English Chess Forum

It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the sudden death of Marcus Connolly on Friday 29th October 2021, at the age of 66.
Marcus was born in 1954 and was a member of Peterborough Chess Club for over 50 years, where he held numerous posts.
He was 11 times Peterborough Chess Club Champion and former Cambridgeshire County Chess Champion.
Marcus was the current Silver Queen winner of the 2020 Peterborough Chess Club Championship.
He also played in the Intermediate Section at the 2020 Blackpool Chess Congress, drawing all his games. He has also played in the past at the British Chess Championships.
Marcus taught Maths at the Peterborough King's School from 1988 to 2007. He ran the school chess club, where he taught Rowan Brown.
RIP

He was a significant person in Basingstoke chess when he was a member of Popley Chess Club along with Ken Harman.

JDP knows a lot more about MPAC than I did.

Marcus was my colleague at Popley CC in Basingstoke 1977-82. He taught maths at John Hunt School and we used his classroom on club nights. Very much an old fashioned Ladies Man, he loved to socialise. Unusual for a chess man! Did I tell you he once beat Michael Stean in a simul? OTB he favoured the Dutch and Accelerated Dragon, the latter borrowed from Ken Harman, then a leading light in the local game. Oliver Worsfold became British U15 Champion at Blackpool 1988 having joined us as a little boy. Marcus no doubt had a hand in his teaching.

Marcus played tennis and was a keen biker in his time, a wild life photographer in his retirement. He always encouraged me in my limited activities, something I shall remember him for fondly.

When the British Championship visited Hull there was Marcus captaining (I nearly wrote orchestrating) the live match - or part of it - locals dressed as chessmen, outside bold as brass. I am uncertain, but I think he had two children to whom, of course, condolences are sent. Chess will be duller without him.

James Pratt

I am very saddened to hear this news.

Marcus and I renewed contact in the last few years on Facebook, having lost touch for quite a while.

I met Marcus several times in the late 1980s and early 1990s at the Marlwood International Schools Tournaments organised each October by David Goldring at Marlwood School, near Bristol (this was the predecessor of the Millfield Tournament). Marcus was a very dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, running chess at The King's School Peterborough and taking twelve of his players away for the weekend to participate in this seven round tournament where his teams were always very competitive but impeccably behaved. I greatly enjoyed Marcus's company; he was a very friendly, engaging and entertaining person. I also recollect travelling to King's with players from Nottingham High School for a Quarter-Final match in The Times National Schools Chess Championship in 1992 where the King's team only lost on boardcount in a very exciting contest. I do remember Marcus being very hospitable and sporting, despite the result.

My condolences to Marcus's family and friends. R.I.P. Marcus.

What a terrible thing to happen to anyone.

I only met him twice, for matches: on 4 February 1976, when he played for Reading Chess Club, and on 24 October 1979, in a British Championship Qualifier, which I think was the only time anyone has played the Scotch against me. By then he was living in the Basingstoke area. Both games were draws, and I would guess he was around 160 in those days.

I recollect a lively character with a cheerful disposition, direct, almost cheeky, and likeable with it. For some reason, I don't see a birth registration for him.

I am very sorry to hear of the accident and his passing.

A number of tributes have been placed here:


https://www.facebook.com/marcus.connolly.940

I've just received a text message about the funeral details for Marcus Connolly. Here it is:
Marcus' funeral is on Monday 29th November 2021.
10.45am at St.Peters Church, 43 Church Street, Yaxley, Peterborough, PE7 3LH.
Followed by a wake at The Farmers Carvery & Grill, 200 Broadway, Yaxley, Peterborough, PE7 3NT.