Minor Pieces

We left Reginald Charles Noel-Johnson last time, having just married Jane Ann Richards and joined the RAF on war service.

Before I move on, my thanks to Brian Denman, who has sent me a whole pile of Noel-Johnson’s games. I’ll add a few earlier scores here: as always, click here and paste the pgn to play them through online.

Even in 1924, as an inexperienced 20-year-old, he was capable of playing strong positional chess, being particularly severe here against his opponent’s Dutch Defence, and not being distracted by the magnificent view from the roof of Australia House. William Henry Watts was, apart from being a civil servant, a prominent chess journalist and author.

[Event “Kent v Civil Service B11”]
[Date “1924.06.07”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Watts, William Henry”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 b6 5. Ne5 c6 6. O-O Bb7 7. Nc3 Be7 8. e4 d6 9. Nd3 fxe4 10. Nxe4 O-O 11. Nf4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Rf6 13. Qh5 Rh6 14. Qg4 Bc8 15. Nh5 g5 16. f4 e5 17. f5 d5 18. Bg2 exd4 19. h4 Nd7 20. hxg5 Ne5 21. Qe2 Bxg5 22. Qxe5 Rxh5 23. g4 Rh6 24. Bxg5 Qxg5 25. Qe8+ Kg7 26. Rae1 Rf6 27. Re7+ Kh6 28. Qh8 Bxf5 29. Rxh7+ Bxh7 30. Rxf6+ 1-0

In this county match game from 1936 he won quickly against his Essex opponent’s rather unsophisticated opening.

[Event “Essex v Kent B2”]
[Date “1936.10.03”]
[White “Woodfield, William Oliver”]
[Black “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Result “0-1”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bc5 5. f4 d6 6. f5 h6 7. h3 d5 8. Nxd5 Nxd5 9. Qg4 Ne3 10. Qxg7 Rf8 11. Nf3 Qe7 12. Bb3 Bxf5 13. Bxe3 Bxe3 14. exf5 O-O-O 15. Qg4 Qc5 16. Rf1 e4 17. dxe4 Rg8 18. Qh4 Bd2+ 0-1

In another county match game he took a notable scalp when one of England’s finest amateurs, perhaps in time trouble, lost the plot.

[Event “Surrey v Kent B2”]
[Date “1937.01.09”]
[White “Michell, Reginald Pryce”]
[Black “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Result “0-1”]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e3 e5 5. Bxc4 exd4 6. exd4 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qe7+ 8. Nge2 b5 9. Bd3 Be6 10. Qd1 Qc7 11. O-O Bd6 12. g3 O-O 13. Nf4 Nbd7 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Qb3 Rfe8 16. Bd2 Kh8 17. Rac1 Qb6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Rac8 20. Qd3 Nf6 21. b4 Red8 22. Bg2 Be5 23. Qe2 Bxd4 24. Qxe6 c5 25. Qxb6 axb6 26. Bb7 Rc7 27. Ba6 Ra7 28. Bxb5 Rxa2 29. Be1 Rb2 30. Bc6 cxb4 31. Rd1 Rd6 32. Bf3 Bc5 33. Ra1 b5 34. h3 Rd3 35. Kg2 b3 36. Rd1 Rxd1 37. Bxd1 Bd4 38. Kf3 Rb1 39. Bd2 b2 40. Ke2 Ne4 41. Bb4 Rc1 0-1

Finally, for the moment, another game against Yeeles, which might, as Brian suggests, have been played in a club match, but also fits in with the 1937 county championship final. He was lucky here, as Yeeles stood better before giving up the exchange for no obvious reason: perhaps again a time trouble blunder.

