Hi – some biographical notes.

I grew up and was educated in Glasgow. I played some chess while at school, and more frequently while at Glasgow University: at that time it was more fashionable than later to play for University chess clubs and Glasgow had a very strong club in the 60s and 70s including Roddy Mackay, Craig Pritchett, Peter Jamieson and David Levy along with many other strong less well known players. I played in one Scottish Championship with a middling score.

I was in Bolton for a year in 1974-75 where I played in one large tournament: an opponent told me he had just scraped a draw with a well known child player, Nigel Short.

I moved to Hastings in 1975 and worked at Hastings College until 1980. It was a very enjoyable chess period, playing at and for the club, a couple of matches for Sussex, and some large tournaments. I recall some interesting games against Howard Winser, Paul Carey and one exciting attacking game, eventually a draw, against a well known young player – Stuart Conquest.

In 1980 I moved to Berkshire with my wife and daughter where I have lived since, and played only some local league chess – quite strong in Berkshire, and rather more Bridge – in some ways less arduous to prepare for and keep up with than Chess. I’ve remained interested in Chess and followed some major tournaments online.

I am not sure I have managed to retain any Hastings game scores through various house moves, though I suspect the couple you have are lightning games.

Best wishes to all of you at the Hastings and St Leonards Chess Club

Mike Gallagher

March 2019

Here is a winning game from Hastings CC, Anslow Cup, 1977

Gallagher,M – Elliston,R
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.h3 0-0 8.Bb3 Nc6 9.Be3 Bd7 10.0-0 Rc8 11.f4 Qa5 12.Nf3 Rfd8 13.Qe1 h6 14.Rd1 Qh5 15.Ng5 hxg5 16.fxg5 Be6 17.gxf6 Bxf6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Rd2 Ne5 20.Bd4 Nc4 21.Bxf6 Nxd2 22.Qxd2 exf6 23.Rxf6 d5 24.exd5 exd5 25.Qd3 Rc6 26.Rf3 Qe5 27.Re3 Qf5 28.Qxf5 gxf5 29.Rd3 d4 30.Rd2 Kf7 31.Ne2 Ra6 32.Nxd4 Rxa2 33.c3 Rd5 34.Rc2 Kg6 35.Kh2 b5 36.g4 fxg4 37.hxg4 1-0 Black lost on time

and a losing game from the same event, brilliant play by Arthur Winser

Gallagher,MC – Winser,W Arthur
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.exd6 Bxd6 5.d4 Nf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bf2 Ne4 9.e3 g4 10.Bh4 gxf3 11.Bxd8 f2+ 12.Ke2 Bg4+ 13.Kd3 Nb4+ 14.Kxe4 f5# 0-1

And another winning game from Hastings CC Championship, 1978

Conquest,S – Gallagher,MC

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 d6 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nge2 0-0 8.f3 Nh5 9.Be3 a6 10.Qd2 Nd7 11.g4 Nf4 12.Nxf4 exf4 13.Bxf4 Ne5 14.Be2 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Bxe5 Bxe5 17.Bxb5 f5 18.gxf5 Qh4+ 19.Qf2 Qf6 20.Qc2 Bd4 21.0-0-0 gxf5 22.Bd3 Bd7 23.h4 Rfb8 24.Rh2 Rb4 25.exf5 Ba4 26.Nxa4 Rbxa4 27.b3 R4a7 28.Re1 Bf2 29.Rxf2 Rxa2 30.Re8+ Rxe8 31.Rg2+ Kf8 32.Qxa2 Qc3+ Source: ‘Kingpin’, Spring 2000 issue. 0-1

Paul Henry BUSWELL
14th of March, 1950 to 18th of October 2022

Paul BUSWELL as he was generally known was born in Kingston on Thames on the 14th of March, 1950, I do not know much about Paul’s early life only that he has a sister Anita who is 10 years his junior. On leaving school Paul furthered his education at Norwich University and on finishing university Paul obtained a position as general Secretary of the British Chess Federation. At that time he was the only paid employee

I first met Paul at the British Chess Championships in Portsmouth in 1976. My first view of Paul was of a Ginger denim shirt and jeans on a stage, carrying boxes. Paul would have been 26 years of age I was 15

Paul was still based in Norwich with the British Chess Federation when they bought the British Chess Magazine in St Leonard’s and with a building there the BCF decided to relocate. Paul made the decision to relocate with them.

It was at this time I renewed my acquaintance with Paul when he required an office boy so to speak to do the mundane things in the office. This would have been about 1982, I worked for Paul for approximately three years as a one day a week person.

After 11 years Paul decided to give up the post of General Secretary of the BCF.

However, Paul’s interest in chess still continued when he joined the committee of the Hastings International Chess Congress. This was at the time the of the Foreign Colonial sponsorship and formed the local end of the trio of Buswell, Power and Bryant’.

During that time Paul instigated his famous Buswell and Bryant Rapid play at the Congress (and yes, I was still the office boy) and it got national and international press coverage.

Do not take my word on it just ask Mark Hebden, Keith Arkell or Simon Williams about them.

And I will always remember that night in the Carlisle when the Germans came to play in force. Well if not to play certainly to drink and sing. The atmosphere was electric, something that only Paul could do.

Paul was also involved with the Friends of British Chess of which, I believe, for some years he was treasurer.

In the 1990s Paul became involved with the Hastings and St Leonards Chess Club, holdings positions of match captain, treasurer and eventually chairman

It was about this time Paul instigated his famous French trips for club members with two packed out cars taking the tunnel and playing the French and this was so popular it continues to this day with the club having another trip on November 11th. This was all down to Paul who also introduced his one-day Rapid Play at the club which is always extremely popular.

Paul was also instrumental in converting the Hastings and St Leonards Chess Club into a limited company. This had huge implications when Covid came along through the club receiving numerous government subsidies that would never have happened had it not been for Paul’s insight

Paul was a no fuss kind of guy who never liked having his photo taken and was very modest when people or organisations wish to honour him too the best of my knowledge. He twice turned down the English Chess Federation’s Presidential Award for Services to Chess. I can think of no better honour to Paul to honour him in death with an award that he refused in life.

I considered nobody more deserving to this award for over 50 years serving British chess
What he refused in life should probably be awarded to him in death.

I was with him at Scarborough last year when he started to lose his appetite and Paul being Paul with an inherent fear of doctors put off getting diagnosed and unfortunately when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer it was already too late.

Paul died peacefully at Saint Michael’s hospice in his sleep on October the 18th at 9.15.
It has to be said Paul was a victim of his own fears and a self-fulfilling prophecy.
In accordance with Paul wishes, Paul’s funeral will have no guests, no fuss, no expense, no religious aspects. Therefore the Executors will honour those wishes.
However, we may do something at the spreading of the ashes. Anybody wishing to honour Paul may do so by offering a donation to Saint Michael’s Hospice in Hastings who gave Paul excellent care in the last two weeks of his life.

I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Paul’s sister and his extended family.

And lastly on a personal note good night my friend and sleep well you are already missed.

Marc A Bryant