James Wallman (1928 – 2024)

[MartinWallman]

It was very sad news for Camberley Chess Club to hear that James Wallman passed away on the 17th October 2024, a week after his 96th birthday.

James was the eldest member of Camberley Chess Club for 3 years, having moved from Dorset to Camberley after his wife died, to be close to his son Martin and his family.

In that relatively short time, James lit up the club with his unfailing enthusiasm and positivity. Not only did he play for the club, but he also travelled far and wide to play in no less than 26 chess tournaments in the last two years!

He was probably the oldest active ECF member.

He was all about playing with a smile and enjoying the game…win, lose or draw – he was a good role model for us all.

For more information and photos: https://camberleychess.co.uk/james-wallman-1928-2024/

[Kevin Thurlow]

Sad news - he played in a number of tournaments where I was arbiter. We probably never had an extended conversation but I remember he was cheerful. My late father was on the Berlin Airlift as well, so extra appreciation for that.

[Brendan O'Gorman]

James Wallman (W Wales).jpg (340.38 KiB) Viewed 4008 times

When I think of players that let no obstacle get in the way of their chess, James is the first name to come to mind. As he had grown frailer in recent years, he had a number of falls. On at least two such occasions, I've seen him return to the board the next day, his face bruised and bandaged, but still determined to soldier on. What a hero.

The photo was taken at the West Wales congress in Swansea in 2022.

[MartinWallman]

Thank you Kevin and Brendan.

[Andrew Smith]

So sorry to hear the news of your father. You introduced me to him at the St Albans Congress and I remember him from the various debates on the Camberley online Forum. I could see where you inherited your natural enthusiasm for chess and life in general. He was a very nice chap and I know he will be missed by the people who were in his life.

[MartinWallman]

Thank you very much Andrew.

[Lee Bullock]

Totally gutted to see this news. I have been a good friend of James's on the chess circuit for about 13 years. Wish I had done more to stay in touch outside of chess events as I knew he was frail and was a trooper. I recently tried contacting his club but got no reply. Just asked if I could have his phone number. I always loved talking to him and we shared many fun times and chats. I always invited him out to the pub or bar to make him feel welcome. I have a lovely pic of one time he accepted. Iv attached it. Hope it works. It was in 2019 when James was a young 91 year old pup. I was with David Spence at the time and we really cheered james up and listened to his stories. Will miss you old buddy.

[MartinWallman]

Hi Lee, thanks for your post and great lovely words. I am sorry you couldn't seem to get in touch, he was playing at Camberley Chess Club up until January 2024 and his last tournament was Guildford in April. Fantastic photo, can you say where the photo was taken?

[Lee Bullock]

Hi Martin.

Just checked. And it was the 4NCL Spring Bank Holiday Congress. In May 2019. In Basingstoke. Was a long walk to go anywhere from that venue but James was up and down like a trooper as always. I remember him winning first few rounds and being excited and I was saying you can do it james haha.

[Lee Bullock]

Here is the very first game me and James played in 2011. The first time I met him. We sat down after and tried to make sense of it haha. I just went through game and remember a few funny moments during game, especially my move 33. we both looked at eachother and smiled haha. He was so nice and friendly. my Qh5 also put him in smile and long think haha. not bad for a 79 grade at the time.

[Event "LCC U120"] [Site "Olympia"] [Date "4/12/11"] [Round "4 W"] [White "James Wallman (109A)"] [Black "Lee Bullock (79E)"] [WhiteElo "109A"] [BlackElo "79E"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d6 (2... d5 3. exd5 Qxd5) 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bd7 (6... e6) 7. Bc4 Rc8 8. Qb3 e6 9. Bd3 Na5 10. Qc2 h6 11. Be3 b5 12. a3 Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. h3 a6 15. Qe2 Nc6 16. Nh2 Nh7 17. f4 f5 18. e5 Qe8 19. Rad1 Nd8 20. Qf2 Bc6 21. Be2 Qg6 22. Bf3 Be4 23. Bxe4 fxe4 24. d5 dxe5 25. dxe6 exf4 26. Bxf4 Ng5 (26... Bc5) 27. Kh1 Ndxe6 28. Qg3 Nxf4 29. Rxf4 Bd6 (29... Rxf4 30. Qxf4 Bxa3 31. bxa3 Rxc3) 30. Rxf8+ Bxf8 31. h4 Qh5 32. hxg5 Rxc3 33. Qe1 Re3 34. Qf1 Qxg5 35. Re1 Bd6 36. Rxe3 Qxe3 37. Qg1 Qxg1+ 38. Kxg1 Bxh2+ 39. Kxh2 Kf7 40. Kg1 Kf6 41. Kf2 Kf5 42. Ke3 g5 43. g3 h5 44. b4 h4 45. gxh4 gxh4 46. Kf2 Kf4 47. Kg2 e3 48. Kf1 Kf3 49. Ke1 h3 50. Kd1 h2 51. Kc2 h1=Q 52. Kc3 e2 53. Kd4 e1=Q 54. Kc5 Qe5+ 0-1

