Minutes of the Chess Edinburgh Council Meeting
held at the Edinburgh Chess Club, 1 Alva Street, Edinburgh on Thursday 29th August 2024 at 19.30.
Present: David Stewart (Chair), Calum McGillivray, Dave Watson, Peter Woollven, Jim O’Neil, Stewart Good and Crawford Macnab.
1. Apologies for Absence
Jenny Wilson.
2. Minutes of Last Meeting.
The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 30th May were approved: proposed by Crawford Macnab and seconded by Calum McGillivray.
3. Matters Arising
3. Child Safety Policy. Stewart Good reported that Chess Scotland now have a PVG Lead Officer.
Dave Watson reported that he had raised the need for clubs to have a PVG person present when there are unaccompanied minors present with his own club, Corstorphine, and that they are following it up.
The need for Chess Edinburgh to have a Contact Person was discussed but no definite conclusion was reached.
4. Edinburgh Chess League
(a) The League Secretary, Calum McGillivray, will send out a letter to clubs explaining the procedures to be
followed when submitting score cards. Letter also to go out to clubs to invite them to enter the league.
(b) Introducing time increments for league matches was discussed but as there were disadvantages as well
as benefits and the League Secretary was opposed it was decided against bringing them in.
(c) Trophies: The repair and engraving of some of the trophies is ongoing. Calum McGillivray reported that
the Edinburgh Club does not have any information regarding the names missing from the Division 1
Trophy.
5. Edinburgh Allegro Chess League
(a) David Stewart has e-mailed Slateford Bowling Club requesting confirmation that our bookings have
been accepted. He will write to clubs requesting entries.
(b) Jim O’Neil proposed an increase in the grading limit from 1500 to 1600 points but after discussion this
was defeated.
6. Lothians Allegro Congress
(a) We are waiting on confirmation that Bainfield Bowling Club has been booked for 18th January 2024.
(b) It is still to go on the Chess Scotland calendar.
7. Summer Cup/Plate
Calum McGillivray reported that
(a) Bank of Scotland won the cup, defeating Sandy Bells in the final.
(b) The Plate Final is still to be played between Edinburgh 1 and either Edinburgh West or Pentland Hills
(c) Martin Robinson is still to pick up the trophy from Gerry Brown and get a quote for repairing it.
8. Edinburgh Congress
Martin Robinson and David Stewart had visited the Hibs Supporters Club premises in Sunnyside Lane and agreed that they would be an excellent venue for the Congress.
However, when they spoke to the Treasurer he quoted a price of £2,500- three times the original quote.
Dave Watson will draft a letter for David Stewart to send to the Supporters’ Club Committee.
9. Lothians Junior Chess
Stewart Good reported that they had held the Scottish Giga Final of the UK Chess Challenge at Broughton High School on 22nd/23rd June. 237 players took part.
10. AGM
(a) David Stewart will contact Slateford Bowling Club to get confirmation of our booking for Thursday 19th September.
(b) Dave Watson will send out the calling notice, the agenda, the minutes of the previous AGM and the
accounts to all member clubs.
(c) After some discussion it was agreed to recommend no change in the League fees.
(d) All of the current office holders and Council members agreed to go forward for adoption at the AGM.
11. Website
Crawford Macnab believes he has devised a procedure to show team orders for the League.
12. President’s Report
David Stewart reported that
(a) The Peter Elders Quaich was won by Stuart Ballantyne of Bank of Scotland who increased his grade by
182 points to 1817 and the Balerno Trophy was won by Raghuram Parasur whose grade increased by
1052 points to 1794.
(b) He had been invited to the Deaf Action Club in Edinburgh and he had given advice on developing a chess
13. Treasurer’s Report
Date of Next Meeting
Thursday at 7.30pm at the Edinburgh Chess Club. Calum McGillivray to book
