Westward Ho! was the chess newsletter / magazine published by the West of England Chess Union from the 1960’s to the 2000’s. Originals which are in the Hampshire Chess Archives, or have been lent to me I have been scanned and made available.
Credit needs to be given to the original producers of these chess magazines, time and effort was spent compiling, typing and producing them. Any errors would have meant starting again. Producing the grading lists must have been a real challenge!
I would be a real shame for these magazines to be lost to time as there is a huge amount of interesting chess material, and it also brings back the challenges of the time e.g. fuel rationing, record inflation increases (paper costs doubling in a year), correspondence on completing the matches by telephone, or by hiring coaches due to petrol issues etc.
I do not have all the copies. I am missing a number of issues but I am sure the West of England Chess players will have some of the missing ones, please do reach out if you have any which can be added to the available ones.
Update – Jan 2023: HCA Secretary and Devon player John Wheeler has supplied a number of the missing copies from 1988 to 2000 which I have now added. In total there are 64 (apt!) for your entertainment and these can also be downloaded. As above, adding missing ones would be of benefit and therefore please do get in touch if you have any not included.
Update – Apr 2023: I have located the July 1983 (RN no 26) edition and have added to the list. A great article on the 1983 Torquay Congress is the highlight.
Update – July 2024: July 1984 (KD 30) and Aug 1985 (KD 34) have been supplied by Ian Thompson (and John Saunders). These highlight the West of England Championships for the year, and John has added the games and Crosstables to Britbase along with the 1981 Winchester one.
Use the search function to look for specifics e.g. grades will show just the ones with the grading lists included.
Editors
- EW – Ernie Walker (Report on annual West of England Congress) 1950’s
- AB: AE Barns – Up to 1971 (single sided newsletter)
- GK: GW Kilmister MBE: Sept 1972 – May 75
- DB: Derek Bond: Sept 1975 – Dec 1976
- RN: Ralph Newman: Apr 1976 – Dec 1983
- KD: KW Derrick – 1984 – 1987
- RR: Richard Rendell: 1987 – Aug 1991
- RJ: Robert Jones; Autumn 1995 – Spring 2000
Westward Ho! Newsletters
| Number | Westward Ho! | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 72: GK | Sep 72 | GW Kilmister 1st Westward Ho! taking over from AE Barnes. WECU Championship Tables. Around the Counties. County Correspondence Results. Union Graders Report. WECU Grading List Sept 1972. Glorney Cup. |
| Dec 72: GK | Dec 72 | WECU Congress Matters. BCF News. Senior Jamboree. WECU County Matches. WECU County Tables to Date. Around the Counties. |
| Apr 73: GK | Apr 73 | WECU Executive Meeting. Bristol and Portsmouth Chess Leagues. WECU County Matches. Glasgow Bristol Telephone Match. Junior Jamboree. WECU Chess Calendar. |
| Jun 73: GK | Jun 73 | WECU News. WECU County Championship Final Tables. Around the Counties. WECU County Results. SCCU Final Tables. |
| Sep 73: GK | Sep 73 | WECU Sept 1973 Grading List. General Chess News. World Junior Championship. Glorney Cup. County Correspondence Results. Final Southampton League Tables. British Chess Championship Results. 1973/74 WECU Match Programme. |
| Dec 73: GK | Dec 73 | BCF News. Congress Results. Around the Counties. Senior and Graded Jamborees. WECU County Results. Cutty Shark Information. |
| Apr 74: GK | Apr 74 | CH O'D Alexander Obituary. BCF Outlook. WECU County Results. Junior Jamboree. Hampshire League. Cutty Sark Tables. |