[Event “?”]
[Date “1937.12.??”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Yeeles, Walter James Eric”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Bb4 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Nge2 h6 9. Bh4 c5 10. O-O c4 11. Bc2 Qc7 12. Bg3 Qa5 13. f3 Re8 14. e4 Nf8 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Be4 Qb5 18. a3 Ba5 19. Rb1 Bf5 20. Nc3 Qd7 21. Bxf5 Qxf5 22. Ne4 Qd5 23. Bf2 Ne6 24. Kh1 Rad8 25. Qa4 Bb6 26. Rbc1 Rc8 27. Nc3 Qd8 28. d5 Nf4 29. Bxb6 Qxb6 30. Ne4 Red8 31. Rxc4 Rxc4 32. Qxc4 Qxb2 33. Rg1 Rxd5 34. Nc3 Qd2 35. Nxd5 Nxd5 36. Qc8+ Kh7 37. Qxb7 Nf4 38. Qb1+ Kg8 39. Qc1 Qd4 40. h3 Ne2 41. Qc8+ Kh7 42. Qc2+ 1-0

Returning to his life story, Reginald and Jane had two children, Patricia, born in Chester in 1942, and Christopher (who sadly died in 2010), born in Surrey in 1946. During this period his work for the RAF took him to India, and it was only in 1947 that he was able to resume his chess career.

He wasted no time in picking up where he left off.

His final game was a textbook example of strong positional play, his pressure on his opponent’s backward c-pawn eventually leading to material gain. Click on any move of any game in this article for a pop-up window.

[Event “Kent Championship Final”]
[Date “1947.??.??”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Brierley, William Leonard”]
[Result “1-0”]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O d6 6. b3 Nbd7 7. Bb2 Be7 8. c4 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Ne1 Bxg2 12. Nxg2 d5 13. Qc2 Nf6 14. Nf4 Rc8 15. cxd5 exd5 16. Qc6 Qd6 17. Rac1 Rfe8 18. e3 Qxc6 19. Rxc6 Bd6 20. Nd3 Nd7 21. b4 g5 22. Rfc1 f6 23. a4 Nf8 24. Kg2 Ng6 25. Kf3 h5 26. h3 Kf7 27. R6c3 Re4 28. b5 h4 29. g4 Ree8 30. Ba3 Bxa3 31. Rxa3 Red8 32. a5 Nf8 33. axb6 axb6 34. Nb4 Ne6 35. Ra7 Rd6 36. Na6 Rd7 37. Rb7 Ke7 38. Rxb6 1-0

Although he’d been living in central London since at least 1929, he maintained his loyalty to Kent, playing in county matches as well as the county championships.

This game from a match between West/Mid Kent and Metropolitan Kent had a curious conclusion. White thought he had no defence to Black’s threats, but in fact he had a slight advantage (29. g3 Nd2 30. Nc7).

[Event “West & Mid Kent v Metropolitan Kent “]
[Date “1948.06.12”]
[White “Podger, Charles Vincent”]
[Black “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Result “0-1”]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 gxf6 7. d4 Bf5 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Nd7 10. Bf4 e5 11. Bd2 Bd6 12. Ne2 Qe7 13. Qf5 O-O-O 14. d5 cxd5 15. cxd5 Kb8 16. Be3 Bc5 17. O-O Rdg8 18. c4 Nb6 19. Rac1 Rg6 20. Ng3 Rc8 21. Bxc5 Rxc5 22. Ne4 Rxc4 23. Rxc4 Nxc4 24. Rc1 b5 25. Rb1 a6 26. a4 Qb7 27. Nc5 Qxd5 28. Nxa6+ Ka7 0-1

In 1949 he won the Kent Championship for the eighth time. In this game from the first round  he again demonstrated strong positional play, winning material, but returning it for two far advanced connected passed pawns in the centre.

[Event “Kent Championship”]
[Date “1949.11.19”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Smith, Arthur Eric”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 Bf5 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O c6 6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7. b3 Bd6 8. Bb2 Qc7 9. c4 O-O 10. Rc1 Ne4 11. Nh4 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Be4 13. f3 Bg6 14. e4 dxc4 15. bxc4 e5 16. d5 Bc5+ 17. Kh1 Rad8 18. f4 Bh5 19. fxe5 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Qxe5 21. Rf5 Qd4 22. Qxd4 Bxd4 23. Rxh5 g6 24. Rd1 Bg7 25. Rg5 f6 26. Rg4 g5 27. e5 gxh4 28. e6 Rfe8 29. Re1 hxg3 30. Rxg3 f5 31. Bf3 Re7 32. Bh5 h6 33. Reg1 Kh7 34. Bg6+ Kh8 35. Bf7 Rg8 36. d6 1-0

In another county match game played a week later he missed a tactical opportunity, but his more active pieces still made life difficult for his Sussex opponent.

