The Oxford University Chess Club

Oxford University Chess Club

The Oxford University Chess Club was founded at the University of Oxford in 1869 and is the oldest university chess club in the United Kingdom. The Club meets each Tuesday evening during University term time, from 7.30pm at St John's College...

 (OUCC) was founded on April 30, 1869, making it the oldest university

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 chess club

Chess club

A chess club is a club formed for the purpose of playing the board game of chess. Chess clubs provide for both informal games and timed games, often as part of an internal competition or in a league.-Organisation:...

 in the UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. A number of notable players have held offices within the club; for example, Prince Leopold

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany

The Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany was the eighth child and fourth son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Leopold was later created Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence, and Baron Arklow...

, later Duke of Albany

Duke of Albany

Duke of Albany is a peerage title that has occasionally been bestowed on the younger sons in the Scottish, and later the British, royal family, particularly in the Houses of Stuart and Hanover....

 (1853-1884) (and son of Queen Victoria

Victoria of the United Kingdom

Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....

) was president of OUCC in 1874.

President

First president of the club was founder Rev. Charles E. Ranken

Charles Ranken

Charles Edward Ranken was a Church of England clergyman and a minor British chess master. He co-founded and was the first president of the Oxford University Chess Club. He was also the editor of the Chess Player's Chronicle and a writer for the British Chess Magazine...

. At his peak, he was the 24th best player in the world - a grandmaster by today's standards. The office, which was at first terminal, has been annual since 1884.

Name	College	Served from	Reference
Charles Ranken Charles Ranken Charles Edward Ranken was a Church of England clergyman and a minor British chess master. He co-founded and was the first president of the Oxford University Chess Club. He was also the editor of the Chess Player's Chronicle and a writer for the British Chess Magazine...	Wadham	April 30, 1869
E. Anthony	Christ Church	March 23, 1870
E.W.B. Nicholson	Trinity	December 9, 1870
C.T. Wild	Christ Church	March 6, 1871
R.D.H. Gray	Brasenose	December 5, 1871
W.E. Foster	University	March 12, 1872
Falconer Madan Falconer Madan Falconer Madan was Librarian of the Bodleian Library of Oxford University.Falconer was the fifth son of George and Harriet Madan. He was educated at Marlborough College and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he took part in Oxford and Cambridge Chess matches in 1873 and 1874, and won the University...	Brasenose	June 4, 1872
B. Whitefoord	New	December 4, 1872
J.S. Sinclair	Oriel	March 12, 1873
S.R. Meredith	Brasenose	May 27, 1873
Walter Parratt Walter Parratt Sir Walter Parratt KCVO was an English organist and composer.-Biography:Born in Huddersfield, son of a parish organist, Parratt began to play the pipe organ from an early age, and held posts as an organist while still a child...	Magdalen	December 3, 1873
Prince Leopold Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany The Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany was the eighth child and fourth son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Leopold was later created Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence, and Baron Arklow...	Christ Church	March 18, 1874
Horace Plunkett	University	December 1875
C. Tracey	Lincoln	October 26, 1876
W. Grundy	Worcester	March 14, 1877
R.A. Germaine	Brasenose	December 1877
F.M. Wright	Queen's	November 1, 1878
Walter Montague Gattie	Christ Church	December 5, 1878
E.H. Kinder	Brasenose	March 20, 1879
C. Taylor	Christ Church	December 1, 1879
B.R.V. Mills	Christ Church	March 5, 1880
J.F. Welsh	Christ Church	October 26, 1880
C.A. Darley	Christ Church	March 18, 1881
T.A. Wise	Lincoln	June 17, 1881
W.N.P. Beebe	Trinity	March 17, 1882
G.E. Wainwright	University	June 9, 1882
C.C. Lynam	Hertford	Summer 1883
James Manders Walker	Wadham	Michaelmas 1883
H. Seward	Balliol	Midsummer 1884
C.D. Locock	University	Michaelmas 1884
Richard Barnett Richard Barnett (sport shooter) Sir Richard Whieldon Barnett was an Irish sport shooter who competed for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the 1908 Summer Olympics, and at the age of 15 he was the Irish rifle champion....	Wadham	Michaelmas 1885
F.G. Newbolt	Balliol	Hilary 1887
W. Storey	Christ Church	October 1887
A.G.G. Ross	New	Michaelmas 1888
W.M. Le Patourel	Balliol	October 1889
J.F. Ure	Christ Church	October 1890
F.E. Jelly	Magdalen	October 1891
...
Harold Davidson Harold Davidson Harold Francis Davidson , sometimes known as the "Prostitutes' Padre", was a Church of England priest, often referred to as the "Rector of Stiffkey". In 1932 he was defrocked on charges of immorality...	Exeter	Michaelmas 1900
...
G. Davies	?	Michaelmas 1909
...
Matthew Piper	?	1993
Michael Gough	New	Trinity 1994
Shashi Jayakumar	St Hugh's	Trinity 1995
Maxim Devereaux	Brasenose	Trinity 1996
Ben Savage	Lady Margaret Hall	Trinity 1997
Emily Howard	Lincoln	Trinity 1998
Kieran Smallbone	New	Trinity 1999
Chris Dunsmore	Lincoln	Trinity 2000
Jon Smith	Queen's	Trinity 2001
Richard Palliser Richard Palliser Richard David Palliser is an English chess player and chess writer who holds the title International Master.Palliser was joint British Rapidplay Chess Champion in 2006. He writes regularly for Everyman Chess who also employ him as an editor and advisor.His handle on the Internet Chess Club is...	Worcester	Trinity 2002
Chris Duggan	University	Trinity 2003
David Shaw	Worcester	Trinity 2004
Hervé Hansen	Queen's	Trinity 2005
Marco Zhang	St Hugh's	Trinity 2006
Mike Healey	University	Trinity 2007
Yi Ming Lai	Exeter	Trinity 2008
Eoin Devane	Merton	Trinity 2009
Stephen Belding	St John's	Trinity 2010
Erik Thörnblad	St Hugh's	Trinity 2011

