London Central YMCA (aka CentYMCA) Chess Club

[George Szaszvari]

Could someone write something about Paul Buswell, please? He was one
of those characters who was around to contribute a lot, often quietly
in the background, to remain largely unsung. He deserves some recognition.

[George Szaszvari]

Could someone write something about Paul Buswell, please? He was one
of those characters who was around to contribute a lot, often quietly
in the background, to remain largely unsung. He deserves some recognition.

Oops, I see this is probably not the best forum to ask this, sorry all... the senility is gettin'
stronger..... I can feel it! Aaaaargh!

PS anyone here affected by, or have any opinions about the current riots in London?
(please redirect as necessary...maybe "Not Chess")

[James Pratt]

Paul Buswell was General Secretary of the BCF in the 1970s and 1980s.

When I was establishing myself as a journalist he was massively helpful both as editor of NEWSFLASH and on a personal level. He is a terrific writer, now lives in Hastings, moving when the BCF shunted out of Norwich.

Marc Bryant and Paul's 'Pawn's Will Fly at the Pig' was a better floorshow than any comedy night.

A poster hereabout PB will not welcome these comments. So be it!

[George Szaszvari]

Paul Buswell was General Secretary of the BCF in the 1970s and 1980s.

When I was establishing myself as a journalist he was massively helpful both as editor of NEWSFLASH and on a personal level. He is a terrific writer, now lives in Hastings, moving when the BCF shunted out of Norwich.

Marc Bryant and Paul's 'Pawn's Will Fly at the Pig' was a better floorshow than any comedy night.

Yes, I remember his secretarial position and the Newsflash... a hard worker.

A poster hereabout PB will not welcome these comments. So be it!

Oh, really. Be interesting to know who and why.

[George Szaszvari]

the Hungarian team until they blew it... There was that fantastic 3-1 win over Brazil, Bene's opening
goal jinking past several flatfooted defenders, the Florian Albert volley into the net on the run..

Correction, it was Janos Farkas who scored that volley on the run. Albert had a tremendous game, tho'...
In those days Hungarian players were trying to live up to the great team prior to the 1956 Revolt that
revolutionized soccer strategy, led by Puskas, Hidegkuti, Kocsis, etc... after the turmoil of 1956 Ferenc
Puskas teamed up with Afredo di Stefano at Real Madrid, one of the greatest clubs ever in the history
of the game. As a schoolkid I went to Stamford Bridge (around 1964?) to see Chelsea play Real Madrid in
a friendly and that was the only time I saw Puskas play. In his chess biography, co-authored with J Silman,
Pal Benko has a lot of interesting things to say about the depressing post WWII period of Hungarian politics
and chess.

Getting back on topic, I was wondering whether anyone recalls Alfred Bernegger, a young Swiss bank
worker who had been posted to London for a couple of years, or so, around 1970. Alfred played a fair
amount of chess, as his job allowed, but cannot remember if I first met him at Bayswater or YMCA,
since he straddled both clubs for a while and was a good friend of Jimmy Adams and Ray Cannon.

[George Szaszvari]

Getting back on topic, I was wondering whether anyone recalls Alfred Bernegger, a young Swiss bank
worker who had been posted to London for a couple of years, or so, around 1970. Alfred played a fair
amount of chess, as his job allowed, but cannot remember if I first met him at Bayswater or YMCA,
since he straddled both clubs for a while and was a good friend of Jimmy Adams and Ray Cannon.

I'm assuming this is the same Alfred Bernegger.

http://www.kosteniuk.com/albums/zurich0 ... _2173.html

[Daryl Taylor]

I'm assuming this is the same Alfred Bernegger.

http://www.kosteniuk.com/albums/zurich0 ... _2173.html

As a venue for a simul, THAT is quite some contrast with the cellar of the old Endell Street building!!

[George Szaszvari]

... the first name of the younger Szücs is PAUL.

Which jogs my memory further...there was, of course, another famous Paul, viz: the son of Malena Griffiths.
Malena played a big part in London Central YMCA and did a lot to promote junior and women's chess, as well
as that of her own son, Paul Griffiths. Malena's residence in Covent Garden was a social magnet for chessplayers.
Are Malena and Paul still active in chess?

[JustinHorton]

Malena

[James Pratt]

Malena is an occasional player for Cavendish M in the London League. Paul used to play also but he is based down in Bristol Uni I believe.

James Pratt
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/chessparrot/

[Sarah de Lisle]

I had the pleasure of many a party at Malena's, Paul was about 10 when I first met him. They are/were a really welcoming and generous family. The flat used to get trashed and was full of snoring chessplayers by 5 am or so.

I have a fond memory of Jon Speelman giving me a spelling test in the kitchen after I said I was a proofreader and to my shame I got 'desiccated' wrong.....

[George Szaszvari]

I had the pleasure of many a party at Malena's, Paul was about 10 when I first met him. They are/were a really welcoming and generous family. The flat used to get trashed and was full of snoring chessplayers by 5 am or so.

I have a fond memory of Jon Speelman giving me a spelling test in the kitchen after I said I was a proofreader and to my shame I got 'desiccated' wrong.....

Aha, fond memories, indeed! We probably met, but were possibly never properly introduced! Sarah?...hmm.

[Sarah de Lisle]

Hi George - my last name back then was Christopher....

[LozCooper]

I had the pleasure of many a party at Malena's, Paul was about 10 when I first met him. They are/were a really welcoming and generous family. The flat used to get trashed and was full of snoring chessplayers by 5 am or so.

I have a fond memory of Jon Speelman giving me a spelling test in the kitchen after I said I was a proofreader and to my shame I got 'desiccated' wrong.....

Sounds like a wild party

[George Szaszvari]

Hi George - my last name back then was Christopher....

Howdy! I'm much more likely to recognize a face than a name, especially as the years roll on...
Gosh, you've got my old memory banks going now! Another fine lady who used to turn up at Malena's
when in London (this would have been around the late 80s, early 90s) was Jane Seymour (the chess
player, not the actress!) Not really a full time YMCA member, Jane did, however, drop in now and again
(she was from Portsmouth,) and whenever I took the boys Glorney Cup teams abroad (for 3 or 4 years)
she was usually the BCF chaperone for the girls team. Jane, being from Portsmouth, of course, knew
the young Peter J Lee, who became a good friend and turned out for Streatham & Brixton when in London.
A British Championship contender, Peter gave up chess in the 70s to focus on becoming a medical doctor.
Peter was our guide when Streatham & Brixton club went to the Portsmouth British Championships in
strength and hired a furnished house. Yes, we all got the Pompey runs and Nigel Povah shared his secret
remedy of eating a loaf of bread! It worked, too! :0)

Anyone know what has happened to Nigel Povah, Jane Seymour, or Peter J Lee?