BCN sends Happy birthday wishes to Peter Griffiths Peter Charles Griffiths was born on Thursday, August 15th, in 1946 in Birmingham, Warwickshire. His mother's maiden name was Ward. Peter was a strong player active from the 1960s until 1989. He played in the British Championships more than once and was a professional coach and writer. … Continue reading Birthday of Peter Griffiths (15-viii-1946)
Death Anniversary of Thomas Wilson Barnes (1825 20-viii-1874) From The Oxford Companion to Chess (OUP, 1984) by David Hooper and Ken Whyld : "One of the strongest English players during the 1850s, He made little impression in his one and only tournament, London 1862, but is remembered for having scored more wins than anyone else … Continue reading Death Anniversary of Thomas Wilson Barnes (1825 20-viii-1874)
BCN wishes Happy Birthday to Dinah Norman on August 21st Dinah Margaret Dobson was born on Wednesday, August 21st 1946 in Exeter, Devon. Her parents were Leslie and Barbara Dobson (née Hayward). Some of the participants in the Paul Keres display on November 25th, 1962, at St Pancras Town Hall, London WC1. Back row : … Continue reading Birthday of WCM Dinah Norman (née Dobson) (21-viii-1946)
Death Anniversary of Ernst Klein (29-i-1910 22-viii-1990) From CHESS, July 1946 (and also The Anglo-Soviet Radio Chess Match) : Since Ernst Klein came to England in 1935 his play has earned our ungrudging admiration. Born in Vienna, 1910, he learned chess at the age of eleven. His grandmother taught him the moves, his father having … Continue reading Death Anniversary of Ernst Klein (29-i-1910 22-viii-1990)
We note the passing today (August 22nd) in 1870 of William Lewis of the Lewis Counter Gambit. The Lewis Counter Gambit From The Oxford Companion to Chess (OUP, 1984) by Hooper & Whyld : "English player and author. He left his native Birmingham as a young man and worked for a time with a merchant … Continue reading Death Anniversary of William Lewis (09-x-1787 22-viii-1870)
BCN remembers Gerald Frank Anderson MBE, DFC (24-ii-1898 23-viii-1984) From British Chess (Pergamon, 1983) by Botterill, Levy, Rice and Richardson we have an article written by John Rice : "Gerald Frank Anderson was born in South Africa on 23 February 1898, and has published nearly 500 problems of many different types. From the start he … Continue reading Death Anniversary of Gerald Anderson MBE DFC (24-ii-1898 23-viii-1984)
BCN remembers Joseph Blackburne (10-xii-1841 01-ix-1924) The following (excerpts of) information were obtained via ancestry.co.uk / findmypast.co.uk: Joseph Henry Blackburne was born on Friday, December 10th, 1841 in Chorlton, Manchester. His father was Joseph Blackburn (aged 23, a temperance reformer) and his mother was Ann Pritchard (aged 24). He had eight sons and five daughters. … Continue reading Death Anniversary of Joseph Blackburne (10-xii-1841 01-ix-1924)
We send best wishes to GM Michael Stean on his birthday, Michael Francis Stean was born Michael Francis Stein on Friday, September 4th, 1953 in Pancras, London. His mother's maiden name was Feldman. Michael has a brother, Howard. Michael Stean He attended Latymer Upper School and Cambridge University. His early chess days were spent at … Continue reading Birthday of GM Michael Stean (04-ix-1953)
Death Anniversary of Elijah Williams (08-ix-1854) We note today (September 8th) in 1854 marks the passing of Elijah Williams. We are not aware of verified image / likeness of Elijah Williams. Possibly the archives of Bristol based newspapers would help? Here is an excellent article by Neil Blackburn (aka SimaginFan) From Wikipedia : "Elijah Williams … Continue reading Death Anniversary of Elijah Williams (08-ix-1854)
Death Anniversary for IM Imre König (09-ii-1901 09-ix-1992) From The Anglo-Soviet Radio Chess Match by E.Klein and W.Winter : "Born in 1901 in Hungary when it still belonged to the old pre-World War I Austria, spent most of his life in Vienna, where he became a promising player at an early age. After World War … Continue reading Death Anniversary for IM Imre König (09-ii-1901 09-ix-1992)