George William Kilmister

From the Westward Ho! newsletter from January 1988 the obituary of George William Kilmister MBE was published which I have repeated below. George Kilmister produced the Hampshire Bulletin, Westward Ho! and SCCU Bulletins as well as being an Chess official for Hampshire and Dorset. He played for Hampshire approx. 20 times from 1960 to 1972.

OBITUARY George William Kilmister M.B.E.

George William Kilmister:-MBE, a life member of the BCF from 1963, died peacefully at his Christchurch home on 24 November 1985 at the age on 80. Born on 2 August 1905 at Holdenhurst, a suburb of Bournemouth, he was educated at Cliff House School, Southbourne. Wellington College, Somerset and Bournemouth Municipal College, the Cricket Club of which he formed in 1925. A Radio Operator by profession he started work in 1925 with the Marconi Company and in 1928 joined the Union-Castle Steamship Company. Later he became Senior Radio Officer until he retired in 1967. From 1957 to 1967 he was the Chairman of the Radio Officers’ Union.

He was honoured with the M.B.E. in 1957 for his bravery and help in the rescue of passengers and crew of the Dutch vessel “Klipfontein”, which ran aground on rocks off the Mozambique coast of East Africa. In the Second World War he was commended by General Lord Auchlinlech for a Secret Service mission. While on board his various ships he used to play with and teach Chess and Bridge to the various
passengers and crews.

He married in 1931 to live in Christchurch, so when on leave he used to play Chess at the Christchurch Chess Club, which was formed in 1948, and on his retirement was elected as Hon. Secretary until 1972 after which he turned his time and energies to Bridge at the Christchurch Bridge Club until the day he died.

He became a Vice-President of the Hampshire Chess Association in 1962, and was elected Publicity Officer and Editor of the Southern Counties Chess Union and Hampshire C.C.A. with effect from 1968. He produced the Bulletins of the S.C.C.U and H.C.C.A. until 1972 when HCA transferred to the West of England Chess Union. Then, on boundary changes which resulted in Christchurch being in Dorset, he became a Vice-President of that county in 1975. In 1981, he became an Hon. Life Vice President. He was Editor of the WECU’s “Westward Ho:” from 1972 to 1975. He founded the Southbourne Chess Club with 5 other members in September 1974 and, owing primarily to his efforts, membership gradually increased, until in 1975 the Club was able to enter a team in the Bournemouth & District Chess League. On becoming a non-active player he was elected an Honorary Life Member. In September 1984 he was able to attend a Celebratory Supper to mark the Club’s 10th anniversary together with some of the original 6 members. He will always be remembered by the Club.

In 1968 he won a Tournament/Championship at the Brighton Congress.

I used to call on George regularly, initially to collect his VP’s Subs for Dorset in my role as Treasurer and later to deliver his BCF Year Books as Trading Officer and was always greeted with enthusiasm and made most welcome. He once told me that he supervised some of the Zone F (SouthEast England) games 6f the British Championship Qualification Competitions.

He was much liked by all members of his Clubs and Unions and was always willing to help and organise for them. He will be sorely missed.
Greville Marples