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British Chess Federation

Obituary: Jack Speigel

21 September 1931 - 4 July 2004

For over 43 years I knew Jack Speigel as a fellow chess player, organiser and arbiter - but especially as the best friend anyone could ever hope to have.

We met at Bognor Regis just after Easter 1961 and became good friends at the Eastbourne Chess Festival later that year.

His chess career was quite remarkable. A few years ago when a match between Essex Past and Essex Present was arranged Jack received a mention as a player who played for Essex in 1948 and was still playing for the County Team. He once told me that he was the youngest-ever Secretary of the Essex Chess League.

Jack will best be remembered for the Southend-on-Sea Annual Easter Chess Congress. Although organised by Southend Chess Club - with a Committee overseeing the event - Jack was involved from day one. He told me how it all began ... mind you most of Jack's stories began with the words "Did I ever tell you about ..." when the accurate reply was probably "yes" but the interesting reply improved as the years wore on. Apparently Southend-on-Sea Chess Club wanted to find some way of celebrating a special anniversary of the club (I never did find out which) and a one-day chess event was suggested. Jack suggested that it could be a weekend event and by the time he had finished it had become a 4-day Easter Congress. He had found a venue and had even involved Southend Borough Council, which they still are to this day.

For 25 years Jack acted as Congress Secretary and Chief Arbiter. He then passed on the Secretary's post to the late George Smith while continuing as Chief Arbiter for another 20+ years.

Jack's interests were not confined to chess. He introduced me to The Players' Theatre and their Victorian Music Hall - so enthusiastic was he that he'd signed me up as a new member by the end of the first performance he took me to. He enjoyed Classical Music, Opera and Jazz - especially when live! Hardly a week went by without Jack visiting the National Film Theatre. Some years ago he even found a London Cinema showing silent films - accompanied by a live pianist. For some years he'd been a regular at the Edinburgh Festival - particularly the 'Fringe'. He had been to every Theatre in London. I once accused him of having seen every show currently running in London. Jack corrected me "I've seen every show I want to see" was his reply ... that meant all but two of those currently on!

His career up to the age of about 30 saw him employed in the 'Rag Trade' as a buyer. He suddenly decided one day that he no longer enjoyed his job and wanted to find something more satisfying. He was on good terms with his employers who gave him a leave of absence while he decided what to do. His new career saw him qualify as a Probation Officer and rapidly move up the ranks. He moved on to take charge of a home for disturbed boys and then to Stamford House Remand Centre in London's Goldhawk Road where he became second-in-command. There are many 'problem boys' who were helped and guided into a 'sensible' way of life by Jack. They probably owe him more that they will ever realise. He maintained his flat in Southend, which had originally been his late parents' home. That became his "Country Residence" while his staff flat at Stamford House was his "London Place" for many years.

After taking early retirement Jack was a familiar face at weekend congresses throughout the UK. He was normally armed with CAMRA 'Good Beer Guide' but also had a copy of 'The Good Pub Guide' - he reasoned that if a pub was in both it was probably worth visiting. He was rarely wrong on that count! Jack played in the Paignton and Hastings Congresses for more years than I care to remember.

He played for decades for Essex, for Southend Chess Club and also for West Ham (which then became Newham and finally Cavendish). His nephew Cliff Stanford (founder of the Demon Internet Company) offered to finance a number of REDBUS Top-Class Knock-out Tournaments to run alongside the Traditional Southend Open Tournament. Jack organised and controlled these successful events. He 'trained' a number of arbiters who went on to gain the FIDE International Arbiter Title (including David Eustace, myself and my partner Mary McDermott) without ever receiving that title himself. "Why would I need it - I've controlled international tournaments for years!" was his response when I once asked how he felt about that title. He was a Life Member of the BCF and a BCF Arbiter. He held the earlier title of 'BCF Judge' and was amused after one Southend Congress to see that the local paper had reported "The Congress was controlled by Mr. J. A. Speigel and B.C.F. Judge" - Jack remarked that he hoped Mr. Judge would help again the following year!

In the 1960s we all expected Jack to marry his regular girlfriend. She gave him up for someone else. In over 40 years he'd never mentioned her until we had a meal together last Autumn. Jack told me there had never been anyone serious for him after that as he hadn't wanted to get into the situation where anyone could ever hurt him that much again. How sad that he had carried so much emotional pain for so many years.

Jack was active in everything he enjoyed doing until a few weeks before the short illness which claimed his life. Cliff told me Jack had said he'd "... enjoyed every bit of his life except for the last two weeks". If we can all look back on our own lives in that way we won't have done badly.

Comments I have received include "I feel as if I had known him all my life", "You felt he respected you even when you didn't agree" and "Everyone knew Jack - he played chess absolutely everywhere".

We have lost a great chess enthusiast and a friend to many of us.

I know that chess players, arbiters and organisers everywhere will join me in expressing our sincere condolences to Jack's family - in particular his nephew (Cliff) and niece (Ros).

Peter J. B. Wilson