to the point. He will be much missed in the wider chess community.

[Paul Cooksey]

Sad news indeed. RIP Roger.

[Roger de Coverly]

Does anyone know what strength Roger was at his peak rating?

190 ish I would say. He was strong enough to qualify for the British Championships of 1969 in Rhyl. Also in that period, in 1967 or 1968 he had written several articles for BH Wood's Chess on the line 1. P-k4 P-QB4 2. P-KB4 which ten years later gained popularity under the name "Grand Prix Attaxk".

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

In Roger's penultimate post, on the 21st August, in the thread about the death of Paul Durrant, he wrote:

Unfortunately, haven't much time left myself but hope to add to this later.

[Matt Mackenzie]

As was mentioned in the original post, though I must admit I missed it at the time as well.

I agree that his contributions on this forum were always worth reading. Even on the (not that common) occasions that one disagreed.

RIP.

[Mick Norris]

As was mentioned in the original post, though I must admit I missed it at the time as well.

I agree that his contributions on this forum were always worth reading. Even on the (not that common) occasions that one disagreed.

RIP.

Agree with that

Condolences to Roger's family and friends

[NickFaulks]

In Roger's penultimate post, on the 21st August, in the thread about the death of Paul Durrant, he wrote:

Unfortunately, haven't much time left myself but hope to add to this later.

I replied to this by PM and he told me that he had been given three months to live more than three months previously. I have been waiting for this sad announcement.

I first met Roger some fifty years ago, when I joined Mushrooms Chess Club and Insurance Chess Club. He was already a stalwart of both - regarding the latter, I believe he had his own broking firm. He was one of the founders of the chess playing group at the King's Head in Moscow Road and was, aside from Andrew Whiteley, the strongest and most respected of the regulars there.

We had not seen so much of each other since the 1980s, but I have always sought him out for a chat when our paths have crossed, usually at the 4NCL. In recent times his own chess playing - I also have it in my mind that in his heyday he was in the 190s - seemed to take a back seat to the huge amount of work he did with Watford Juniors. Roger was always a source of practical good sense and a valuable sounding board in relation to ECF and other chess matters.

He will be missed.

[John Clarke]

Does anyone know what strength Roger was at his peak rating?

190 ish I would say. He was strong enough to qualify for the British Championships of 1969 in Rhyl. Also in that period, in 1967 or 1968 he had written several articles for BH Wood's Chess on the line 1. P-k4 P-QB4 2. P-KB4 which ten years later gained popularity under the name "Grand Prix Attaxk".

I remember those articles (which termed it "The Anti-Sicilian"). BHW rather unusually included a photo of him - senza beard and glasses - at the foot of the last one. Roger's final verdict on the line was something like " .... a useful weapon against stronger players and a lethal one against rabbits". And so did Dave Rumens and others eventually demonstrate it to be. (Never tried it myself, though, still being somewhat under the spell of the Dragon as discussed by Ray Keene in the same publication a year or two before.)

Like Christopher K and others, I noted with foreboding that remark of his about not having much time left. My condolences to his family, friends and "alumni". He'll certainly be missed on the Forum.

[Sagar Patel]

For those in the chess community who knew Roger Lancaster and may wish to attend his funeral, the service details are as follows:
Date: Monday, 27th October 2025
Time: 3.00pm
Venue: West Herts Crematorium, High Elms Lane, Garston, Watford, WD25 0JS
Dress Code: At Roger’s request, all‑black attire is discouraged. Please include a touch of colour to celebrate his life.