Andrew is the Godfather of Portishead Chess. He does not boast or brag, so let us take a while to hear about him!
'It was recently suggested by Jane Norton and endorsed by Iain Bourne
that I should be the Club Captain. I was happy to say yes because I
have got to know many of you a little and because I know what an
exciting and thriving club it has become, with a vibrant junior
section, and where it is a great pleasure to be a member. I have been
captain of several chess clubs since I started playing in the Bristol
League in the late 1960s and can say that I have never experienced such
a go-ahead and fizzy club like Portishead. So thank you all for making
this possible but particularly Jane, Zak and Iain for their enthusiasm
and efforts.
By now most of you will know a little about me but I wanted to add a
little personal detail. My parents settled in Britain in 1946 after
serving in the Polish and British armies in WW2. I was introduced to
chess by my father when I was about 9 and was soon playing in junior
tournaments. I reached my highest level in the early 1980s when I won
the Somerset County Championship and became County Captain. That was
over 40 years ago but I would like to think that I am still able to
play at a reasonably high level. As you may have noticed, I enjoy
coaching both on an individual and group basis. Some 20 years ago I
coached the Highdown Primary School team when they played - quite
successfully - in the English Primary Schools champoinships.
I spent over 40 years teaching Law at Bristol University and wrote two
undergraduate textbooks, one on Roman Law, the other on Succession
(wills etc). I retired as Reader in Law in 2007. My wife, Margaret,
and I have lived in Portished since 1976. Margaret does not play chess
but is very supportive in my engagement with the club and continues to
be bowled over when she hears about the latest initiative by Jane!
In case I do not see you before we have a festive break, I would like to
send season's greetings to everyone and remind you to keep playing and
studying the game. 😂😉
Andrew Borkowski
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