He got his revenge just days later. We had many more battles over the years and my big improvement was a bit too much for him. This one is for you James.

[Event "LCC U120"] [Site "Olympia"] [Date "10/12/11"] [Round "3 L"] [White "James Wallman (109A)"] [Black "Lee Bullock (79E)"] [WhiteElo "109A"] [BlackElo "79E"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 (3... Nf6 4. dxc5 Nc6 5. cxd6 Nxe4) 4. Nf3 Ngf6 5. Bd3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Be3 c4 8. Bc2 O-O 9. Nbd2 b5 10. h3 Bb7 11. Nh2 Rc8 12. f4 a5 13. Ng4 Nh5 (13... e6) 14. Qe1 Ndf6 15. Nh2 b4 16. g4 Qd7 17. gxh5 Qxh3 18. Rf3 Qxh5 19. Qg3 b3 (19... Qb5) 20. axb3 cxb3 21. Bd3 Ra8 22. Kg2 a4 23. Qf2 Qa5 24. Nxb3 Qc7 (24... Qb6 25. Nc1 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Bxe4) 25. Nd2 a3 26. Rxa3 Rxa3 27. bxa3 Qxc3 28. Qe2 Qxa3 29. Nc4 Qa8 30. d5 Nd7 (30... Nxd5 31. exd5 Bxd5) 31. Nb6 Qd8 (31... Nxb6 32. Bxb6 e6) 32. Nxd7 Qxd7 33. Bb5 Qc7 34. Rf1 e6 35. Rc1 Qe7 36. Bc6 Bc8 (36... exd5 37. Bxb7 Qxb7) 37. e5 exd5 38. Bxd5 Qh4 (38... Be6 39. Bxe6 Qxe6) 39. Qf3 (39. Bxf7+ Kxf7 40. Qa2+ Be6 41. Rc7+) 39... dxe5 40. Bf2 Qxf4 41. Qxf4 exf4 42. Kf3 Bd7 (42... g5) 43. Rc7 Be6 44. Bxe6 fxe6 45. Re7 e5 (45... h5) 46. Ng4 Rf5 47. Ke4 h5 48. Nxe5 Kh7 (48... Bxe5 49. Rxe5 Rxe5+ 50. Kxe5 g5 51. Kf5 h4) 49. Re6 Bf6 50. Nd7 Kg7 51. Nxf6 (51. Rxf6 Rxf6 52. Bd4) 51... Rxf6 (51... Kf7) 52. Bd4 f3 53. Rxf6 Kh6 54. Rxf3 h4 55. Be3+ Kh5 56. Bf2 g5 57. Rh3 Kg6 58. Bxh4 gxh4 59. Rxh4 Kg5 60. Rf4 Kg6 61. Rf1 Kg5 62. Rf2 Kg6 63. Ke5 Kg5 64. Rg2+ Kh6 65. Kf5 Kh7 66. Kf6 Kh8 67. Kf7 Kh7 68. Rh2# 1-0

[MartinWallman]

Thanks for all that Lee and your friendship.

[John Upham]

Here are more images of James:

https://johnupham.smugmug.com/search#q=James+Wallman

[Lee Bullock]

Thanks for all that Lee and your friendship.

No problem Martin. I also found these. This was the same day. I was with David Spence that day. And he also had a few pics with James . And one of me with hands that I didn’t post before.

[GrahamStuart]

Just to update that I have been writing the Hampshire Individual Championship articles for my website. The 2015 Minor has just been completed and James finished a very credible 3rd behind two strong players. He played in several of the HCA Minor tournaments, but although I have no games from the section people may be interested?

https://hampshirechesshistory.co.uk/ham ... 015-minor/

[MartinWallman]

Thank you Graham and Lee (again) great to see your comments and photos, really appreciated.