PRESIDENTS OF CHESTERFIELD CHESS CLUB
Date |
President |
1925 – 1942 |
Major Alderman Wakerley J.P. |
1945 – 1973 |
Colonel Victor Owen Robinson J.P. |
1973 -1994 |
Joe Hooton |
1994 – 2000 |
Ian Potter |
2000 – 2003 |
Terry Hand |
2003 – 2021 |
Mike Johnson |
2022 - |
Andy Mort |
2ND PRESIDENT
COLONEL VICTOR OWEN ROBINSON OBE, M.C., J.P.
President Victor Robinson presenting the Robinson Trophy to Alwyn Hobson in September 1972
Colonel Victor Owen Robinson OBE, M.C., J.P. was the Club’s President from 1945 until his death in 1972.
He was born in 1891 and was educated at Manchester Grammar School. He served with distinction in the First World War winning the Military Cross for acts of gallantry on three occasions (see opposite page). It was Victor who was the driving force behind the establishment of Chesterfield Chess Club in 1924. He presented the Robinson Trophy to the club to be awarded to the winner of the Club Championship Tournament.
Following the end of the Second World War, the Club Secretary, Henry Stockton, who was a founder member, worked hard to revive the Club. Victor Robinson was elected President in 1945. He was passionate about encouraging young people to learn chess. With considerable help from Henry Stockton, a Chesterfield Schools’ League was formed in 1950. The first winners were Chesterfield School and Victor presented them with a trophy.
In 1945 Victor became Chairmen of Robinson & Sons Ltd, a very large family business that manufactured surgical dressings and cardboard boxes. He held the position for many years with considerable success.
With unanimous approval, Victor continued as President until his death in late 1972. This was only a few weeks after he had attended the Club’s A.G.M. in September, in order to present the trophies to the various winners. Opposite is a photograph showing the Colonel presenting the Club Championship Trophy to A..K. Hobson (known as Alwyn).
He was born in 1891 and was educated at Manchester Grammar School. He served with distinction in the First World War winning the Military Cross for acts of gallantry on three occasions (see opposite page). It was Victor who was the driving force behind the establishment of Chesterfield Chess Club in 1924. He presented the Robinson Trophy to the club to be awarded to the winner of the Club Championship Tournament.
Following the end of the Second World War, the Club Secretary, Henry Stockton, who was a founder member, worked hard to revive the Club. Victor Robinson was elected President in 1945. He was passionate about encouraging young people to learn chess. With considerable help from Henry Stockton, a Chesterfield Schools’ League was formed in 1950. The first winners were Chesterfield School and Victor presented them with a trophy.
In 1945 Victor became Chairmen of Robinson & Sons Ltd, a very large family business that manufactured surgical dressings and cardboard boxes. He held the position for many years with considerable success.
With unanimous approval, Victor continued as President until his death in late 1972. This was only a few weeks after he had attended the Club’s A.G.M. in September, in order to present the trophies to the various winners. Opposite is a photograph showing the Colonel presenting the Club Championship Trophy to A..K. Hobson (known as Alwyn).
3rd PRESIDENT
R. J. HOOTON known as ‘Joe’
Joe joined Chesterfield Chess Club in 1931. He first played for the Club on 19th February 1931.He was captain of the first team from 1948 until 1973.
He had an incredible record for the Chesterfield first team. By 1948 he was playing on board one and lead the team to a second successive victory in the Richardson Cup. In that year Joe became first team captain and remained so for 24 years.
In the 1950s he became President and League Captain of the Derbyshire County Chess Association. He first captained the Derbyshire County Chess Team in 1952 and continued to do so until 1975, when he suffered a heart attack. He used to take his own chess set, board and clock to county matches. He recovered well from his heart attack and was kept busy as both the Secretary and Treasurer of the County Chess League. He had enormous energy and unbounded enthusiasm for chess. He would offer warm praise to those who won for his team and a jovial suggestion a ‘dose of boiling Epsom Salts’ for those who lost.
