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The Campbell Report
Correspondence Chess
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Interviews
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Per Söderberg
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Alan Borwell
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Alan Borwell (SCO), Honorary Member and Honorary President
of ICCF, has served as ICCF President and ICCF Treasurer as
well as in many other capacities. Following is an interview
of Alan Borwell by the ICCF Swedish delegate Per Söderberg
for the Swedish cc magazine Korrschack. It was published
in issue 4/2004 in December 2004. Thanks to Per and Alan for
their permission to reproduce this very interesting interview.
Per Söderberg (SWE) is President of the Swedish CC federation
SSKK (Sveriges Schackförbunds Korrschackkommitté), edits its
magazine Korrschack and is the Swedish delegate to ICCF.
He is 47 years of age, father of two children and has a Masters
Degree in Engineering Physics. He provided the most extensive
report so for on the 2004 Mumbai Congress in India (see Chess
Mail 8/2004).
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Per Söderberg receives SIM title from
Alan Borwell at the Seixal ICCF Congress
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Interview with Alan Borwell
by Per Söderberg
(posted 19 January 2005)
The following extensive interview of Alan Borwell by
Per Söderberg done in November 2004. It was originally
published in the 4/2004 issue of Korrschack, the
print magazine of the Swedish CC federation SSKK (their
web site URL: http://www.schack.se/SSKK/).
It was conducted before the recent resignation of ICCF
president Josef Mrkvicka (CZE).
Photographs of Per above and receiving his Senior International
Master (SIM) certificate and medal at the 2002 ICCF Congress
in Seixal, Portugal at the right were provided by Per
Söderberg (photographers unknown).
PS below indicates the question by Per Söderberg
AB indicates the reply by Alan Borwell
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PS
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Thank you, Alan, for taking your time to be interviewed
for Korrschack Magazine!. We first meet at the
ICCF Congress in Perth, Scotland in 1994. You were the
main organiser of that Congress and at the time you were
the ICCF Treasurer. Can you please give me a summary of
your excellent work performed for ICCF up to then?
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AB
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My first ICCF Congress was in 1981
in London, although I had been involved with Scotland's
applications for ICCF membership since 1973! Until the
early 1980s there had been combined representation for
Great Britain under the auspices of the English-based
organisation BPCF. Eventually, England, Scotland and Wales
gained recognition from ICCF for the three distinct countries,
which form Great Britain. The Scottish CCA organised a
memorable ICCF Congress in 1985, where I was appointed
Treasurer and became a member of the Presidium. As principal
host for that Congress, it was particularly pleasing that
we managed to produce Minutes in both English and German,
which were handed to delegates at the Closing Banquet.
My wife Moira typed the German version and her friend
the English one - on manual typewriters! The weather,
of course, was typically Scottish!
I could write a book for the period
you are asking me about - the way in which ICCF operated,
the people involved, the interesting venues - so many
fascinating and enjoyable experiences. Many of the immense
characters of those days are no longer with us, like Hans-Werner
and Bertl von Massow, Henk Mostert, Paul Diaconescu, Prof
Zagorovsky, Francek Brglez, John Cleeve, Josef Vandorffy,
Reg Gillman and many other great CC friends. We are fortunate
that some of the most capable officials from the 1980s
and early 1990s are still active in ICCF, including Ragnar
Wikman, Nol van 't Riet, Roald Berthelsen and Gerhard
Radosztics, with nonogenarians Erik Larsson and Hermann
Heemsoth still maintaining interest in ICCF and international
CC. The experience and knowledge of these enthusiasts
has been invaluable in creating the heritage of ICCF.
I remained as ICCF Treasurer for
12 years, although I also became involved with wider issues,
including the drafting and introduction of new ICCF Statutes
and organisation of ICCF, including its annual congresses
in conjunction with the President. The financial position
of ICCF over those years was greatly strengthened but
we should never forget the very generous legacy given
to ICCF by Hans-Werner von Massow, on his death.
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PS
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In 1996 the president of ICCF Henk Mostert decided to
step down and you were the candidate to take the presidency.
Was it a hard decision to take this position?
