Dr J N ("Nick" or "Nich") Wingfield

Fenella Headlong · Post by **Fenella Headlong** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 11:38 am

I am very sad to report that Dr J N Wingfield ("Nick" or "Nich") has died recently.

Nick had been President of the Wiltshire Chess Association for a great number of years and was a well respected figurehead both on and off the board. Sadly it has been a number of years since he has played, although he was a regular player in county and league matches in Wiltshire and Swindon in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Nick was also active formerly in Bedford, and spoke very fondly of his chess friends from there.

Tim has managed to find this fine result of Nick's from the 1961 British Boys U15 Championship, where Nick came =2nd with 8.5 / 11
BritBase Chess: 48th British Championship 1961, Aberystwyth
https://www.saund.co.uk/britbase/pgn/19 ... iewer.html
(not sure if I've pasted that hyperlink ok, sorry)

Nick was also a distinguished academic and scientist, with careers in the government and most recently at the Research Council in Swindon where he held senior roles.

He is survived by his devoted wife Judith, and children Jonathan and Anna.

I have details for his funeral on Wednesday 17th December in Royal Wootton Bassett, near Swindon. If you would like details, could you message me, please, as Judith and Anna have asked that I coordinate chess attendance?

Thank you.

Roger de Coverly · Post by **Roger de Coverly** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 12:10 pm

Fenella Headlong wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 10, 2025 11:38 am
Nick was also active formerly in Bedford, and spoke very fondly of his chess friends from there.

He played on a high board for Bedfordshire in the 1970s as I recall. My archive shows I lost to him twice, once as N Wingfield and then as J Wingfield.

John Saunders · Post by **John Saunders** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 1:00 pm

Sad news indeed, but good to see my BritBase website being used for its intended purpose - the fond remembrance of chess and chess players - rather than the gratuitous Labour-bashing perpetrated by right-wing newspapers all the way back to the Zinoviev letter.

I've a few of Nick Wingfield's games on file - here is the earliest and most amusing...

Paul Habershon · Post by **Paul Habershon** » Fri Dec 12, 2025 4:15 pm

I didn't know Nick until he came to Bedfordshire in the 1970s. We eventually discovered that we had both played in the British U-18 at Bath in 1963. He scored 7.5/13 =18th of 58 players, tied with Vic Knox among others. Peter Jamieson (SCO) won on 9.5 with Bill Hartston (9) and Andrew Whiteley (8.5) among notable also-rans.

At Bedford he won the club championship in 1981 and 1984, achieving the 'double' with the county title in 1981. Game appended. I was particularly grateful for his life skills when I was parked in a dark side street after chess club with a flat battery. Fortunately Nick was nearby, had jump leads and knew how to use them. I saw him for the last time about twelve years ago when he came back to Bedford for a four-ball at golf, partnered by Brian Valentine against me and Peter Gill, followed by some blitz chess in the clubhouse.

Here is a 1981 Beds. championship game with Nick deploying his attacking skills.

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Fri Dec 12, 2025 8:19 pm

That is a nice game. Is anyone able to supply more details on his life as a "distinguished academic and scientist, with careers in the government and most recently at the Research Council in Swindon where he held senior roles"?

Another set of tributes here:

https://www.bedfordchess.co.uk/rip-j-n-nick-wingfield/

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Fri Dec 12, 2025 8:35 pm

To answer my own question, it was chemistry (things like ionophores). Though I have not been able to find a readable summary yet. Probably searching on a little-used variant of his name. What year was he born?

James Plaskett · Post by **James Plaskett** » Sun Jan 25, 2026 11:56 pm

Remember him well. Played him a time or two, too.
Was a scientist with a son and daughter.

R.I.P

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Dr J N ("Nick" or "Nich") Wingfield

Dr J N ("Nick" or "Nich") Wingfield

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Re: Dr J N ("Nick" or "Nich") Wingfield