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January 2022
Death Anniversary of GM Harry Golombek OBE (01-iii-1911 07-i-1995)
Signature of H Golombek from a Brian Reilly "after dinner" postcard from Southsea 1951. We remember Harry Golombek OBE who passed away on Saturday, January 7th, 1995. Harry Golombek was born on Wednesday, March 1st, 1911 in Lambeth, London and his parents were Barnet (Berl) Golombek (Golabek) (1878-1943) and Emma Golombek (née Sendak) (1883-1967). The Polish word Golabek translates to "small dove" in English. Barnet was a "Dealer of gas fittings" and was 33 when Harry was born and Emma…
Find out more »Birthday of FM Steve Giddins (29-01-1961)
Birthday of FM Stephen William Giddins (29-01-1961) Here are his games from chessgames.com We reviewed his most recent book, co-authored with IM Gerard Welling : Side-Stepping Mainline Theory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6403hEafJI Side-Stepping Mainline Theory
Find out more »February 2022
Death Anniversary of Hugh Alexander CMG CBE (15-ii-1974)
We remember Hugh Alexander who passed away on Friday, 15-ii-1974. The death was registered in the Borough of Cheltenham. Currently his burial / cremation site is unknown. Conel Hugh O'Donel Alexander was born on Monday, April 19th, 1909 in Cork, Munster, Republic of Ireland. Signature of CHO'D Alexander from August 1970 Hugh's parents were Conel William Long Alexander (1879-1920) and Hilda Barbara Alexander (née Bennett) (1881-1964) who married in Hook Church, Hampshire. His father was a Professor of Civil Engineering…
Find out more »March 2022
Death Anniversary of Nancy Elder MBE (25-v-1915 04-iii-1981)
BCN remembers Nancy Elder MBE who passed away on Wednesday, March 4th 1981, i.e, forty years ago in Perth, Western Australia. Nancy Conchar Gordon was born on Tuesday, May 25th 1915. On the same date was born Robin Day in High Wycombe who went on to design the polypropylene stacking chair. Nancy was born in Kirmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire in the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. In the 1939 register Nancy was living at 18 Thornton Avenue, Urmston. Manchester, M41…
Find out more »Death Anniversary of Reginald Bonham MBE MA (31-i-1906 16-iii-1984)
BCN remembers Reginald Bonham (known as "Bon") who passed away, this day, March 16th in 1984 in Worcester, Worcestershire. In 1970 New Years Honours, Civil Division he was awarded the MBE for "Services to the blind". Interestingly, in 1992 his sister Mary also received an MBE for "Services to the blind" This is surely an unusual happening. Reginald Walter Bonham was born on Wednesday, January 31st 1906 : the same day as the Ecuador–Colombia earthquake which measured 8.8 on the…
Find out more »April 2022
Death Anniversary of BH Wood MSc FCS OBE (13-vii-1909 04-iv-1989)
We remember "BH" Wood MSc FCS OBE who passed away on Tuesday April 4th, 1989 in the district of Birmingham. He was buried alongside his wife Marjorie in the Sutton Coldfield Cemetery Extension which was opened in 1934 as an extension to the Holy Trinity Church. Yorkshire Childhood Baruch Harold Wood (generally known as BH Wood, or simply "BH", by the chess world) was born on Tuesday, July 13th 1909 in Ecclesall, Sheffield, Yorkshire. The registration district was Ecclesall Bierlow.…
Find out more »June 2022
Death Anniversary of Sir Richard Clarke KCB CB OBE (13-viii-1910 21-vi-1975)
BCN Remembers Sir Richard Clarke KCB OBE who passed away on June 21st 1975. According to chess-poster.com : "Clarke died in the University College Hospital, in London, on 21 June 1975 and was cremated at Golders Green three days later. He was survived by his wife Brenda Pile (married in 1950, née Skinner) and their three sons." One of those sons is Charles Rodway Clarke along with his brothers Mark G and Timothy Rodway. Richard William Barnes Clarke was born on…
Find out more »July 2022
Death Anniversary of Sir George Thomas, 7th Baronet (14-vi-1881 23-vii-1972)
Death Anniversary of Sir George Alan Thomas, 7th Baronet (14-vi-1881 23-vii-1972) Signature of GA Thomas from a Brian Reilly "after dinner" postcard from Hastings Christmas Congress, 1945-1946 From The Encyclopedia of Chess (BT Batsford, 1977) by Harry Golombek : "British international master, born in Constantinople (previously Byzantium and currently Istanbul : Ed.) His mother (Lady Edith Margaret Thomas : Ed) was one of the strongest English women players, winner of the first Ladies tournament at Hastings 1895. (Ed : his…
Find out more »Birthday of Demis Hassabis CBE FRS FREng FRSA (27-vii-1976)
BCN wishes Happy Birthday to Demis Hassabis CBE FRS FREng FRSA (27-vii-1976) From https://achievement.org/achiever/demis-hassabis-ph-d/ : Demis Hassabis, the eldest of three, was born in London on July 27, 1976, to a Greek Cypriot father and a Chinese Singaporean mother. (Originally his surname was spelt Hassapis and his brother George retained his.) "Demis Hassabis was born in London, England. He is of both Greek and Chinese ancestry; his father came from Cyprus, his mother from Singapore. Demis and his family moved…
Find out more »August 2022
Birthday of CM David Anderton OBE (02-viii-1941)
BCN sends Best Wishes to CM David Anderton OBE on his 80th birthday (02-viii-1941) In the 1977 New Years Honours List, Civil Division, David was awarded the OBE. The citation read simply : “For services to Chess” David William Anderton was born in the district of Walsall, Staffordshire, West Midlands. His mother's maiden name was Coltart and David continues to reside in Walsall. David is married to Margaret. David Anderton (rhs) congratulates Sir Philip Stuart Milner-Barry for winning the "Board…
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