English Chess Forum

Greetings, I am presently trying to establish who played for St. Albans School when it came runner up in the national school's championship in 1978. I do have a picture of the team but cannot recognise anyone. Could someone assist?
I did find this on the school's website. Does anyone recognise anyone?

The SCCU bulletin has a team list. https://sccu-chess.com/bulletins/SCCUBu ... 78_123.pdf

Graham Alcock wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 24, 2025 7:08 am

The SCCU bulletin has a team list. https://sccu-chess.com/bulletins/SCCUBu ... 78_123.pdf

Oh my, the one place I forgot to look. Many thanks.

The result of the match was rather one-sided I must say.

Now I've seen the list of names in the SCCU bulletin, I'm pretty sure Hugh Murphy is 5th from left. I've also played John Nellist but I've no idea what he looks like.

Many thanks.

Alastair Simpson is holding the certificate, Huw Murphy to his left and John Nellist to his right. I don’t recognise the names or faces of the others I’m afraid, but I think this was the year that my school, St. Olave’s, almost upset St. Paul’s in the last 16 - I beat Julian, my brother beat Will but only half a point from the other four boards.

Simon Brown wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 24, 2025 10:33 am

Alastair Simpson is holding the certificate, Huw Murphy to his left and John Nellist to his right. I don’t recognise the names or faces of the others I’m afraid, but I think this was the year that my school, St. Olave’s, almost upset St. Paul’s in the last 16 - I beat Julian, my brother beat Will but only half a point from the other four boards.

Many thanks. May I ask -assuming you know- who went on to be the strongest player of that team and what was his rating at his best do you happen to know? For the opposition, clearly that was GM Julian Hodgson.

Alastair and Hugh were both about 200 in old money. I always thought Hugh was a bit stronger but there wasn't a lot in it.

Was Alastair M Simpson the Alastair Murray Simpson who died back in 2003 at the age of 42 or so? There is an Alaistair M Simpson on the English ratings site who last played in 2002/2003, so that would fit.

Simon Brown wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 25, 2025 11:11 am

Alastair and Hugh were both about 200 in old money. I always thought Hugh was a bit stronger but there wasn't a lot in it.

Hugk Murphy is 2074 in the current list, but hasn't played since last November.

https://rating.englishchess.org.uk/v2/n ... de=115984H

Jon D'Souza-Eva wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 25, 2025 11:42 am

Was Alastair M Simpson the Alastair Murray Simpson who died back in 2003 at the age of 42 or so? There is an Alaistair M Simpson on the English ratings site who last played in 2002/2003, so that would fit.

I didn't know that but the age is correct, he was my contemporary and we played several times.

I note that between 1975-1999 St. Paul's Schools won it 10 times. Is there a particular reason for that?

Gilchrist (can't remember first name), Howard Slater, John Nellist, Alastair Simpson, Hugh Murphy, Robert Rickard.

We were older than St Paul's and had to win by a large margin to win the match due to the age rules. I remember Alastair was better against Julian Hodgson and I was better against William Watson. in the end my game was unfinished and adjudicated by Leonard Barden and (ahem) Brian Eley, the days before any quick play finish!

Lovely to see one of those in the photo posting to this thread!

Could I ask why the suits? Was it de rigeur to not play in school uniforms?

And where has the name Gilchrist come from? The team list in the SCUU Bulletin (link posted upthread) says "T.M. Grummitt".

For the record:

Sunday Times National Schools Chess Tournament Final
St Ermin's Hotel, London
13 July 1978
St Paul's, London vs St Albans

1. J.M. Hodgson 1-0 A.M. Simpson
2. W.N. Watson 1-0 H.W. Murphy
3. R.F. Holmes 1-0 J.R. Nellist
4. M.J. Benjamin 0.5-0.5 R.E. Rickard
5. D.B. Rosen 1-0 H.J. Slater
6. P. Bowness 0.5-0.5 T.M. Grummitt

Does anyone know who was White on board 1?

The person presenting the prizes is Mr James Evans (a director of Times Newspapers, Ltd.).