Chess Scotland Noticeboard

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:34 pm Post subject: Another Chess Mystery Solved...

Another myth bites the dust.

http://www.chessedinburgh.co.uk/chandlerarticle.php?ChandID=385

Alex McFarlane · King Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 413

The British Ladies Champion in 1926 was Mrs A Stephenson - or was she playing under a PEM name?

If this is your usual standard of investigation then there can be no doubt that the Lewis Chess Men are real!!!!!!

Yours disgustedly,
A McFarlane
Tunbridge Wells (well Hastings actually)

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:08 am Post subject:

Your source is flawed.

Mrs A Stephenson was the wife of the editor of BCM (Mr Stephenson!).

He subjected a false report saying his wife won the title under the
instructions from the BCM publishers ( the same publishers of the Christie books.)

You have to see the original BCM 1926 (page 94).
The rare untarnished version.
later copies of the 1926 BCM removed Mrs Pem's name and most
websites have taken their information from there.

The 1926 Championship was held in Edinburgh and Mrs Christie
stayed at The Waverly Hotel where you find her signing in under
the name of Mrs. Pem.

You have dig under floorboards to find the skeletons.

Stick to the contolling Alex, you are not too bad at that.

Leave the investigations to me and the tournament reports....

(...in your post on the Hastings event you called Andrew Greet
Scottish. This is wrong he is English....)

,,,,to the more informative.

Alex McFarlane · King Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 413

I'm sorry my source was the OFFICIAL ECF Yearbook.

Why would anyone want to use one of those electronic keyboardy things? After all I am an up and coming young player.

The mens' title in that year was won by RF Yates who went on to open a pub chain where it is believed Agatha Christie got totally sozzled and passed out for 11 days!!!

As I am in Hastings I have consulted the official records stored in the ECF Office. Indeed I was up all night consulting this and then went to the chess library at the local university. Beat that for investigative journalism.

I can easily match Chandler for authentisity and spelling.

Stephen Hamilton · Rook Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 71

Sorry ... couldn't resist it. At least you are both making this an entirtwaining (and informative) end of the Old/beginning of the New Year which is a very pleasant relief from the usual boredom. Keep firing the arrows Alex, well you are in the right place. So may I wish you both (and every-one else) a guid yin when it comes as I will be well away from the keyboard arra Bells.

Stephen

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:37 pm Post subject:

Alex I'm shocked.

Using the OFFICIAL ECF Yearbook is cheating.

'm going to leave it unchanged. Give it a couple of
years and all this will become a fact.

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

The internet says Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days on 8 December 1926. Were these the dates for the championships ? I thought they were played in the summer.
Which of our super-sleuths Alex or Geoff will solve this mystery?

admin · Site Admin Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 1386

My Favourite Chandler wind up was the Dog in the Grading List. I have to confess to panicking and actually checking to be on the safe side...

Alex McFarlane · King Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 413

Andy,

Any confusion in dates is easily explained by the fact that the English not only use their own grading system but until the late 50s also used their own calendar called the Nigelshortian.

Deciding the Gregorian or Julian Calendars were too commonplace they invented their own. This calendar was restricted to three figures meaning that the last three months of the year could only have 9 days each (Hogmanay being 9/12). This was compensated for by August having 99 days. Obviously giving a long hot summer.

Simple really.

Stephen Hamilton · Rook Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 71

It must be the sun ... Confused

Geoff Chandler · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:34 am Post subject:

Correct. Read the September 31st. 1926 SUN. (page 94).

"Agatha Christie poses as Mrs Lisa Pem to win British Ladies title."

It's next to an advert for bald skinny men.

You are not arguing with me, you are arguing with the facts.

A Muir · King Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 489 Location: Dumbarton

Alex and Geoff: this is rubbish

Nigel Short was born in 1965 so how could he have been responsible for a calendar system in 1926 ?
I don't believe the Irish could play chess 1000 years ago let alone invent the game. What famous Irish chess players have there been ?

I am getting serious enquiries for the date of the 2010 scottish championships ? is it in the long month of august ?
I am thinking of returning my Rampant Chess book. What is the return address please ?

Keith Ruxton · Queen Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 148

Please return the book to me Andy, including the traditional handling fee of £14.99 - thanks.

AWIC · King Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 221

GN · King Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 415