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Excerpt from : The East Grinstead Chess Club - A History of the first 10 years 1955/65
Author A.J.Hunt (1969)
Introduction
The East Grinstead Chess Club was formed in mid 1955. I was not a member in the earliest years, only joining in 1958, becoming treasurer later in that year & secretary in mid 1959. The latter position I held until May 1965, together with the position of Match Secretary, Tournament Secretary and Junior organiser of varying periods during those six years.
This period was a time of great interest as the club grew from a small organisation, only active locally, to a large strong club taking a full part in county activities. When I resigned as Secretary in May 1965 I thought it would be a project worth doing to write a club history. It has been an interesting task though more difficult than expected. The facts are, to the best of my knowledge, accurate but regretfully incomplete. For the first few years, it seems, complete records were not kept. The tournament records 1959/65 are complete but some match records, particularly 1961/62, are missing. I have not attempted to include a full account of junior chess activities. This deserves a history of its own, a task beyond me.
Minutes of committee meetings and Annual General Meetings, useful sources of information passed out of my possession when I left the committee but I have been helped greatly by scrapbooks of press cuttings.
I hope the finished history will recall pleasant memories to those who were members during this time and will prove of interest to their successors.
An 'Observer' picture taken at the presentations at East Grinstead Chess Club. Left to right are Philip Rose, Patrick Moore (president), Alan Donovan, Andrew Hayward, Mr. W.Bonney (junior organiser), and Mr. P.A.Cooke.
Club Founded
In May 1955 a letter from Mr. M.J.Eichner was published in an East Grinstead newspaper suggesting the formation of a local chess club. He received three replies and on the 15th June, at an informal meeting at his house in Ashurst Wood, the East Grinstead Chess Club was founded. Mr. Eichner was elected Chairman; Patrick Moore who was to become well known as the as the TV astronomer took on the post of Secretary; P.Merrett, Grammar School Champion and secretary of the school club became assistant secretary; F.Wyart became treasurer. Early meetings were held at The Rocks, Mr. Eichners home at Ashurst Wood but it soon became apparent that a more central venue was desirable.
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