Andrew Jonathan Whiteley RIP
June 9, 1947–July 8,2014
A sad day for English chess! The English Chess Federation reported his death today on its website. Andrew had been ill for some time, and so it was not such a surprise. However, anticipation does not dull the sadness of losing such a fine gentleman.
I last spoke with Andrew earlier this year at the Cappelle La Grande tournament, where he normally is an arbiter, but this year could not because of health issues. Andrew spoke openly about his cancer and fully recognized the hopelessness of it, but was determined to enjoy his life to the fullest, and visiting Cappelle one last time and seeing his friends and colleagues was high on his agenda.
I have fond memories of his arbitrating several of my games in Cappelle. In one, against the polish grandmaster Moranda (2005) I had a two-Knights against Pawn ending and managed to give mate with just 6 seconds left on my clock (the 30-second increment was not used that year). After the game I asked Andrew what would have happened had I flagged: he told me , in his usual English-style of not mixing words, that he would have forfeited me! (And he would have been fully justified to do so!)
I will miss Andrew. My condolences to his family.
————————————–
Whiteley won the British Junior Championship in 1965 and the European Junior Championship in 1965-66. In 1967 he played on the English Student team at the World Student Team Championship at Harrachov; the team finished with the bronze medal!
In 1968 and 1969, he played top board for Oxford University in the annual match versus Cambridge University. He won second prize in the British Championship of 1971, and he was a member of the British Chess Federation team at the Olympiads of Siegen 1970, Skopje 1972, and Nice 1974. He was the English Senior Champion of 2008. Andrew held the International Master title (1988) as well as the International Arbiter title (1990).
