Soham Grammarians - Chess

Barry Lowe 55 writes (29 Sep 2005): Here are my records of the beginning of SGS Chess Club. Before Lionel Hart arrived in 1959, the school had no team and did not play against other schools, so these are the first beginnings.

On a personal note, when I returned to live in Soham in the mid-70s, Lionel approached me in the street one day and asked if I was interested in playing for Soham Chess Club in the Bury and District league. It remains one of my abiding memories, turning up to my first match away to Ely to find the four man team comprised Lionel, Albert Lawrance, myself and one other. We won, but sadly, the three of us never again turned out together, mainly due to Albert's commitments at Soham Village College.

SGS Chess Club
In 1959, Lionel Hart arrived at SGS to teach French. Being a keen chess player (he was rumoured to have represented Essex), he formed the SGS Chess Club convening on Friday afternoons, I believe. Up to this point, several junior pupils were to be seen playing on miniature sets in breaks (and occasionally during lessons!).

On 8th February 1960, the school played its first match away to Newmarket GS. For all of us it was the first time playing for three hours non-stop on a full-size board. Furthermore we had no sixth form players and the backbone of the team were fourth formers. Newmarket could also boast a Suffolk junior champion on top board (Johnson), so it was no major shock when we lost by three games to one.

In a move reminiscent of the more desperate reaches of football management, the entire team was changed for the return fixture the following month. Alas, we lost again by a larger margin.

Undeterred, Mr Hart arranged a match a week later with Newmarket Chess Club of which he was a luminary. This was truly daunting. 14 year-olds playing grown men who played chess as a hobby in a large hall dedicated to chess was a new experience for all of us. Needless to say we went down heavily again with just David Moore avoiding defeat among the eight of us.

However, after that, little could daunt us and we were gaining experience. Our next match in November against Newmarket GS proved the turning point. Victories for the ABC club (Andrew, Barry, Chris) saw us winning by the narrowest of margins. This was followed in January with another close victory against Coleridge Secondary Modern. Notably in this match, 7 of our team of 10 were making their debuts.

In March we again narrowly defeated Newmarket GS, a match in which we finally managed to beat the redoubtable Johnson, who had won in each of the three previous meetings with us. He never troubled us again. We played Newmarket GS on another two occasions in 1961 winning both 4-2. The first of these was our first home match, being played outdoors near the memorial gates on School Open Day on 22nd July 1961.

There was one further match played in 1961 in the National Sunday Times School handicap knockout cup. We played the Perse School and required a 3-3 draw to progress to the next round (we were the younger team, so the handicap gave us the draw). Unfortunately, we lost 5-1. I believe this was the first time that any of us had played with clocks, so again a useful part of our chess education.

Early SGS Chess Record

from the Summer 1967 Soham Grammarian, unsigned but probably by Mr Hart

CHESS

The season 1966-67 must go on record as our most successful season to date. Far more matches were played than ever before and for the first time no less than six teams were fielded. The Senior side suffered defeat only once in six matches and the Under 13 'A' team lost one of their five games. The Under 15 team won twelve and lost six out of eighteen, the remaining three teams were all unbeaten.

A special word of tribute must be paid to the Under 15 team. Last season they finished bottom of the Starr Cup League with just one win from sixteen games. This season, after losing five of their first six games they proceeded to win eleven of their remaining twelve fixtures including a win by 20½-19½ in the famous mammoth match against the Manor School, Cambridge.

A 40 board match v Manor School Cambridge in 1967:
Mr Hart can just be seen near the piano.
Note the layout on stage for assemblies in the 1960s.
source: School History

My especial thanks are due to Trevor Salmon who has assisted me on many occasions and has captained the Senior team. J Saul and J Harding have both played well for the Senior team.

P Easy has been this year's captain of the Under 15 team and is to be congratulated on the team spirit that he has built up.

A number of very good younger players have emerged this season. Easily the most outstanding of these are Stephen Murfrtt and Stephen Yeomans who, though of Under 13 'vintage' have worked their way to the top two positions in the Under 15 team and have both played for the Senior team. Amongst the other promising players who have appeared in the First Year are A Spalding, K Stone and K Neal.

1967: facing: left Stephen Murfitt, right Steve Yeomans, playing in 40 board game for
Starr Cup Chess team v Manor School Cambridge: source - Stephen Murfitt

The Senior House Chess Championship was won by Ridley and the Junior House Championship by Cromwell. This is the first year that House Chess Championships have been held.

Next year will see us fielding a team in the Starr Cup League which will be eligible for at least two seasons and of which I have great hopes. Two teams have also been entered in the 'Sunday Times' Schools' Championship.

Team Summary

316 games played. Won 175. Drawn 25. Lost 116.

U15 Starr Cup League Table

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last update 29 Sep 2005