Malcolm Burn (1947-2021)

[John Saunders]

Whilst looking for something else, I came upon an obituary for Malcolm Edwin Burn (1 August 1947 - 4 December 2021). The obituary was in the annual publication of University College, Oxford, where he had read history. As far as I can see, his death (in a traffic accident) has yet not been reported here or in other chess media. He was based in Gloucester, having qualified as a solicitor, and worked for the Land Registry for many years.

I didn't know him personally, but he was evidently a strong player who held his own against such players as Dr James Aitken with whom he drew three games in the 1970s which can be found on BritBase. Similarly his draw with Roger Emerson (who also studied at University College, Oxford) can also be found there, plus two wins from the British Under-21 Championship in 1966. His last recorded ECF grade was 168 in 2006 but he had been considerably higher than that in previous lists. The highest grade I've found for him so far was 194 in 1991, but he may have gone higher. However, the belief of his surviving sister, quoted in the University College publication, that he "became the Junior Chess Champion of Great Britain" appears to be mistaken.

Hopefully members of the forum who knew him will be able to add their memories here. R.I.P.

[Kevin Thurlow]

He played Correspondence Chess in the 80s for Civil Service. He was actually a team-mate of mine at times, but I never met him. Apparently he worked for Land Registry.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Pretty sure it was him I played in a simul at my first serious chess event - Gloucestershire schools championship in 1979.

He thrashed me of course, though my games from that early - if not prehistoric - time were lost many years ago.

[Joey Stewart]

I do remember hearing him talked about as a legend of the league when I played for Gloucester but he had been long gone by then so I never actually met him.

In fact, now I am reminded that it was Phil Dodwell who told me this and also died in October 2020 - might be a name some people recognise from county and 4ncl games and one of the most decent and honest players I've ever had the fortune to encounter.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Sorry to hear that he has also passed away (again, didn't get mentioned on here at the time)

I played him in a simul at the same event the following year, with the same result. As you say a really nice guy who simply loved explaining the game to us then tyros. The other person I lost a simul against back then was Gareth Anthony, pleased to say that he at least is still going strong.

[Tim Harding]

Malcolm was a contemporary of mine at Oxford (late 1960s) and we played a few times there, but none of our games is preserved (though I have a fragment from 1967). Sorry to hear of his passing.
My vague recollection is that in those days he was a solid but timid player. I would be pretty certain he wasn't a junior champion of anything bigger than maybe a county.