AGM reflections: a year of success and progress

The largest attendance at a Lichfield Chess Club annual general meeting for several years were the first to hear about the club’s planned new web site. They only heard about it, but first reaction of at least two committee members when they actually saw it was “Wow”. The great thing about the new site is that it has been designed by one of our club members, Richard Anderson. It has eye appeal and it's easy to find the topic you want.

Web site editor David Short is a former journalist and newspaper editor but readily admits that innovative design is not his forte; “Twenty years ago our current design and content would have been ground breaking for a chess club and now we will be setting new standards again” he said.

Half of the club’s membership turned up for the meeting and it would have been more but for holidays and illness. Financially the year was a success resulting in the decision to hold membership fees at their current level. On the playing front the first team was bolstered by a new No 1 player, Turan Asgarova, who gallantly turned up to play until a few days before the birth of her first child. In the leagues there were championships and runners-up spots and on home ground there were two very successful new tournaments played out over a large part of the season.

The Lichfield Internal Tournament, brainchild of retiring chairman, David Fone, and graded, was hailed as an outstanding success, and the Newcomers Tournament, played over several months, showcased the talents of a bunch of new members who arrived on the scene too late to enter David Fone’s tournament.

There were tributes to David while retiring secretary, Stephen Smithson, will be remembered for guiding the club through the Covid years.

Awards were presented for all of the club's internal competitions and in recognition of other contributions to the club. For more photos and a complete set of award winners, see this post.