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AB
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The year 1996 was a sad one for
ICCF and for me personally. I had been very good friends
with Henk Mostert for 15 years and we worked together
very closely preparing congress arrangements, completing
minutes and dealing with various ICCF developments and
activities. When Henk became ICCF President, following
Hans-Werner's retirement, I became Henk's "right hand
man" and we consulted together very regularly, almost
daily.
In 1995 and the earlier part of
1996, it was apparent that Henk's health was failing although
he tried valiantly to continue to carry out his responsibilities
for ICCF and NBC. However, well before the 1996 Congress,
he had privately revealed to me his intention to retire
at the end of the year, but he did not wish to announce
it until the beginning of the Congress. It made succession
rather difficult and when I was asked by the other members
of the Presidium to become Acting ICCF President on Henk's
retiral, I was not very comfortable about doing this.
However, I eventually agreed and my appointment was subsequently
confirmed in Argentina the following year.
I considered it a great honour
to succeed two fine Presidents, Hans-Werner von Massow
and Henk J. Mostert.
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PS
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Yes, I remember very well that I could see in your face
a cautioness in Bad Neuenahr at your appointment and its
very interesting to now learn why. As you probably very
well understand I didn't wish to ask then. But Presidency
was for sure not only fame and honour but also a lot of
hard work. Can you tell our readers more about what you
managed to accomplish for ICCF during your period in office?
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AB
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It was always my principal aim
to do things in a fair and objective way, without special
favours to any group or individual. I also endeavoured
to uphold the traditions and heritage of ICCF and introduce
changes which were in harmony with ICCF's ways of doing
things but also to move forwards in a progressive and
evolutionary way.
I would like to be remembered as
a "pioneering" President, who introduced some initiatives
and delivered them! Amongst the developments I have been
particularly pleased about were the Jubilee celebrations,
with the five sponsored tournaments, including the unique
World CC Champions event, the Gold book, new ICCF Statutes
(x2!), Congress arrangements and allowances (not just
for the President and General Secretary), the Code of
Conduct Guidelines, and insisting upon ICCF developing
its own dedicated webserver system and facilities.
We have been very fortunate to
have some exceptional innovators and achievers in ICCF,
like Nol van 't Riet, Gerhard Binder and now the young
Chris Lueers, as well as many others, who have contributed
enormously.
Of course, in an ever-changing
and increasingly demanding world, it has been necessary
for ICCF to adapt and develop but, in my opinion, this
can be achieved without departing from well-established
principles of honesty, openness and good manners in everything
we try to do and to uphold our important motto of "amici
sumus".
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PS
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A big advantage for you as President was that you were
retired and could really give so much of your time to
ICCF. The new development with the internet changed a
lot the duties to be president for such a large international
federation. Can you share some of it to us to make us
understand how much you really did put down a day at the
ICCF Office?
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AB
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Alan Borwell in Mumbai, 2004
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Yes, I think that it is beneficial
if the ICCF President is not engaged in a full-time occupation
and can focus undivided attention to ICCF affairs. I retired
from my professional occupation when I was aged 54 (in
1991) so I was ready to assume the responsibilities of
ICCF President in 1996, based on considerable ICCF experience.
You are correct in referring to
the impact of technology on the duties of ICCF officials.
For example, when I was Treasurer, I prepared all accounting
schedules manually, but the new Treasurer, Carlos Flores,
computerised the ICCF system very capably and it is a
great improvement. The impact of the Internet has been
enormous.
My "day at the office" used to
be dealing with postal communications at a relatively
leisurely pace but in latter years they became almost
exclusively by email. This dramatically created much greater
pressure in dealing with the wide range of issues which
are always referred to an ICCF President. For example,
on return from two weeks holiday, I would find several
hundreds of email messages awaiting attention and urgent
response!
I always rise early, around 6.45am
each day, and open my incoming email and regularly download
it throughout the day. I try to respond the same day,
where answers can be given quickly. Even though I am now
Honorary President, many people continue to write to me
for my views and advice, on a wide range of ICCF topics.
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PS
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Thank you for all the immense work you did for ICCF!
Great achievements!
Last year was a turbulent year, you decided to step down
to not accept the full period of 4 years more as president.
Which thoughts went through your mind to take this decision?
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AB
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It was a very difficult decision
and, as I explained in Ostrava, I would have preferred
to continue for another year or so, to complete the important
tasks which I had been very much involved in initiating,
e.g. the new Executive Board and Management Committee
concept, the ICCF Webserver, Code of Conduct, Arbiter
Review, etc.
