English Chess Forum

Kenny's wife Anna contacted me this morning with the awful news that husband Kenny (Kenneth B.) passed away after emergency surgery on Sunday night (16th November 2025).

There will be a cremation but no funeral service as per Kenny’s request.

More details to follow as I receive them.

Kenneth Brian Harman was a British Candidate Master and Postal IM, chess columnist for 'The Basingstoke Gazette', a controversial figure to those who knew him with clubs such as KING AND KING (he did accountancy for Syd Kalinsky), Centymca, Basingstoke Hospital (he was a Psychiatric Nurse in his time) and latterly Cavendish numbering him as member. In retirement he dabbled, even qualifying for the British having finished - to his surprise - well in a tournament the year before. Ill health held him back and other interests put things into perspective.

In the Sixties, rival to such as Keene, Hartston, Basman, Whiteley, international honours never quite came his way. He married and came to Basingstoke. His handling of such as the Accelerated Dragon had Stewart Reuben tipping him for the top, he led a Middlesex County team very briefly, his brother Ronald, who predeceased him, an early mentor - as he became mine - along with Danny Wright, Jimmy Adams. The list, which paradoxically now dwindles - goes on. Respectfully, of course, so it should.

He was my old guvnor.

James Pratt

I knew Ken for a while in the early 1980s. I don’t remember him playing very much at that time, but he was always happy to look through games with me, He was obviously a very strong player and, as James says, might have been even stronger without other priorities.
RIP

Yes, Graham, he rated you and I remember your coming to Popley CC and giving a simul.
James

Here is Kenny in the back row two to the right of Dinah between RC Vaughan and David Parr.

November 25th 1962

St. Pancras Town Hall

Paul Keres Simul




I shall let others have the fun of naming all and sundry.

and here is a more recent image of Ken:

and another one leaning over his brother, Ronald F. Harman:

John Upham wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 20, 2025 5:47 pm

Here is Kenny in the back row two to the right of Dinah between RC Vaughan and David Parr.

November 25th 1962

St. Pancras Town Hall

Paul Keres Simul



img_2647_crop.jpg



I shall let others have the fun of naming all and sundry.

Sorry to hear about Ken's death, I knew him well in the early 1960s. Here's my offering for names in the group photo: Bert Hopkins second left from Dinah; Bill Hartston, third right from Dinah; Andrew Whitely, top left. (I could well be wrong, facial recognition is not my strong card. Nor was Arthur Hall's - on one celebrated occasion at St Bride's he made three successive draw offers, in different manners, before the guy sitting opposite silently got up and walked off ... shortly afterwards the real opponent returned to the board and sat down.)

I think i recognise Peter Lee on the far right, who I have only seen previously as a 79 year old when he played Bodhana Sivananden.

Lovely photo. While the focus should be on naming the young whipper snappers, I have to ask if Paul Keres is there, and if so who the other older person is? One is in a bowler hat (I think this is Keres), the shorter older man is hatless.

Spoiler. The answer is here:

https://www.saund.org.uk/britbase/pgn/1 ... iewer.html

Back row: A. Whiteley, D. Floyer, P. J. Collins, P. J. Adams, R. C. Vaughan, K. B. Harman, D. Parr, D. N. L. Levy.
Front row: M. V. Lambshire, A. E. Hopkins (who selected the team), Paul Keres, Miss D. Dobson, R. E. Hartley, B. C. Gillman, W. Hartston, P. N. Lee.

Photo: A.M. Reilly

This was an event for U21s. I turned up to watch, and there was a spare board as someone did not turn up. Bert Hopkins pressured me to play although I was 22, and I duly sat down, but missed the photo. I was soon up a pawn as black in a Sicilian, but as usually happens the master grinds you down when only one or two players remain. I have been searching but can't find the game score.
I later reflected that this was just after the Curacao candidates tournament; Keres must have been very tired and bitterly disappointed at his result in what was his last attempt at the world title.

John Collins wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 28, 2025 3:45 pm

This was an event for U21s. I turned up to watch, and there was a spare board as someone did not turn up. Bert Hopkins pressured me to play although I was 22, and I duly sat down, but missed the photo. I was soon up a pawn as black in a Sicilian, but as usually happens the master grinds you down when only one or two players remain. I have been searching but can't find the game score.
I later reflected that this was just after the Curacao candidates tournament; Keres must have been very tired and bitterly disappointed at his result in what was his last attempt at the world title.

Not quite, he was knocked out in the 1965 Candidates matches by Spassky - but yes the event was surely a bit of a downer for him.

Of course! A clear case of Senior Chessplayer Moment.

RIP Ken