Winston Williams

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Andrew Zigmond
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Winston Williams

Post by Andrew Zigmond » Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:04 am

I regret to report the death of Bradford player and CSC coach Winston Williams. He also took over the running of the very popular Rothay Manor chess holidays for a time and played a major role in the hugely successful Bradford Chesstival a few years back.

Steve Mann has written a fuller obituary here http://mannchess.org.uk/YNotices/2020-0 ... lliams.htm
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Mick Norris
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by Mick Norris » Mon Aug 03, 2020 11:30 am

Really sorry to hear that; it is a long time since I played him twice in the first season of 4NCL Div 3N, he was nice guy
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Andrew Zigmond
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by Andrew Zigmond » Fri Aug 07, 2020 11:38 am

The ECF website now features a full obituary

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/an-appr ... 1958-2020/
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Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:05 pm

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/an-appr ... 1958-2020/

I never met him, but now I wish I had. He sounds great. I particularly admired,

"IM Chan Peng Kong also has happy memories of playing Winston, when he was an Investigation Officer with the Singapore Police Force. ‘I remember how he played with a pistol strapped to his ankle,’ he said."

Alan Walton
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by Alan Walton » Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:37 pm

Used to be great and slightly infuriating having Winston in the same team when we played for Bradford, he was always one move away from a brilliancy or a blunder

Good memories especially the season we won the Woodhouse, in which he was an integral member of this squad (there is a good picture after the final match in the curry house somewhere online)

Sadly missed

Mick Norris
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by Mick Norris » Sun Aug 09, 2020 10:38 pm

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MartinCarpenter
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by MartinCarpenter » Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:10 am

Very sad. I don't think I ever played him, but he always seemed a very nice person.

Certainly prone to playing very interesting games!

Mick Norris
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by Mick Norris » Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:42 am

From the first weekend of 4NCL Div 3N, played for over 6 hours on the Sunday, with Winston wearing plastic bags on his feet after getting wet while out for a walk that morning



Later that season, in the Jamboree as there weren't enough teams in the division, we got paired again, another long game

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NickFaulks
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by NickFaulks » Mon Aug 10, 2020 3:34 pm

Thanks, it is always nice to see a From Gambit, even when the wrong side wins.

I assume you have no wish to be told that the ending can be held if Black just does nothing, so I shall leave that alone.
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Mick Norris
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by Mick Norris » Mon Aug 10, 2020 4:15 pm

I was knackered and made a mistake

I was knackered in the first game too; it only went on so long because we both thought the other player was playing for a win!
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Andrew Wainwright
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by Andrew Wainwright » Sun Aug 16, 2020 9:24 pm

Mick - That game from the first season of 4NCL North is one of my stand out memories of Winston. When he took of his trainers and put those blue carrier bags on his feet - classic! He was a lovely quirky man who will be sadly missed by the Bradford chess community.

Mick Norris
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Re: Winston Williams

Post by Mick Norris » Sun Aug 16, 2020 10:08 pm

Andrew Wainwright wrote:
Sun Aug 16, 2020 9:24 pm
Mick - That game from the first season of 4NCL North is one of my stand out memories of Winston. When he took of his trainers and put those blue carrier bags on his feet - classic! He was a lovely quirky man who will be sadly missed by the Bradford chess community.
Mine too, possibly the longest game I have ever played, certainly was the longest at that point, and gave me confidence I could actually play; he seemed genuinely surprised to find out that I hadn't been playing for a win, and laughed when we both realised we could have gone home an hour or two earlier :D
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John Upham
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Winston Williams

Post by John Upham » Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:43 pm

Founder of Bradford Chesstival Winston Williams took his own life in city centre, inquest hears :(



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Winston Williams
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