|
History of Ashtead Chess Club
On 30th November 1946, a meeting was held in Oakfield Rd. Ashtead to consider the formation of a local chess club. Some 18 enthusiasts attended and as a result Ashtead Chess Club was established. Brian Harley was the club's first president; subscriptions were fixed at 10/6d - soon raised to £1.1/-, and in 1947 there were 32 members.
Transport difficulties after the war restricted matches to friendly ones with local clubs: Epsom, Goblin Works and St. John's School. At the end of 1948 the club had a balance of £2.12s 0½d which the treasurer reported as "very satisfactory," although it subsequently fell to one penny in 1958!
By 1950 the club was affiliated to the Surrey County Chess Association and playing matches in the Waechter Shield, which it won in 1954. It also entered the Minor Trophy in the mid-fifties and then the Beaumont Cup. In 1958 the club entered the Surrey Trophy instead if the Waechter Shield, thereby playing 10-board matches against the strongest clubs in the county. As now, these matches were played in the Peace Memorial Hall.
In 1957 Leonard Barden gave a 24-board simultaneous exhibition at the club, winning 18 games and drawing 3. Typical of those days, there was lengthy comment in the local paper. "Barden Night" became a regular annual feature and R.G. Wade also gave talks to juniors in 1959.
George Henlen was match captain during this period. In 1957 he won the championship reserve section of the Bognor Chess Congress with 6 wins and 3 draws. His name is still commemorated to the club by a silver rose bowl that is presented annually to a member who has given outstanding service. Club membership then numbered between 25-30 with junior members beginning to appear on the scene.
A more difficult period ensued in the early 1960's when numbers declined and finances were stretched. Social evenings, which had been a regular annual feature, were discontinued and representation in the Surrey League was reduced to one team only. This team, however, won the Beaumont cup in 1964.
In May 1965, The club AGM minutes record, for the first time, Michael Bolan, who soon became one of the club committee.
In 1996, efforts were made to promote a simultaneous display by either Petrosian or Gligoric, presumably when they were at Hastings. The fees were put at 20 guineas and 12 guineas respectively but unfortunately this ambitious idea never came to fruition.
The club was quite small around this time but continuing efforts were made to attract new members, including notices in local shops and, one wag suggested the neighbouring police station. There were only 10 members and in 1972 club funds amounted to £3. After a poor season in that year, the club's first team was relegated to the Ellam Trophy but was back again in the Beaumont Cup in 1975/76.
1972 was, of course, the year of the great Fischer-Spassky world championship match and this led to a widespread interest in the game. This 'chess explosion', together with hard work by the club's officials and the growth of the junior section, was the start of a more stable prosperous period that has continued to the present day. John Chesters, a dedicated member since the clubs foundation, who became President in 1972, presided over much of this period.
It is interesting that in April 1975, the minute book records a long letter from Richard Davey, another most valuable present member. It discusses among other things, the need to advertise more widely the club's existence, present or alternative accommodation, the prompt collection of subscriptions and nominal payments from students and juniors "who are our future life blood." As the letter shows, many of the concerns of a chess club don't change much over the years.
The club's 30th anniversary was marked in 1976 with a simultaneous display by IM Michael Basman, followed by refreshments. The recovery in its fortunes was evident by 1978 when there were 29 full members, 15 juniors and 5 others who had joined through the season. John Chesters reported that the club was in a thriving condition" and in particular we had more lady members than any other time."
Indeed, 1979 saw anew secretary pat Armstrong, who later became President and is still a committee member. Also in that year the committee recorded that "it was best to leave the organisation of the Junior Section to Messrs. Bolan & Davey," which is still the case today.
Playing strength was improving steadily and in 1981 the club had its most successful season in 20 years. The 1st team, playing in the Beaumont Cup, won 7 and drew 1 from 10 matches and most importantly secured promotion to the Surrey Trophy. The 2nd team won the Centenary Cup (P10, W9, D1) and was promoted to the Ellam Trophy. The club also played in the BCF Minor Trophy.
Other successful results in the 1980's group wins by the 3rd team in 1983 and 1985, when it won the Minor Trophy after playing in it for 10 years. In 1986 the club began its regular appearances in the quickplay Ellery Williams competition, while the 2nd team won the Ellen Trophy in 1987 and proceeded to play for the Beaumont Cup. In 1988 the club reached the semi-final of the Alexander Cup for the first time.
Prominent players in the club at that time included David Ewing, Dan Rosen, Alastair Mitchell-Baker, Neville Lane and David Pruden. Participation in the Surrey Easter Congress became a regular feature and continues today.
Ashtead's 40th anniversary was celebrated with a simultaneous display by GM Jon Speelman. 31 players from Ashtead, Cobham, Dorking and Reigate took part with Jon winning 27, losing 1 and drawing 3, all with Ashtead players.
1990 John Chesters retired from the Presidency and Pat Armstrong was unanimously elected in his place, thus beginning an auspicious reign that continued throughout the decade. It was a period of stability for the club; although playing results were variable.
|
