Obituary: Victor John Dunleavy

John Dunleavy, a highly influential figure in the chess world, died peacefully on Wednesday 9th April 2008 at St. Richard's Hospital, Chichester, at the age of 79.

He had caught the chess bug as a small boy, and it never left him. He retired to Kingsbridge in 1990 and soon got involved in the Devon County Chess Association. In June 1996, he was elected as Devon's delegate to the West of England Chess Union, and as Devon's delegate to BCF Council. The following year, he was elected the Union's delegate to the British Chess Federation, which gave him a seat on the B.C.F. Management Board, where he became an influential figure, particularly so in recent years as the Federation underwent a somewhat turbulent metamorphosis into the English Chess Federation, firstly as Chairman of the old BCF's Constitution Committee from October 2004, and latterly as the first Chairman of the new ECF's Governance Committee.

He was born in Southampton on 15th March 1929 and attended Taunton's Grammar School, Southampton. Much of his career was spent at International Computers Ltd. where he rose through the ranks to become Head of Personnel.

In retirement John had been Devon's Competitions Secretary and ran the prestigious Paignton Congress for several years. In collaboration with two colleagues, Ivor Annetts and Geoff Jenkins, he drafted a new DCCA constitution, which was gratefully adopted by the Association in 1996.

In 2000, in cooperation with Gerry Walsh, he was instrumental in securing funding from the Harry Golombek estate to run a special grandmaster tournament alongside the main congress, which took place in the Mayor's Parlour of Oldway Mansion. This commemorated both the life and work of Golombek and the Paignton Congress's 40th year. Under John's leadership no detail was too small to escape his attention, his agendas for the Planning Committee meetings often containing over 60 separate items.

It was characteristic of him that he liked to be at the heart of activities, driving things forward, while never wishing to be in the spotlight himself. He liked to bring recognition to the work of others while shying away from any plaudits for his own considerable achievements. Nevertheless, in 2007 his innate modesty was over-ruled, and he was awarded an honorary Life Vice Presidency by the D.C.C.A., the W.E.C.U. and the E.C.F. last year in recognition of his great service at county, union and national level.

Perhaps sensing a creeping ill-health was reaching more serious proportions, he moved back to his home area last year, to be nearer his wider family, though he always intended to maintain his westcountry links as long as possible.

He is survived by his wife, Joan, and two sons, Alastair and Malcolm.

Funeral arrangements will be a strictly private affair. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, if wished, to the John Robinson Youth Chess Trust via the ECF. These could be (should be) made gift-aided, and the appropriate gift aid forms may be downloaded here.

R H Jones

Click here to see a full biography with additional photographs - with thanks to Bob Jones.