The timing of the elections (for
a four-year period) was not really ideal but my successor
had made his intention known to candidate for the Presidency.
There are times in one's life when you have to make difficult
decisions and last year was one of those for me. According
to ICCF Statutes, I could not have continued for more
than 4 years anyway, as I would have reached age 70 by
the next elections in 2007. I actually initiated this
particular clause in the Statutes, as I felt younger people
should be encouraged to take ICCF positions in this increasingly
demanding world.
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PS
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You are still behind the scenes I recognize giving helpful
hints and support to the present EB group. What is the
future for ICCF do you think?
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AB
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I have been involved with the current
EB members quite regularly, particularly in the period
prior to the Mumbai Congress and, as you know, I did have
a few contributions to make during Congress meetings!
Of course, I am available to advise as required by any
ICCF officer and am doing this rather often "behind the
scenes" although my advice is not always followed!! The
future of ICCF is bright, providing that the Congress
and the EB make enlightened and properly considered decisions,
rather than hasty and/or expedient ones.
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PS
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During our chat on the flight to Mumbai we talked a lot
about the national federations and their future. Especially
on their importance in the future. You mean that some
of it can be diminishing. Would you like to elaborate
this further?
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AB
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The observation that national federations
"might be doomed", which you attributed to me in your
recent Chess Mail report on the Mumbai Congress, does
not properly represent my opinion! I believe that federations
must adapt to a new era of CC and the "market place" which
now exists. The age of postal play, printed magazines
and where players could only play national and international
correspondence chess via the national federations, have
passed and we must all try to adapt the 21st Century environment.
We will only retain and attract new CC players (and members)
if we offer the kind of services they are seeking, rather
than simply "expecting them" to become members of national
federations as being the only option available to enjoy
competitive CC games.
For example, in Scotland, we have
moved to an Internet Magazine (we provide printed copies
to those without Internet access), we try to keep fees
low and are adapting our internal tournaments to meet
customer needs. We will join the new ICCF Direct Entry
concept, as we think it is a positive step, which will
help to encourage new SCCA members, rather than lose more
existing members. Players should "want" to be national
members, rather than feel they are being "pressured" into
membership - nowadays, people have choice and seek value.
In my opinion, the loss of members of member federations
has not in any way been caused by ICCF policies.
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PS
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How do you regard the competing CC organisations?
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AB
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For more than 10 years, I have
been involved in all those discussions which ICCF has
had with competing CC organisations. On three occasions,
we have come quite close to reaching agreement with other
bodies but for various reasons these were not realised.
The "existence" of other organisations should not be of
great concern to ICCF as I do not believe that any of
them can offer CC players anything to compare with ICCF's
wide range of postal, email and webserver CC tournaments
and unique services, e.g. the only valid official World
CC titles, established international CC ratings and worldwide
coverage of National CC organisations. ICCF is clearly
the organisation for all serious CC players who wish to
participate in top class events with international recognition.
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PS
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You were one of the architects behind the Webserver Project.
Can you give us your views on this large project?
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AB
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Yes, I was one of the main architects
of the ICCF Webserver concept and have been involved in
all stages of its evolution and development. Initially,
we had discussions with proprietors of some existing providers
but these were not successful, principally because we
realised that the best way forward for ICCF would be to
develop and own, its dedicated webserver system. Thereafter,
there was no point in entering into further discussions
with other private system owners/providers for the provision
of webserver facilities for ICCF and federations.
In my opinion, since early 2003,
the ICCF webserver development has been progressed very
well under the excellent guidance of Project Manager Iain
Mackintosh, who produced the system specification and
related implementation timetable and resource schedules,
which were formally approved by the Ostrava Congress.
Iain and I met Martin Bennedik in early October 2003,
when we arranged for the programming contract and Martin
along with Dr. Ambar Chatterjee and others, including
the test team, have achieved the goals which had been
set for the first phase of the system. It became operational
well within twelve months of that meeting and my congratulations
go to all those involved. Although I handed over Chairmanship
of the Webserver Steering Group to my successor in Ostrava,
I have agreed to resume as Chairman of the new Webserver
Development Steering Committee, which will oversee the
further ongoing enhancements of the ICCF webserver system.
