Bernard Cafferty (1934-2026)

[John Saunders]

Some desperately sad news - I've just been informed that Bernard Cafferty died last night (4/5 November). He had been unwell and in hospital for some time, latterly in palliative care.

Bernard Cafferty was a major figure in the game as a player (FIDE master), editor (British Chess Magazine) and writer/translator (e.g. The Soviet Championships, co-authored with Mark Taimanov). I had particular reason to admire him as he was associate editor of BCM throughout my stint as the magazine's editor (1999-2010) and he provided support and advice of inestimable value. As my editorial predecessor, Murray Chandler, told me: "you ignore Bernard at your peril" - and he was so right. Bernard himself wrote in an obituary of Harry Golombek: "I admit, I miss him." I miss you too, Bernard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Cafferty

http://www.hastingschess.club/cafferty-bernard/ (I believe Bernard himself wrote this)

https://www.saund.org.uk/britbase/pgn/c ... iewer.html

[John Upham]

Totally agree John. In my five years at BCM I tried very hard to get advice on how to deal with one of the owners who Bernard simply referred to as "Low" even though his surname was Lowe. I met BC on a couple of occasions but regrettably never got to know him to any degree.

[JustinHorton]

Read this over and over in my teens, and after

[John Upham]

FM Bernard Cafferty, Hastings Congress 2013-14, courtesy of John Upham Photography

FM Bernard Cafferty, Hastings Congress 2013-14, courtesy of John Upham Photography

juz_3421_lv.jpg (567.3 KiB) Viewed 185 times

[John Upham]

Remembering FM Bernard Cafferty (27-vi-1934 – 04-xi-2026)



https://britishchessnews.com/2026/11/05 ... y-bernard/



Bernard Cafferty, location, date and photographer unknown

Bernard Cafferty, location, date and photographer unknown

IMG_1146.jpg (470.67 KiB) Viewed 177 times

[John Saunders]

For some tributes to Bernard while he was still alive (80th birthday), see the link...

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6674#p140288

[Nick Ivell]

A very fine servant of the game. I think he may have played for Lancs, but the one time I played him I think he was playing for Sussex. I was lucky to draw against his trusty Alekhine.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Sad news and another link to a past era goes.

But also a good age and he remained active until quite recently (his final games in the ECF database were just two years ago)

[Nick Ivell]

Bernard's collection of Spassky's games was one of the first books I studied.

Interesting that he did not consider himself to have a great talent for chess (unlike Spassky, of course). He certainly had a capacity for hard work, which is a talent in itself.