A Brief History of the Belper Chess Club (1975–2025)

Early Mentions of Belper Chess

There are newspaper articles indicating that a Belper Chess Club existed around the turn of the 20th Century, playing matches between teams from Derby at venue called the Century Café (location unknown). These details were discovered by founding member Norman Parkin whilst researching his heritage via Derbyshire newspapers.

Origins of the Current Club

The Chess Club we now have arose from two sources. First in the winter of 74/75 a chess tournament was organised by the then management of the Belper Sports Centre – Most probably due the public interest in chess aroused by the recent World Chess Championship match between Boris Spassky and Robert Fischer held in Reykjavik Iceland. Won by Robert (Bobby) Fischer.
 
The tournament was on a knockout basis. The final was between Vincent Slowick and Isaac Iglesias. Won by Isaac who would soon become a member of the newly formed Belper Chess Club.
 
The second source was a Belper High School Chess Club run by teacher David Lingard. A meeting was arranged with the two groups at the High School when it was decided to formally create the current Belper Chess Club. R.S. Harrison was elected Secretary. Norman Parkin undertook to raise finance and approached Belper Town Council for help. An offer of a loan of £50 was received that was never taken up due to the fact that subscriptions of £4 each from 16 adult member plus small money contributions proved sufficient to get matters started. Norman in effect became treasurer.

First Meetings and Venues

The first official meeting was held 10th September 1975 at the High School and meetings continued to be held there for the first year. Sadly meetings could not be held at the High School for a second year due to the extremely high room rent demanded by the Derbyshire Education Authority.
 
A meeting venue for the club offered by the Sports Centre proved unsatisfactory. The club then moved the venue to the Belper Labour Party Social Club on Lander Lane and continued to play there until it closed in 1995. The meetings then continued 9th August 1995 at the ‘Old Kings Head’ public house, 1 Days Lane Belper, where meetings have been held ever since.

Competitions and Achievements

In the early years of the club’s formation a team of six boards was entered in the (now defunct) High Peak Bowl competition. Winning on several occasions and was in fact the very last winners of the event in 2005.
 
The club also from the early days entered teams in several divisions of the Derby and District League. Entering teams also in the K.O. Cup, Plate and Jamboree.
 
A one day tournament was organised by Isaac Iglesias (Director) and Mrs. Dorothy Harrison Secretary and Treasurer. Sponsored by Eagle Scientific. The event ran for 13 years.

County Champions

At the time of writing (November 2025), the club has provided four County Individual Champions on six occasions:
  • Isaac Iglesias 1977, 1982 & 1987
  • S. Briggs 1981
  • Simon Gilmore 2002
  • John Potter 2024 & 2025

Special Events

There was a simultaneous exhibition given by Grandmaster Raymond Keene in 1978 to mark the club’s 3rd Anniversary. Result: 29.5 to .5 in the Master’s favour.

Leadership Changes

In 2015 after serving for 40 years R.S. Harrison resigned as secretary and was succeeded by David Woodhouse. Simon Gilmore continued as long serving Chair-Person.

Derbyshire Weekend Congress

Finally we must mention that David Woodhouse and Treasurer J. Shaw have been instrumental in creating the Derbyshire Weekend Congress first held in 2023.

Further Information

Many more details concerning Belper Chess Club can be found on the Derbyshire Chess Association Website

Ron Harrison, Norman Parkin (Founder Members of Belper Chess Club)