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British Chess Federation

President's Awards for Services to Chess 2003

Richard Furness

Richard was born in 1937 and has lived his entire life partly in Lancashire and partly Yorkshire. He was a secondary school Geography teacher from 1959 until he retired in 1987.

It sometimes seems as if Richard has been involved in chess administration forever, but of course this is not so. He first learnt the rules when he was 10 and became secretary of the York & District League while still doing teacher training.

Shortly after starting teaching in 1959 he started a chess club at the Secondary Modern school where he taught. He was told that such schools could not compete against grammar schools. He refuted this when his school won the local league.

He became more interested in chess for all when he ran the Manchester & District Chess Association Open in July 1970. This event was one of the earliest weekend Swiss in Europe. 142 players took part and was much-imitated. By 1972 English chess was ready for the explosion caused by the Fischer-Spassky match. The Manchester Congress peaked at 692 entrants in 1977. Its influence continued for many years, long after Richard turned his attention elsewhere.

Richard organised the Benedictine International from 1978-1983. The liqueur company initially intended just a three year commitment. This open Swiss followed on from the Lloyds Bank Masters in London and, in its latter days, was one of the main ways in which Indian players gained their first international experience.

After his retirement from teaching, Richard expanded his chess commitments. He wrote a substantial book to mark the Centenary of the Cheshire & North Wales Chess Association in 1988. He became a Principal Arbiter at the British Championships in the 1990s. In 1990 he took over the running of the biennial junior tournament at Oakham. There is little doubt this series had the strongest junior events of all time. From 1991-3 he was a Director and Company Secretary of the British Chess Magazine. He was the BCF Director of Junior Chess from 1991-3. Throughout the 1990s he was also a member of the Hastings International Congress control team.

Since 1993 he has been Chief Arbiter at the Monarch Assurance Masters in the Isle of Man. From 1994-8 he was the arbiter at the Owens-Corning Internationals at Wrexham. In 1995 he was the chief Arbiter for The Intel Grand Prix Final in London. He has been Chief Arbiter of the 4NCL since 1997. He is one of few people who holds both International Arbiter and Organizer titles. However, he is still happy controlling local Under-12 events and has held innumerable regional offices, including a stint as Treasurer of Lancashire Chess Association.

From 2000-2 he was the BCF’s Grading Officer, a subject in which he has been interested for 30 years. Just this year he created a completely original Title Norm Calculator for International events.

Indeed then, much of Richard’s life for the past 50 years has been taken up by his efforts as player, organiser, arbiter, grader, committee member and writer. Our lives have been much enriched by his efforts.

Bernard Neil Beasley

He has been associated with chess in the Midlands from his school days to the present, not only as a player but also as an administrator. This represents 56 years of involvement in chess activities.

Serving in many positions for Club, County and Union he also assisted the BCF in the computerisation of grading. Most recently he set up the MCCU web site.

Neil has a wealth of experience and is a great asset at meetings. He is considered a safe pair of hands and great weight is placed on his measured judgment and opinions.

Roland Smith

Reaching a milestone of 50 years continuous service as an Officer for Civil Service chess in 2003. He has served in several positions for the London Civil Service, Post Office and Municipal Chess League.

His chess playing activities have included representing Kent both over the board and in correspondence chess.

A willing volunteer in his position as officer and it is rare to find someone of such ability showing such enthusiasm for the work.

Dennis Hemsley

The originator of the Monarch Assurance International Tournament on the Isle of Man. Over 12 years this Tournament has developed into a nine round international event that is held annually.

It is his dedication and his exceptional ability to attract top players from all over the world that has made the Tournament such a success and has kept the confidence of the sponsors.

It is likely that 2003 will be his last year running the Tournament and the award is an excellent recognition of his achievement.

Awards Committee: John Wickham, Gerry Walsh, John Dunleavy and Stanley Goodall

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