Anne Sunnucks/Mothersill (1927-2014)

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James Pratt
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Re: Anne Sunnucks/Mothersill (1927-2014)

Post by James Pratt » Tue Mar 12, 2019 7:52 am

Anne Sunnucks married Dick Mothersill in about 1984. Born in London in 1927, she lived in Hassocks in an old people's when last I heard, but that was about 5 years ago.

Patricia Anne Sunnucks was a retired Army Major who served in Hong Kong with, amongst others, Portsmouth's Terry Hollington. She organised exchange trips for foreign students, took a keen interest in helping the young start their careers, sold insurance, enjoyed table tennis, never took chess - except when competing - at all seriously, throwing away her old scoresheets as careless trifles. She was a student of Imre Koenig's. WIM (1954). Her diplomatic work precluded her participation in the Ladies Candidates in the 50's.

She won the British Ladies three times, was an Honorary Member of the ECF and, in 1972, was awarded the FIDE Medal of Honour. She was great friends with the Bruces and Pritchards who predeceased her. At the last, her fame probably rests with her Encyclopaedia (Robert Hale 1970 and revised 1976) which caused her unwelcome flack from the likes of Gerald Abrahams and Wolfgang Heidenfeld. She said I might do another edition but I never pressed it.

A modest lady, erratic as a player, she played for England in several Olympiads. When living in Surrey, she became joint-director of BMS Chess Supplies selling books and equipment at her house and various congresses.

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John Upham
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Re: Anne Sunnucks/Mothersill (1927-2014)

Post by John Upham » Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:39 am

James,

What was the "B" for in BMS ?

We know that
M = Mothersill
S = Sunnucks

Thanks !
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess :D

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Anne Sunnucks/Mothersill (1927-2014)

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Tue Mar 12, 2019 11:11 am

I recall that Edward Winter wasn't terribly impressed with her encyclopaedia either, though he did prefer it to Divinsky's :D
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

James Pratt
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Re: Anne Sunnucks/Mothersill (1927-2014)

Post by James Pratt » Tue Mar 12, 2019 1:21 pm

Brown, a colleague, not a chesser

Mike Truran
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Re: Anne Sunnucks/Mothersill (1927-2014)

Post by Mike Truran » Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:15 pm

I'm not sure Edward Winter is ever terribly impressed with anything. Perhaps he should sign up as an ecforum poster.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Anne Sunnucks/Mothersill (1927-2014)

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Wed Mar 13, 2019 1:02 pm

EGW is indeed a hard taskmaster, but I think there is little doubt the chess world would be worse off without him.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Stewart Reuben
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Re: Anne Sunnucks/Mothersill (1927-2014)

Post by Stewart Reuben » Wed Mar 13, 2019 9:23 pm

I thought Edward Winter was older thn me. Then I learnt that Julian Simpole taught him as a schoolboy.
Julian said he was often came up to him telling him about chess historical inaccuracies and other incorrect chess statements.
Edward lives in Switzerland. I hve never learnt of anybody else who met him face to face.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Anne Sunnucks/Mothersill (1927-2014)

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:09 pm

Born in 1955 according to chessgames.com.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)