In 1955 Joe finally beat his rival, Doug Saunderson, to win the Club Championship.
Following the death of Victor Robinson, Joe became President of the Club and remained so until his death in March 1994. He was the longest serving member of the club with over 60 years of service. His contribution to chess both in Chesterfield and Derbyshire was immense.
He had an incredible record for the Chesterfield first team. By 1948 he was playing on board one and lead the team to a second successive victory in the Richardson Cup. In that year Joe became first team captain and remained so for 24 years.
In the 1950s he became President and League Captain of the Derbyshire County Chess Association. He first captained the Derbyshire County Chess Team in 1952 and continued to do so until 1975, when he suffered a heart attack. He used to take his own chess set, board and clock to county matches. He recovered well from his heart attack and was kept busy as both the Secretary and Treasurer of the County Chess League. He had enormous energy and unbounded enthusiasm for chess. He would offer warm praise to those who won for his team and a jovial suggestion a ‘dose of boiling Epsom Salts’ for those who lost.
In 1955 Joe finally beat his rival, Doug Saunderson, to win the Club Championship.
Following the death of Victor Robinson, Joe became President of the Club and remained so until his death in March 1994. He was the longest serving member of the club with over 60 years of service. His contribution to chess both in Chesterfield and Derbyshire was immense.
6th PRESIDENT
MIKE JOHNSON
Mike became a member of Chesterfield Chess Club in 1974. At the time he was a member of the strong Chesterfield Juniors team which dominated the (long defunct) Chesterfield League. He quickly became one of the best players in the club and a member of the A team playing in the Sheffield League. He also began playing for the County.
Mike’s Achilles heel was his addiction to time trouble but he gradually mastered it. He thrived on the adrenaline it produced and often won by luring his opponent into a false sense of security.
In the late 1970s, Mike began playing in the Yorkshire League. In 1979 he was a member of the Rotherham team which won the Woodhouse Cup. Subsequently he began playing for Sheffield and was a key member of several league winning teams.
Some years later he was persuaded, by Andy Mort, to play for the Spirit of Atticus team in the 4NCL competitions as the slower time limit was absolutely suited to his attritional style of play. Mike was prepared to ‘grind out’ endless positions in which he had a minimal edge to gain a crucial half point for the team.
Mike was elected President of the Club in 2003 but continued as a team captain. He was a tireless worker, taking a major part in running the club and was always available to support new members. He was an absolute gentleman.
Sadly Mike succumbed to Covid in October 2021 at the tender age of 59. To quote David Latham: ‘A gentle and beautiful soul has left us’. The large numbers who attended Mike’s funeral, including players from clubs across Derbyshire and Yorkshire demonstrated how highly he was regarded not only by team members but also by adversaries.
At the time of his death Mike had been President for 18 years and a club member for almost half a century.
Mike’s Achilles heel was his addiction to time trouble but he gradually mastered it. He thrived on the adrenaline it produced and often won by luring his opponent into a false sense of security.
In the late 1970s, Mike began playing in the Yorkshire League. In 1979 he was a member of the Rotherham team which won the Woodhouse Cup. Subsequently he began playing for Sheffield and was a key member of several league winning teams.
Some years later he was persuaded, by Andy Mort, to play for the Spirit of Atticus team in the 4NCL competitions as the slower time limit was absolutely suited to his attritional style of play. Mike was prepared to ‘grind out’ endless positions in which he had a minimal edge to gain a crucial half point for the team.
Mike was elected President of the Club in 2003 but continued as a team captain. He was a tireless worker, taking a major part in running the club and was always available to support new members. He was an absolute gentleman.
Sadly Mike succumbed to Covid in October 2021 at the tender age of 59. To quote David Latham: ‘A gentle and beautiful soul has left us’. The large numbers who attended Mike’s funeral, including players from clubs across Derbyshire and Yorkshire demonstrated how highly he was regarded not only by team members but also by adversaries.
At the time of his death Mike had been President for 18 years and a club member for almost half a century.
