English Chess Forum

I was sent five issues of the West of England Annual Congress – Bulletins from the 1960's by Linda Myers, following the passing of her husband Richard. Linda wished to ensure these were not lost to time and I have scanned and added to my website along with some basic information on the WECU Championship.

https://hampshirechesshistory.co.uk/wes ... ongresses/

I also passed the documents to John Saunders for the wider exposure on Britbase, and John has added these to various sections of Britbase, but all can be found under the ever growing Chess Library section.

https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/britbasedocuments.html

In total there are now six issues available, but if anyone has additional ones it would be good to see these added to either source. I hope these will make pleasant reading for you and although 60+ years ago there are many well known local players.

Graham, I sent John scans of the 1981, 1984 and 1985 WECU Championship bulletins some time ago. I'm happy to send you a link to download them from my Google Drive if you'd like them as well.

GrahamStuart wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 3:35 pm

Linda wished to ensure these were not lost to time

Tip of the hat to Mrs Myers for her thoughtful action. There's so many inheritors who unhesitatingly bin what they regard as "that old junk".

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 4:27 pm

Graham, I sent John scans of the 1981, 1984 and 1985 WECU Championship bulletins some time ago. I'm happy to send you a link to download them from my Google Drive if you'd like them as well.

Ian, that would be great, I was unaware they produced these in the 1980's and would be great to add these to the list of bulletins.

Can someone confirm that it was definitely Ronald and not Rowena (they share the initials RM) Bruce that played the 1947 event.

I only ask because Di Felice gives 'Rowena' and references it to page 145 of the BCM of that year.

Page 145 of the 1947 BCM gives 'R.M. Bruce' in the crosstable and nothing else that would help differentiate between RM (Ronald M) and Mrs RM (Rowena M) Bruce.

Various contemporary newspaper references are also to R M Bruce (ditto CHESS magazine), but I feel quite sure that had Rowena been the Bruce in question they would have referred to her as Mrs R M Bruce. So definitely Ronald (as given at BritBase) and not Rowena.

Thank you John. I agree. As you say, it was almost always the convention to describe married women using their partner's name with the Mrs prefix, particularly in any formal context. And it appears that Di Felice had no source that suggested otherwise.

John Clarke wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 8:54 pm

GrahamStuart wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 3:35 pm

Linda wished to ensure these were not lost to time

Tip of the hat to Mrs Myers for her thoughtful action. There's so many inheritors who unhesitatingly bin what they regard as "that old junk".

This - these sorts of bulletins are invaluable sources for chess history.