[Event “Kent v Sussex in London B1”]
[Date “1949.11.26”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Norman, George Marshall”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. a4 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Nc3 cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. d5 exd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd5 Nb4 13. Be4 O-O 14. Bd2 f5 15. Qb3+ Kh8 16. Bxb4 Qb6 17. Bd5 Qxb4 18. Qxb4 Bxb4 19. Ne5 g6 20. Rac1 Rb8 21. Rfd1 Re8 22. f4 Be6 23. Bxe6 Rxe6 24. Rd7 Ba5 25. Kf1 Kg8 26. Nf7 Re4 27. g3 Rxa4 28. Rc5 Ra1+ 29. Kg2 Ra2 30. Kh3 b5 31. Re5 Bb4 32. Nd8 Bf8 33. Re8 1-0

Noel-Johnson also remained loyal to Lewisham. In this National Club Championship game his international opponent blundered, allowing a smart finish.

[Event “NCC Lewisham v Croydon B1”]
[Date “1950.04.??”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Newman, Richard Hilary”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. Nd2 d5 5. Ngf3 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Nc6 9. e3 Qe7 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nb3 Bb6 12. Nbd4 Bd7 13. b3 Rad8 14. Bb2 Nf6 15. Qe2 a6 16. Rfd1 Kh8 17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. Rd1 Ne4 20. Rxd8+ Bxd8 21. Ne5 Bd5 22. Qh5 Kg8 23. Ba3 1-0

Facing another international opponent in a London League match, he gave a textbook example of how to play against the Dutch Stonewall, taking advantage of Black’s weak dark squares and undeveloped queen’s bishop to set up a decisive pin.

[Event “Lewisham v Stock Exchange London League”]
[Date “1951.03.??”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Parr, Frank”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nd2 d5 5. Ngf3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. c4 c6 8. b3 Qe8 9. Bb2 Qh5 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. e3 Qh6 12. h3 g5 13. f4 gxf4 14. gxf4 Bxe5 15. dxe5 Nh5 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Ba3 Rf7 18. Qe1 Rg7 19. Qh4 Kh8 20. Kh2 d4 21. exd4 Nb6 22. Be7 Bd7 23. Bf6 Rag8 24. Bf3 Be8 25. Rg1 Qxf4+ 26. Qxf4 Nxf4 27. Rxg7 1-0

This game bears testimony to Reginald’s considerable endgame skills.

[Event “Kent Championship”]
[Date “1951.03.28”]
[White “Smith, Arthur Eric”]
[Black “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Result “0-1”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c4 Bd7 6. d4 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Bxd7+ Qxd7 9. Qxd4 Ne7 10. Be3 Nc6 11. Qd2 Qe6 12. Qc2 g6 13. Nd2 Bg7 14. Nf3 O-O 15. O-O Rae8 16. Nd2 f5 17. exf5 Rxf5 18. Rae1 Rh5 19. Nf3 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. g3 Qe4 22. Qxe4 Rxe4 23. b3 Ra5 24. Bd2 Rae5 25. f4 Rxe1 26. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 27. Bxe1 Kf7 28. Kf2 Ke6 29. Ke3 d5 30. cxd5+ Kxd5 31. Kd3 c5 32. a4 b5 33. axb5 axb5 34. h3 Bd4 35. g4 c4+ 36. bxc4+ bxc4+ 37. Ke2 Ke4 38. Bd2 Bb2 39. Kd1 c3 40. Be1 Kxf4 41. Kc2 Kf3 42. Kd3 g5 43. Kc2 h6 44. Kd3 Kg2 45. h4 Kf3 46. hxg5 hxg5 47. Bh4 gxh4 0-1

1951 marked the centenary of the Great Exhibition in London, which included the world’s first international chess tournament, and it was only right that the 1951 Festival of Britain should also include some chess. Reginald Noel-Johnson, by now a respected organiser and populariser of chess as well as a very strong player, was involved, and television cameras were present.