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PS
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What did you expect from the Mumbai Congress?
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AB
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Alan Borwell with AICCF president Prasad Dalvi
in Mumbai, 2004
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I expected some very long meetings
and some quite exciting discussions and I was not disappointed!
However, I believe the 2004 Congress was very successful
and many important decisions were taken, which will greatly
influence the future of ICCF. It was good to have the
participation of new World CC Champion Tunc Hamarat, who
made some valuable contributions to the debates, as well
as participating fully in the programme of events.
I will not make detailed comments
here, as decisions of Congress will be covered in full
in the official Minutes. Better arrangements need to be
made for the early production and release of draft Congress
Minutes (to try to avoid inaccurate and misleading reports
appearing prematurely on websites and in commercial magazines
!).
However, I would like to say that
the vision which both ICCF and AICCF had several years
ago to hold an ICCF Congress in India, was accomplished
very successfully. First discussions about this possibility
were with the late Haresh Samtani and it was a great pleasure
for me to meet and have a conversation with Mrs. Samtani
and their son Mahender, before the Opening Ceremony. The
Congress was held in a perfect hotel and location and
it was superbly organised by Dr. Ambar Chatterjee, President
Prasad Dalvi and AICCF colleagues and friends.
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PS
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It's for the first time in Asia, which shows how the
ICCF family is growing. But otherwise it seems to be hard
to find organisers. What do you think needs to be improved
to host a Congress?
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AB
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It was another milestone in ICCF's
history for the Congress to be held for the first time
in Asia and, since I became President, it is satisfying
to me that we have now visited four continents of the
world, i.e. Asia, Europe, and North and South America.
In Mumbai, I was privileged to be the custodian of the
proxy for Australia and in my opinion, it would be tremendous
if the ICCF Congress could be held in Australasia, some
time in the not too distant future. I am currently participating
in one of the tournaments to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of Cecil Purdy's success in the 1st CC World Championship
and our CCLA friends are organising several international,
including the recently started ICCF World Cup XIV. They
are a very progressive national federation.
I believe that the decision taken
by the Mumbai Congress regarding the financial responsibilities
for hosting ICCF congresses has improved the likelihood
of more countries offering to be hosts in future years.
Having organised two congresses in a small country like
Scotland (in 1985 and 1994), I can say that it is possible
and it is a most enjoyable and rewarding experience. In
years gone by, there was more contact between ICCF and
FIDE and in my opinion it would be very good for both
organisations if a future ICCF Congress was to be held
immediately after a FIDE Olympiad/Congress and I think
this concept should be actively pursued by the EB.
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PS
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Then I would like to ask you about your personal life
and life as a chessplayer.
When did you first get in touch with chess?
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AB
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I was a relatively late starter
in learning the play the game of chess. My cousin visited
me when I think I was about 15 years of age and taught
my how to play and within two years I was top board of
the school team and playing for York Chess Club. Earlier
this year, I attended a reunion of York Chess Club and
reflected on those early days and the development of chess
in the York area more than 50 years ago. It was a nice
occasion!
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PS
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Have you continued to play in a club?
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AB
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Just before I moved from York to
Edinburgh for business reasons in 1965, York Chess Club
had achieved the notable distinction of winning the British
National Club Championship, beating Oxford University
in the Final. I played on board 4, with top board being
Michael Haygarth versus Jonathan Penrose, both British
Champions!
In my first year in Edinburgh,
I won the East of Scotland area tournament and was nominated
to play in the 1966 British Championship in Sunderland.
After 3 rounds, I was joint leader having played Frank
Parr, P.N Wallis and Dr. J.M.Aitken and then I met and
lost an exciting game against Jonathan Penrose (which
was published in The Times!) Thereafter, I had mixed fortunes,
playing Michael Haygarth, P.S. Milner Barry, Peter Clarke
and Owen Hindle, and finished with 5.5 points from 11
games. I remember being tired at the end but feeling very
privileged to have played so many of the top British chess
players and personalities of those times!
I played for Edinburgh Chess Club,
then Bearsden in Glasgow and for Perth CC, after I moved
permanently to the Perth area in 1971. I gave up regular
over the board play in the 1980s, but have just started
a new Chess Club in the Carse of Gowrie, principally to
encourage youngsters, who I coach in three of the local
schools.