Treasurer

Name	College	Served from	Reference
E.F. Linton	University	April 30, 1869
E.L. Holland	University	February 8, 1870
Rev. C. Rodwell	Trinity	March 23, 1870
R.D.H. Gray	Brasenose	December 9, 1870
T.C.V. Bastow	Trinity	June 5, 1871
Falconer Madan Falconer Madan Falconer Madan was Librarian of the Bodleian Library of Oxford University.Falconer was the fifth son of George and Harriet Madan. He was educated at Marlborough College and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he took part in Oxford and Cambridge Chess matches in 1873 and 1874, and won the University...	Brasenose	March 12, 1872
E. Petit Jelf	Christ Church	June 4, 1872
J.S. Leadam	Brasenose	March 12, 1873
F.H. Woods	Jesus	May 3, 1873
A.R.C. Connell	Trinity	December 16, 1874
S.R. Meredith	Brasenose	April 14, 1875
W.P. Emerton	Christ Church	December 1875
R.A. Germaine	Brasenose	October 26, 1876
E.J. Crosse	Exeter	December 4, 1876
W.M. Gattie	Christ Church	June 6, 1877
F.M. Wright	Queen's	March 18, 1878
E.H. Kinder	Brasenose	November 1, 1878
C. Taylor	Christ Church	March 20, 1879
B.R.V. Mills	Christ Church	December 1, 1879
J.F. Welsh	Christ Church	March 5, 1880
C.A. Darley	Christ Church	October 26, 1880
C.C. Lynam	Hertford	March 18, 1881
W.N.P. Beebe	Trinity	June 17, 1881
T.A. Wise	Lincoln	March 17, 1882
James Manders Walker	Wadham	Lent 1883
S. Weall	St. John's	Michaelmas 1883
F. Tracey	Exeter	Lent 1884
C.D. Locock	University	Midsummer 1884
James Manders Walker	Wadham	Lent 1885
F.G. Newbolt	Balliol	Winter 1885
S.J. Buchanan	New	Lent 1886
F.G. Newbolt	Balliol	Michaelmas 1886
W. Stoney	Christ Church	Hilary 1887
A.G.G. Ross	New	October 1887
W.M. Le Patourel	Balliol	Michaelmas 1888
F.E. Jelly	Magdalen	October 1889
R.G. Grimley	Balliol	October 1890
G.G. Lynam	St. Catherine's	October 1891
...
T.A. Staynes	Brasenose	Michaelmas 1920
...
Ian Webster	St. Anne's	Trinity 2001
Simon Breen	University	Trinity 2003
Ed Stembridge	Balliol	Trinity 2004
Ed Stembridge	Balliol	Trinity 2005
Alexander Dutton	Keble	Trinity 2006
Ed Stembridge	Balliol	Trinity 2007
Zubin Siganporia	St Catherine's	Trinity 2008
Kevin Henbest	(Unattached)	Trinity 2009
Matthew Wills	Trinity	Trinity 2010
Samuel Woolacott	Queen's	Trinity 2011