In case you’re unfamiliar with some of the personalities involved: David Farrar CEM Joad Eamonn Andrews Sir Ronald Storrs

(Sir Ronald founded the first chess club in Palestine in 1918, hoping to unite Arabs, Jews and Christians stationed in Jerusalem, and to help promote peace and understanding. It didn’t work out: it closed within a year due to tensions between Arabs and Jews.)

In 1951 Noel-Johnson organised a London Transport team who travelled to Hastings Chess Club.

The home team won 21½-8½, but König and Noel-Johnson, on the top two boards, against Winser and Waterman.

(Chess was a very big thing amongst London Busmen at the time, a story I will investigate in a future Minor Piece.)

In October 1952 the National Chess Centre re-opened, just across the road in Oxford Street from the previous centre which had been burnt down during the war. Noel-Johnson was very much involved in its re-establishment. He was also honoured by being appointed President of the Southern Counties Chess Union in 1952-53.

Here’s another game, this one from the 1952 county championship, resulting in a minor piece ending.

[Event “Kent Championship R1”]
[Date “1952.11.11”]
[White “Cook, Percy Baldwin”]
[Black “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Result “0-1”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. d4 f6 7. O-O g6 8. dxe5 fxe5 9. Bb3 h6 10. Re1 Qe7 11. Nbd2 O-O-O 12. Qe2 g5 13. Nf1 g4 14. N3d2 h5 15. Ne3 Qh7 16. Nd5 Bg7 17. Nf1 Nf6 18. Bg5 Rdf8 19. Ba4 Nxd5 20. exd5 Nb8 21. Bc2 Bf5 22. Ne3 Bxc2 23. Qxc2 Qxc2 24. Nxc2 Bh6 25. Be3 Nd7 26. Rad1 Kd8 27. c4 Bxe3 28. fxe3 Rf6 29. Rf1 Rhf8 30. Rxf6 Rxf6 31. Rf1 Ke7 32. Ne1 Nc5 33. Rxf6 Kxf6 34. Kf2 Kf5 35. Ke2 Ke4 36. Kd2 a5 37. Ke2 a4 38. Kd2 b6 39. Ke2 b5 40. cxb5 Kxd5 41. Nc2 Kc4 42. Na3+ Kb4 43. Kd2 d5 44. Ke2 Ne4 45. Kd3 Nd6 46. Nb1 Nxb5 47. e4 c6 48. h3 Nd6 49. exd5 cxd5 50. Nc3 d4 51. Nd5+ Kc5 52. Nf6 e4+ 53. Kc2 gxh3 54. gxh3 h4 55. Nd7+ Kb4 56. a3+ Kb5 57. Ne5 Nf5 58. Ng6 Kc4 59. Ne5+ Kd5 60. Nd7 Ne3+ 61. Kc1 Nc4 62. Nf6+ Ke5 63. Nd7+ Kf4 64. Nc5 d3 65. Nxa4 e3 66. Kd1 e2+ 67. Ke1 Ke3 68. Nc3 d2#

This game was played on top board in a county match at the National Chess Centre (you can discover more about his opponent here). It looks like White miscalculated or misjudged the position round about move 20.

[Event “Middlesex v Kent B1”]
[Date “1953.02.21”]
[White “Friedman, Otto”]
[Black “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Result “0-1”]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. Nf3 Bxc5 7. a3 b6 8. b4 Be7 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. e3 d5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bd3 h6 14. O-O Nd7 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Qe2 Bf6 17. e4 Bb7 18. Bb5 Bxb2 19. Bxd7 Qc3 20. Rd3 Qc4 21. Nd2 Qc2 22. Re1 Rfd8 23. Nb1 Qxe2 24. Rxe2 Rac8 $1 25. Nd2 Rc1+ 26. Nf1 Rxd7 $1 27. Rxd7 Ba6 28. Rdd2 Bxa3 29. g3 Bxe2 30. Rxe2 Bxb4 {Sources: R C Noel-Johnson and Manchester Guardian of 6.3.1953. The Observer source just says that Black “wins” after his 30th move. Played at the National Chess Centre, London.} 0-1

The 1953 National Chess Centre Championship gave Reginald another chance to demonstrate his positional mastery.

