English Chess Forum

It is with great sadness that Chess Scotland acknowledges the passing of Steve Mannion. Steve was well known to many in his police role but also to the Scottish chess community as a senior arbiter and player. He will be missed.

Steve had recently been in hospital. He was involved in Police Chess and was involved in early Glasgow Congresses.

Sorry to hear this. Just checking that you are referring to this Steve Mannion?

Stephen David Mannion (born 1938).

And referred to as "Snr" by age, whether related or not to the younger IM (Stephen R. Mannion) who was born in 1964?

If I remember right, Glasgow Police were active and fairly successful participants in B H Wood's Postal Chess League during the late 1960s. Would Steve have been behind that?

I used Senior to differentiate him from his son, the IM.

Steve was involved with the Glasgow Police club along with George Livie and Alan Grant. Steve would have been involved in the postal team, though George might have been the driving force of that.

At one time the Glasgow Congress borrowed equipment from clubs in the Glasgow area to use at the event. Steve arranged for this equipment to be temporarily stored in a locker at the Training College in Oxford Street, Glasgow. On one occasion this caused a panic. One of the analogue clocks had started to tick and this was heard by someone walking past. As the ticking locker was not assigned to anyone the fear was that someone had planted a bomb. Fortunately Steve arrived at the height of the panic and was able to prevent the controlled explosion which was about to take place to open the locker.

Steve Mannion-Burns latterly ?

James Pratt wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 07, 2026 6:55 pm

Steve Mannion-Burns latterly ?

He's the son.

The son is Stephen R Mannion, as on the FIDE and CS websites.

Never realised he was Steve Mannion's dad!
Met him at Troon 1984... he was, then, Chief Superintendent.
Sound, no nonsense kind of guy.

R.I.P

I remember the Dad as a junior. The thing that stood out was he was fair and kind. Not all rival Scottish parents were in that era.

I met Steve a couple of times in the 1980's at the Police chess championships, he representing Strathclyde Police. A thoroughly nice man whom one respected because of his manner and not least his chess playing ability and support for the game. Not a purprise his son became a top player,. A sad loss.