Secretary

Name	College	Served from	Reference
W. Braithwaite	Wadham	April 30, 1869
W.H. Fisher	Exeter	October 20, 1869
E. Morgan	Lincoln	February 8, 1870
E.W.B. Nicholson	Trinity	March 23, 1870
T. Constable	Magdalen	December 9, 1870
J.T. Dodd	Christ Church	March 6, 1871
J.A. Curling	St. Alban's	June 5, 1871
Falconer Madan Falconer Madan Falconer Madan was Librarian of the Bodleian Library of Oxford University.Falconer was the fifth son of George and Harriet Madan. He was educated at Marlborough College and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he took part in Oxford and Cambridge Chess matches in 1873 and 1874, and won the University...	Brasenose	December 5, 1871
E. Petit Jelf	Christ Church	March 12, 1872
J.S. Sinclair	Oriel	June 4, 1872
S.R. Meredith	Brasenose	December 4, 1872
A.E.P. Gray	Brasenose	March 12, 1873
F.H. Woods	Jesus	May 28, 1873
A.R.C. Connell	Trinity	December 3, 1873
Horace Plunkett	University	June 4, 1874
W. Parratt	Magdalen	December 16, 1874
A.F. Leupolt	Brasenose	December 1875
C.L. Brook	Trinity	October 15, 1876
W.M. Gattie	Christ Church	December 4, 1876
R.M. Latham	Exeter	June 6, 1877
F.M. Wright	Queen's	February 8, 1878
A.S. Perceval	Trinity	March 18, 1878
C. Taylor	Christ Church	November 1, 1878
B.R.V. Mills	Christ Church	March 20, 1879
C. Scott-Malden	Trinity	December 1, 1879
C.A. Darley	Christ Church	March 8, 1880
T.A. Wise	Lincoln	October 26, 1880
W.N.P. Beebe	Trinity	March 18, 1881
G.E. Wainwright	University	June 17, 1881
J. Moultrie	New	March 17, 1882
James Manders Walker	Wadham	April 21, 1882
S. Weall	St. John's	Lent 1883
S.H. Nash	Balliol	Summer 1883
C.D. Locock	University	Michaelmas 1883
W.A. Shearer	Exeter	Midsummer 1884
Richard Barnett Richard Barnett (sport shooter) Sir Richard Whieldon Barnett was an Irish sport shooter who competed for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the 1908 Summer Olympics, and at the age of 15 he was the Irish rifle champion....	Wadham	Lent 1885
S.J. Buchanan	New	Winter 1885
A. Rutherford	Brasenose	Lent 1886
S.J. Buchanan	New	Michaelmas 1886
A.G.G. Ross	New	Hilary 1887
F. Tillyard	Balliol	October 1887
E.B. Osborne	Magdalen	Michaelmas 1888
L.C. Crump	Balliol	October 1889
F.E. Jelly	Magdalen	October 1890
A.B. Hinds	Christ Church	October 1891
P.W. Sergeant	Trinity	Michaelmas 1892
E.W. Poynton	Exeter	Michaelmas 1893
E.G. Spencer Churchill	Exeter	Michaelmas 1895
G. Fraser	Corpus Christi	Michaelmas 1896
A.H.W. George	New	Michaelmas 1897
Frederick Soddy Frederick Soddy Frederick Soddy was an English radiochemist who explained, with Ernest Rutherford, that radioactivity is due to the transmutation of elements, now known to involve nuclear reactions. He also proved the existence of isotopes of certain radioactive elements...	Merton	Michaelmas 1898
Harold Davidson Harold Davidson Harold Francis Davidson , sometimes known as the "Prostitutes' Padre", was a Church of England priest, often referred to as the "Rector of Stiffkey". In 1932 he was defrocked on charges of immorality...	Exeter	Michaelmas 1900
A.C. von Ernshausen	Balliol	Michaelmas 1901
W.N. MacFarlane	University	Michaelmas 1904
H.J. Rose	Balliol	Michaelmas 1905
N.J. Roughton	New	Michaelmas 1906
A.P. Waterfield	Christ Church	Michaelmas 1908
Ernest Shepherd	?	Michaelmas 1909
B.A. Bull	Jesus	Michaelmas 1910
G. Davies	Pembroke	Michaelmas 1911
P.A. MacMahon	Hertford	Michaelmas 1914
H.D. Wells	Pembroke	Michaelmas 1915
C. Duffield	St. John's	Michaelmas 1916
H.R. Bigelow	Balliol	Michaelmas 1920
W.E.B. Pryer	Pembroke	Michaelmas 1921
G.S.A. Wheatcroft	New	Michaelmas 1924
K.H. Bancroft	Pembroke	Michaelmas 1926
G. Abraham	Wadham	Michaelmas 1927
...
Kieran Smallbone	New	Trinity 2001
Adam Shardlow	University	Trinity 2003
Ben Kamil	Brasenose	Trinity 2004
Ben Kamil	Brasenose	Trinity 2005
Ben Kamil	Brasenose	Trinity 2007
James Worthen	Brasenose	Trinity 2008
Stephen Belding	St John's	Trinity 2009
Jay Unadkat	St. Anne's	Trinity 2010
Szymon Pozimski	St. Peter's	Trinity 2011