| Jul 74: GK | Jul 74 | BCF News. BCF County Championship Results. WECU Council Meeting. WECU 1974/75 Fixtures List. Around the Counties. Article on BCF. |
| Oct 74: GK | Oct 74 | British Chess Championship 1974. County Correspondence Chess Results. Sunday Times School Championship. WECU 1974/75 Grading List. Union Years. 2nd London Chess Club International Invitation Event. 1974 / 1975 WECU Chess Calendar. |
| Dec 74: GK | Dec 74 | Glorney Cup. BCF News. British Lightning Championship. WECU County Matches. Cutty Shark 1975. Junior Chess. Around the Counties. |
| May 75: GK | May 75 | I.R. Napier & FJ Pearce Obituaries. WECU County Matches. BCF Quarter Finals. Junior Chess. Around the Counties. |
| Sep 75: DB | Sep 75 | WECU County Tables. Glorney Cup Results. Boyd Best Game Prize. Around the Counties. WECU Calendar 1975/1976. WECU Graders Report. Sept 1975 Chess Grades. |
| Dec 75: DB | Dec 75 | WECU County Matches. Torbay and Paignton Congresses. Around the Counties. Tony Miles Simul. Portsmouth Congress. |
| Apr 76: DB | Apr 76 | WECU County Tables Mar 76. WECU County Matches. Junior Chess. Gosport Chess History. Around the Counties. George Wheeler Simul |
| Jun 76: DB | Jun 76 | WECU County Matches. WECU Council Meeting. British Chess Championship 75/76 Qualifier. Around the Counties. 1975/1976 Final County Championship Tables. Bournemouth Congress. |
| Sep 76: DB | Sep 76 | BCF News. Congress Results. Glorney Cup. Hamham & Kingswood Chess Club Magazine. WECU Congress Games. Cornwall League. WECU Graders Report. Sept 76 Chess Grades. 1976/1977 WECU Calendar. |
| Dec 76: DB | Dec 76 | Congress Results. WECU Correspondence Chess. WECU Jamborees. WECU County Matches. Cornwall League. Around the Counties. |
| 01: RN | Apr 77 | 1976/1977 WECU County Matches. Match Captain Report. New structure of BCF. |
| 02: RN | Jun 77 | New WECU Correspondence Championship. English Counties Championship. WECU official. Pat Beighton obituary. |
| 03: RN | Sep 77 | Sept 1977 Grades. Calendar for 1977/1978 season. WECU Grading Officer Report. |
| 04: RN | Feb 78 | Amendments to grades. Round 1, 2 and 3 of 1977/1978 WECU County Matches. Finance and grading report. Carl Schlechter article. Shaun Talbut winning European Junior Championship. PH Clarke winning 1976/1977 BCF Correspondence Championship. Round the Counties. |
| 05: RN | May 78 | New reorganisation of BCF. Match Captain Report. Round 4, 5 and 6 of 1977/1978 WECU County Matches. WECU Junior Championship. British Championship qualifier. |
| 06: RN | Aug 78 | Match Captain report. Round the Counties. Report on the 1978 WECU Congress. 1978/ 1979 Calendar. |
| 07: RN | Sep 78 | BCF July 1978 Council meeting. WECU Grader's report. Sept 1978 Grades. |
| 08: RN | Jan 79 | Junior Chess. 1978 WECU Congress Games. Round 1,2 & 3 of the 1978/1979 WECU County Matches. |
| 09: RN | Apr 79 | Round the Counties. Devon Junior Chess Congress 1978/1979. Round 4,5 & 6 of the 1978/1979 WECU County Matches. |
| 10: RN | Jul 79 | Final of the Inter Island Telephone Competition: Isle of Wight - Anglesey. Match Captain report @ English Counties Championship. WECU Council Meeting. Torquay 1979 Easter Congress. 1979/1980 WECU Calendar. |
| 11: RN | Sep 79 | WECU General Rules. WECU Graders Report. Sept 1979 Grades. |
| 12: RN | Jan 80 | Match Captains Report. WECU County Results. Round the Counties. WECU Jamboree. BCF Management Board Meeting. 1979 Devon Junior Tournament. 1979 Torbay Congress. 1979 Paignton Congress. 1979 Stroud 1 Day Congress. Jan to May 1980 WECU Calendar. |
| 13: RN | Apr 80 | Round the Counties. Correspondence Chess. WECU Executive Meeting. Match Captain Report and Results. |
