Exeter Chess Club: HON. SECRETARY'S REPORT 1995

The nominal paid-up membership is at an all-time high of 72! This is a remarkable statistic for this time of year, when our publicity machine has been idling; virtually the same position was reached in 1994, history thus repeating itself..... A favourable combination of factors would seem to be at work: a burgeoning reputation, widespread advertising, comfortable premises, out-of-season opening, enforced leisure, etc. The gradual influx of competent players may go some way to offsetting the regretted loss of several senior members.

Successes at national and county levels have already been extensively reported, and these are a tribute to all concerned, especially the winning of the National Major Plate! B. Hewson is to be congratulated on his outstanding match-captaincy. Within the Club there has been increased out-of-season activity, with the new American Tournament and extra quickplays; but the icing on the cake was the unique visit of six Icelanders - thanks to the good offices of our temporarily resident Icelandic International Master, A. Karlsson! The match of the century, Exeter versus Hafnarfjordur, was honourably drawn.....

Senior coaching has continued, with some changes rung, under the able direction of D. Regis, whose hour-long demonstrations have been invariably backed by reams of printed analysis! We should also be grateful, to T. Forbes, who has acted as Thursday keyholder and tried hard to generate interest at his sessions; paralleling this are his latest artistic efforts to create a logo for the Club. As for his earlier drawings of chess pieces, these are now ready for framing prior to being hung in the Polsloe Room.

The Equipment Officer / Librarian, D. Beckwith, has decided to stand down after many years of highly capable and resourceful management, which should ensure a smooth transition of this joint responsibility. We owe him a debt of gratitude.

Separate Finance and Centenary Subcommittee meetings have been held to determine subscription levels and concert centennial plans. The BCF will be informed officially of our impending centenary, and a mention may well appear in Chess Moves in common with other similarly-placed clubs, which might provoke mutual challenges! Exeter would appear to have a strong case for recognition as Club of the Year for 1995-96.

The Secretary, having resigned from three Centre committees at the Centre AGM, has since been co-opted to the Management Committee, being re-elected Vice-Chairman, to represent the Centre on the Community College of Exeter's Governing Body, which now controls Community Education funding. He tied for second place in the number of meetings attended during 1994-95, having reported regularly on the Club's progress, his last action being to get CHESS inscribed on the new menu board at the Centre entrance.

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