[Event “National Chess Centre Championship”]
[Date “1953.07.??”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Newman, Richard Hilary”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O Be7 8. b3 cxd4 9. exd4 O-O 10. Bb2 b6 11. Qe2 Bb7 12. Rfd1 Rc8 13. Ne5 Bd6 14. Rac1 Qe7 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Bb1 g6 17. Nf1 Nh5 18. g3 f5 19. f3 Nf6 20. Re1 Rfe8 21. c5 Bf8 22. b4 bxc5 23. bxc5 e5 24. dxe5 Rxc5 25. Bd4 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Re6 27. Bd3 Qa4 28. Qf2 Ne8 29. f4 a5 30. Rb1 Bb4 31. Qc2 Qd7 32. Ne3 Ng7 33. Qb2 Ba6 34. Bxa6 Rxa6 35. a3 Bf8 36. Qb3 Ne6 37. Nxd5 Kh8 38. Bf2 Bxa3 39. Nf6 Qe7 40. Qb8+ Qd8 41. Rb7 1-0

In 1954 the British Chess Federation published its second (and first full) grading list. Reginald Noel-Johnson was there on 3a (209-216, or about 2300 Elo), along with Alfred Lenton, and several of his other erstwhile opponents. At the age of 50, he seemed to be playing as well as ever.

But at that point he became a lot less active. By the 1955 grading list he’d slipped to 4a (193-200, approaching 2200 Elo).

One reason might have been that he was now becoming active in the musical world as a composer. I’d imagine that his work at Ricordi’s (he’d moved from Chappell’s) involved, on occasion, being commissioned to write incidental music.

Back in 1933 he’d been writing songs in the style of his father, his setting of Weep you no more, sad fountains, an anonymous Elizabethan verse set by everyone from John Dowland to Roger Quilter and beyond, being admired for its combination of freshness and charm. “The harmonic scheme in the accompaniment is never dull and the melody has a quiet flow and a beautiful ending, suitable for soprano or tenor”, according to the West Middlesex Gazette (27 May 1933).

Unfortunately, I can’t find a recording of this, but it may have been similar to Roger Quilter’s setting here.

In 1952 Noel-Johnson had composed the music for Enid Blyton’s Noddy Song Book, and these were used for a children’s play produced over the Christmas holidays in December 1954. No, I wasn’t in the audience.

You can hear some of his Noddy music here (Ian Hockridge was the son of Canadian born Edmund Hockridge, a popular singer of the day) and here.

It was repeated the following year, when the cast list included ‘Ronald’ Corbett as Mr Whiskers and Jinky, while older children could watch the Famous Five in the evening.

In 1953 an ice pantomime, Sinbad the Sailor (pantomimes on ice were very big in those days) included a ballet based on Morphy’s Opera House Game, with music by Noel-Johnson.

There was a new job for him in 1958, when he was appointed general manager of Ascherberg, Hopwood and Crew.

You might have expected that Reginald’s chess career had come to an end, but in 1974 he unexpectedly turned up playing for King’s Lynn, in Norfolk. He was rapidly appointed match captain, and was involved in a ‘chess happening’ forming part of the King’s Lynn Festival.

In 1975 he reappeared on the grading list at 190, seemingly having retained his strength into his 70s, despite a 20 year absence from the board.

He didn’t appear in the next two grading lists, but returned in 1978, now living in Worthing, on the south coast. That year he was down to 181, but by 1982 he was up to 194, and, after a decline the following year, back to 192 in 1984. This would be about 2150 – pretty impressive for someone in his late seventies.

In this game he renewed acquaintance with an old Kent rival, now promoted to the rank of Canon within the Church of England, who left it far too late to develop his queen’s knight.

[Event “McArthur Cup Rustington v Worthing A B3”]
[Date “1978.04.08”]
[White “Smith, Arthur Eric”]
[Black “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Result “0-1”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. c3 Bd7 6. O-O g6 7. d3 Bg7 8. Re1 Nge7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 f5 11. Bb3+ Kh8 12. Bh6 fxe4 13. dxe4 Ng8 14. Bxg7+ Kxg7 15. Bxg8 Kxg8 16. c4 Bg4 17. Qd5+ Kh8 18. Re3 Bxf3 19. Rxf3 Rxf3 20. gxf3 Qg5+ 21. Kh1 Qc1+ 22. Kg2 Nd4 23. Qa5 Rf8 24. Qd2 Qxc4 25. Qh6 Qf7 26. Nd2 Nxf3 27. Rf1 Nxd2 28. Qxd2 Qf3+ 29. Kg1 Rf4 0-1

Here, he faced a Cannon rather than a Canon. John Cannon was a strong Sussex player who, I believe, claimed to hold a record for the number of county matches played.