| 14: RN | Jun 80 | English Counties Quarter Final and Minor Counties Semi Final. Around the Counties. British Chess Championship Qualifier. 1980 13th Cotswold Open. WECU Junior Jamboree. Exeter Middle School League. 1980 Weymouth Easter Congress. |
| 15: RN | Sep 80 | Correspondence Chess in Devon. WECU Report July 1980. Tony Miles Chess Simul June 1980. WECU Chess Grader Report. Sept 1980 Chess Grades. |
| 16: RN | Jan 81 | Various Congress 1980. WECU 1980 Jamboree. Round the Counties. Glorney Cup. WECU Junior Championship. WECU County Results. |
| 17: RN | Apr 81 | 1981 Junior Jamboree. Stroud Quickplay Congress. Alan Day Obituary. WECU County Results. |
| 18: RN | Jun 81 | 1981 Cotswold Congress. 1981 Hampshire League. 1981 WECU Championship and detailed report. 1981/1982 WECU Calendar. |
| 19: RN | Sep 81 | Junior Awards. WECU Graders Report. Sept 1981 Chess Grades. |
| 20: RN | Jan 82 | Details on the 1982 BCF Championship to be held at Torquay. Chess Congresses. WECU Calendar Feb - Sept 1982. WECU Jamborees. 1981 Torbay Congress. Correspondence Chess. WECU County Results. |
| 21: RN | May 82 | 1982 North Devon Chess Congress. Cornwell County Chess Leagues. Ellery Williams Obituary, WECU County Results. |
| 22: RN | July 82 | Update on BCM Management Board Meeting June 1982. Round the Counties. Weston Super Mare Easter Congress. 1982/1983 County Match Fixture List. |
| 24: RN | Jan 83 | Message from WECU President. Plymouth Chess Congress. Woolacombe Congress. Junior Chess update. Round the Counties. WECU County Results. |
| 25: RN | Apr 83 | The Moller Defence. Hampshire Junior Triumph. WECU County Results. |
| 26: RN | Jul 83 | Annual Council Meeting. WECU Junior KO Championship. Around the Counties. 1983 Torquay Easter Congress Report. |
| 27: RN | Sep 83 | WECU Graders Report. Chess Grades. Southampton Centenary Congress Report. Junior British Chess Championship Report. |
| 28: RN | Dec 83 | BCF Report. BCF Training Weekends 1983. Plymouth Junior International. WECU Junior Jamboree. 1983 Torbay Congress. Dr James Aitken Obituary. WECU County Results. Alekhine's Defence. WECU Jamborees. |
| 30: KD | July 84 | WECU Council Meeting, Junior Chess, County Updates, Book Review, 1984 WECU Congress |
| 32: KD | Jan 85 | HL Parsons Obituary. Derek Wise WECU Champion. WECU County Results. WECU Jamborees. Michael Adams World Record? Somerset Junior Chess 1984/1985. WECU Congress Reports. England in Thessaloniki. |
| 33: KD | May 85 | New BCF President. Leigh Grand Prix. WECU County Results. WECU County Tables. 1985 World Championship for Cadets. Royal Navy Chess Championship. National Club Championship. |
| 34: KD | Aug 85 | AGM, Obituaries, BCF News, WECU Congress Report, Junior Chess, Nigel Short in Biel |
| 02: RR | Jan 88 | County Championship 1986/7 Match Results. The Leigh Strange Column. County Correspondence Chess 1987 Report. Congress Round-Up. Obituary to George William Kilmister-M.B.E |
| 03: RR | Apr 88 | Congress Round-Up. County Championship 1987/8 Match Results. Gems of the Chess Board. News from Cornwall. The "More Unusual Chess Openings" Column. |
| 04: RR | July 88 | West of England Championship Report. Gems of the Chess Board. Congress Round-Up. News from Somerset. |
| 05: RR | Feb 89 | The Latvian Gambit. A woeful tale of g8. World Girls Chess Championships 1988 Report. The 1988 Paignton Congress Report. West of England Chess Union Jamboree Report. County Championship Results. Gems of the Chess Board. |
