Chess Scotland President's Awards

September 5, 2006

Organised chess in Scotland relies completely on the work of a large number of volunteers, working at club, regional and national level. They deserve the continuing thanks of the players they provide chessplaying facilities for.

Earlier this year, the Chess Scotland Management Board agreed in principle to introduce President's Awards to recognise those who have given long service to chess in Scotland. A suitable process will be developed to allow long standing chess organisers at club, regional or national level to be recognised by awards in 2007, and in subsequent years.

I felt, however, that the awards should be introduced this year because I wanted to recognise at this year's AGM three people who have given extraordinary service to Chess Scotland and its predecessors - service measured in decades rather than years.

I therefore made a unilateral decision about awards for three people who fall clearly into that category and made a donation to cover the costs. I was therefore glad that my last action as chairman before handing over to Donald Wilson was to present inscribed glass mementoes to the following at the AGM on 31 August - to the acclaim of the meeting:

Alex McFarlane, who has worked in a number of different roles in CS and the Scottish Chess Association including editor of Scottish Chess, promoting arbiting, running the Scottish Congress, and Home Chess Director, as well as a great deal of work with the Scottish Junior Chess Association and, now, Chief Arbiter for the British Championships.

Ken Stewart, who has run the Richardson and Spens Cups since 1977-78, and held the posts of Assistant Secretary, Tournament and Services Convenor, Director of Tournaments, Congress Director and Technical Director, including operating the system for training and examining arbiters.

Mac McKenzie, who has been Treasurer or Finance Director of CS and the Scottish Chess Association since the late 1970s. Mac has also been Scottish Congress director for 3 years, including the Centenary Championships jointly with Walter Munn in 1984. But it was primarily for his quiet efficient control over our finances for such an astonishing period of increasing complexity that the award was made.

John Glendinning

Former President