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PS
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Good Luck to you with this! I used to coach youngsters
myself during more than a decade. It's a lot of work but
also enjoyable and rewarding!
Finally you changed over to CC. Anything in particular
you remember? Persons and results which were important?
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AB
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I remember sitting next to Hermann
Heemsoth at the London Congress in 1981 and playing blitz
games with him during the meetings (there were interminable
translations in those days !) - we started our long friendship!.
Hermann invited me to play in the Kurt-Klar Memorial GM
tournament, but I was rather out of my depth and although
having good games, my final score was poor. One of my
better earlier CC results was in the 1960s when I won
the Postal Chess Club Championship (organised by Baruch
Wood's Chess magazine) Of course, I remember with affection
the Scottish Magazine 10th Anniversary international tournament,
in which I achieved my IM title. Moira and I produced
72 editions of the SCCA Magazine over 20 years!.
My most memorable Congress game
was defeating the "unbeatable" Prof. Zagorovsky in the
Blitz tournament at the Peebles 1985 Congress, but I had
to settle for runners up place, behind my friend Hermann
Heemsoth.
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PS
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I would of course also like to ask you about Erik Larsson?
Maybe a short story on Harry Åhman or Sture Nyman, which
could be interesting to our readers.
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AB
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I remember all of these CC friends
with great affection. Erik and Svea were at all of my
early Congresses and I always wrote a poem in Svea's little
book, which was a nice tradition started in the 1980s
just like the postcards. When Harry Åhman came to Peebles,
he bought a tammy (Scottish cap), but he lost it and was
disconsolate, so his wife asked me to get another for
him, which she gave him as a surprise Christmas present.
The Åhmans and Nymans and their wives were inseparable
and they thoroughly enjoyed their visits to ICCF Congresses.
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PS
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You are married and your wife Moira is an important supporter
of ICCF and has also performed a lot of work for ICCF.
She is a most appreciated guest to many Congresses even
though she didn't come this time. Can you tell me more
about your family and their chess interest?
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AB
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Moira is a tremendous supporter
of my CC activities and has quietly performed great work
herself for ICCF for more than 20 years. She has typed
thousands of reports, documents, accounts and letters,
meetings minutes, title certificates and has given valuable
advice and opinion on many matters, especially when times
were tough. She has attended 10 ICCF Congresses and only
family commitments have prevented her attending many more
- I hope very much she will be able to come to Argentina
next year, which will be my 25th successive Congress!
My son Niall was a good chess player
at Primary School and he still plays a little but Claire(15)
is not interested! Both of them have been to ICCF Congresses,
especially during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Hans-Werner
was very fond of children and encouraged families to attend
Congress. We were always made to feel welcome!
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PS
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Would you like to share with us a little of your professional
background and work?
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AB
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My early training was as an Accountant,
but I became a Company Secretary and then moved into Personnel
Management (Human Resources as it is called nowadays!).
After several years as Group Personnel Manager for the
largest international company based in Scotland, I was
appointed Branch Operations Manager for the UK, with responsibility
for nearly 200 offices and 10'000 employees. After retiring
from full time employment in 1991, I worked as part time
business consultant for Scottish Enterprise, advising
companies and organisations on business planning and human
resource policies. I fully retired from gainful occupation
in 1998, but I am now much involved with local youth cricket,
the church, choral society, probus club - so I am not
really very retired :-)
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PS
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Finally I would like to thank you again for our most
pleasant chat! Is there anything you would like to tell
our Swedish readers?
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AB
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It has been a great pleasure to
provide this interview for arguably the best long running
correspondence chess magazine for members and I wish you,
Korrschack and the Swedish CC federation every
success in the future.
I am happy that it will also be
made available to other publishers, but only with our
specific mutual agreement.
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PS
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I'm sure that this will be no problem. Many thanks for
this interview and our readers will be thrilled by reading
all this about such a well-known person in the ICCF, it
was truly great that you could take your time for this
and I wish you a lot of success in the continuing work
on the Web server. I'm sure that we will see an increase
of your results as cc player and my best wishes for your
future work for ICCF and for your chess play!
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© 2004 Korrschack
magazine, SSKK, Lund, Sweden. All rights reserved. Reprinted
here by permission of editor Per Söderberg
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