| 06: RR | Jun 89 | County Championship Results. Final County Championship Tables. The Latvian Gambit. Problem and Competition Page. Etiquette. Letters from Readers. Pot Pourri. Gems of the Chess Board |
| 07: RR | Aug 89 | West of England Championship Report. Letters from Readers. Problem and Competition Page. News Round-Up. East Devon Congress Report. |
| 08: RR | Dec 89 | The Latvian Gambit. County and District Correspondence Chess Championships 1988-89 Report. Problem and Competition Page. The Devon County Chess Association 39th Annual Paignton Congress Report. The West of England Chess Union Jamboree Report. County Championship Results. Latest County Championships Tables. Gems of the Chess Board. |
| 09: RR | May 90 | Gems of the Chess Board. West of England Chess Union Officers. Hanham Chess Congress November 1989. Problem Page. Winning Chances - Part Two. Answers to Problems and Last Edition's Competition. Congress Round-Up. County Championship Results. Final County Championship Tables. |
| 10: RR | Aug 90 | West of Eng]and Chess Union Officers. Problem Page. Past West of England Champions. News Round Up. Cotswold Conquest. The Travelling Queen. Answers to Problems. BCF Junior Counties Semi-Final Report. |
| 11: RR | May 91 | WECU Junior Jamboree. Problem Page. Editorial. WECU County Championship Results. WECU Officers. Paignton Congress Report. How Good is your Chess? Answers to Problems |
| 01: RJ | Autumn 95 | Editorial. County Competitions 1994/95. WECU. Junior Competitions 1995. WECU Congress 1995. A Window On The Past. Icelandic Interlude. The Times National Schools Championship 1995. Frome Congress 1995. Book Review. County Correspondence Chess. Match Reports. How Final Is Death? |
| 02: RJ | Spring 96 | Editorial. Around the Counties. Paignton Congress. WECU Jamboree. County Results. Problems. Book Review. 1st Reinfe]d Memorial Tournament. East Devon Congress. |
| 03: RJ | Summer 96 | Editorial. WECU Matters. Around the Counties. WECU Congress. Junior Chess. Frome Congress. 29th Cotswold Congress. Bookshelf. Correspondence Chess. |
| 04: RJ | Jan 97 | Editorial., Around the Counties. 1st Camelford Quickplay. Paignton Congress. Torbay Congress. WECU Postal chess. WECU Jamboree details. WECU Inter-County match results. British championships - the western connection. Chess and the Electron. 5th Isle of Man Congress. Tribute to Greville Marples. The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. Mansfield centenary Bookshelf. |
| 05: RJ | 50th Anniversary 97 | Editorial. Around the Counties. Inter-Countv Matches Results. Howard Meek and Wayling Cup Tables. 50th WECU Congress. Two Golden Games from the Wild West. Storming the Fortress. Chess Psychology. 1947 WECU Constitution. Net News. Postal Bag. 4NCL. Chess Pieces. Bookshelf. National Stages Results. |
| 06: RJ | Jan 98 | Editorial. Around the Counties. Inter County Programme. WECU Jamboree. Frome Congress. 32nd Torbay Congress. The Mystery of Sir George Thomas and the Devon Connection. Bookshelf. Postal Chess. 4NCL. From the Archives. 1998 Calendar. |
| 07: RJ | Autumn 98 | Editorial. Around the Counties. 31st Cotswold Congress. Frome Congress. Obituaries. Civil Service Championship. WECU County Competition Tables and Results. West of England Championship. From the Archives. Bookshelf. |
| 08: RJ | Spring 2000 | Editorial. Around the Counties. County Match Results. Postal Games. Obituary Rowena Bruce. Gary Lane Article. Jamboree Results. From the Archives. |
| 09: RJ - Last Edition | Spring 2001 | Editorial. County Match Results. 26th East Devon Congress. The Baltic Defence - Gary Lane. John Jaques and the Staunton Chessmen. Gary Lane Marriage. Obituary: DV Mardle. Portsmouth Chess Congress. |