English Chess Forum

Just seen this on Facebook

From
Robin philpott

It is with great sadness and shock that I must inform of the sudden passing of John.

He was an eccentric man, an English gentleman, who went out his way for others, loved Cheese, Chess, West Ham, Anahiem Angels and living on Mersea Island, where he felt at home actively participating in several choirs and the community.

The alarm was raised after he failed to meet up for West Ham vs Crystal Palace followed by Steel Panther tonight. Shortly thereafter he was discovererd by a neighbour.

#johnphilpott #Essexu175 #muitosaudades #dad #toosoon #withEileennow #WestHamwonforJohn #goodbyeoldman

On no that's terribly sad news I was expecting his AGM report today bit shocked.

Utterly shocked. I'm sure he only retired a few months ago.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ecfchess/sta ... 5267039234

From Twitter. Terrible news.

Shocked by his sudden passing. On a day West Ham managed to win. JP big West Ham fan and loyal servant to the ECF and Essex Chess. RIP. Condolences to his family.

A terrible shock. I only met John once (briefly at the Aberystwyth championships) but I felt like I knew him from his contributions to this forum and of course his work for the ECF. As Controller of the County Championships I dealt with him on a few matters and I can honestly say that there was no more efficient individual within English chess; it is such a shame he never got to enjoy his retirement.

The loss to the English chess scene is incalculable, particularly coming so soon after the death of Richard Haddrell.

Andrew Zigmond wrote: The loss to the English chess scene is incalculable, particularly coming so soon after the death of Richard Haddrell.

And almost spookily, it was JP who broke that news here.

Matt Mackenzie wrote:

Andrew Zigmond wrote: The loss to the English chess scene is incalculable, particularly coming so soon after the death of Richard Haddrell.

And almost spookily, it was JP who broke that news here.

I first met both of them on the evening that I was appointed SCCU Deputy President in 1992.

John in particular had been a close friend of mine ever since.

Further words fail me.

Read the news on the train on the way back from yesterday's ECF AGM. I was sitting behind very loud and singing Aston Villa supporters - at least they were wearing claret and blue, the same colours as John's team, West Ham.

I knew John a little from county chess and ECF meetings and discussions and shall remember him as generous, hard-working, courteous, friendly, articulate and scarily accurate.

I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air,
They fly so high, nearly reach the sky,
Then like my dreams they fade and die.
Fortune's always hiding,
I've looked everywhere,
I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.

Heard the news while travelling home from the AGM where we had remembered Richard Haddrell. Puts all other activities yesterday into perspective.

Two of English chess' greatest servants of recent times lost to us within a couple of weeks. Both had remained in harness till the very end. They had had a long friendship. As with Richard, John had also served us well in the SCCU, having done stints as Minutes Secretary and President, and continued to attend meetings occasionally as an Essex representative. However, it will be his tremendous service to the ECF for which he will always be remembered. This encompassed both shear hard work and authoritative, impartial advice - something that was also obvious in his posts on this Forum.

Incredibly sad news. And a great shock as well. Condolences to all who knew him.

There is a photo with the short ECF statement here:

http://www.englishchess.org.uk/rip-john-philpott/

ECF wrote:It is with great sadness that we have to pass on the news that John Philpott has died. John was a mainstay of the English Chess Federation for a very long time, and was a unique and irreplaceable friend to us all. We would like to express our heartfelt condolences to John’s family, friends and many, many colleagues, particularly everyone at Essex Chess

Very sad news - he was always really helpful to me. His illuminating and instructive comments on this forum must have helped many others as well.

Very sad news, a great loss to English Chess and its federation.

Very sad news, a tremendous loss to family, friends and the whole chess community. John was an invaluable source of help and advice in my various roles, over the years, for the BCF & ECF.