[Event “McArthur Cup semi-final Worthing 1 v Horsham B2”]
[Date “1979.04.07”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Cannon, Lewis John”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. b3 a5 9. Bb2 Kh8 10. Qc2 Be6 11. Ng5 Bg8 12. e4 fxe4 13. Ncxe4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 Nd7 15. Rad1 Rc8 16. Bh3 Ra8 17. f4 d5 18. Nf2 e6 19. Rfe1 Re8 20. Nd3 Rc8 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. dxc5 Bf7 23. Be5 Bxe5 24. Rxe5 Kg8 25. Bf1 Rc7 26. Qc3 Rce7 27. Qd4 Qc7 28. a3 Ra8 29. h4 Rf8 30. Be2 Be8 31. Bg4 Bd7 32. h5 Qc8 33. hxg6 hxg6 34. Rde1 Qe8 35. Rg5 Bc8 36. Kg2 Kf7 37. Rh1 Rg8 38. Rh6 Kf8 39. Bf3 Reg7 40. Re5 Re7 1-0

Noel-Johnson also started playing in tournaments again, favouring those in Devon, often playing in Paignton and occasionally in Torquay. In 1981, despite a last round defeat, he shared first place in the top section at Paignton.

In one of the key games from this event he scored the full point against one of the other joint winners, who went wrong on his sealed move.

[Event “Paignton Premier R5”]
[Date “1981.09.11”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Griffiths, Peter Charles”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 d6 8. O-O e5 9. e3 e4 10. Ng5 Bf5 11. Qb3 c5 12. f3 exf3 13. Ngxf3 Ne4 14. Nxe4 Bxe4 15. Nh4 Bxg2 16. Nxg2 Nc6 17. Qc3 Rae8 18. Rae1 Qg5 19. b3 Re4 20. d5 Ne7 21. Qc2 Re5 22. e4 Re8 23. Qf2 Rf8 24. Nh4 Qg4 25. Qf4 Qxf4 26. gxf4 Rh5 27. Nf3 Ng6 28. e5 Nxf4 29. exd6 Rh6 30. Re7 Rg6+ 31. Kh1 Rxd6 32. Ne5 g5 33. Rxb7 a6 34. Nc6 Kg7 35. Re1 g4 36. Rf1 Rf6 37. Ne5 Nxd5 38. Rg1 Nb6 39. Rxg4+ Kh6 40. Rg1 Kh5 41. b4 Rc8 42. bxc5 Rxc5 43. Nxf7 Nxc4 44. Rb3 Rf4 {(sealed)} 45. Rh3+ Rh4 46. Rhg3 Rf4 47. Ng5 Rh4 48. Nf3 Nd6 49. Nxh4 Kxh4 50. Rg7 h5 51. R7g6 Rd5 52. Rf6 Rd4 53. Rf8 Nc4 54. Re8 Rf4 55. Re2 a5 56. Rg3 a4 57. Kg2 Nd6 58. Rg8 Ne4 59. a3 Ng5 60. Re3 Rd4 61. Rb8 Rd2+ 62. Kf1 Kg4 63. Rb4+ Kf5 64. h4 1-0

In 1981 he changed his allegiance from Worthing to Rustington: I wonder if this was under the influence of his old friend Eric Smith. Perhaps it was he who had enticed him to the delights of Sussex in the first place.

In this club championship game from 1981 he switched from his usual 1… e5 to the Sicilian, scoring a quick victory. He clearly knew his opponent well.

[Event “Rustington CC Championship”]
[Date “1981.10.20”]
[White “Smith, Arthur Eric”]
[Black “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Result “0-1”]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 a6 4. Nc3 b5 5. a4 b4 6. Ne2 Bb7 7. Ng3 Nf6 8. d3 Nc6 9. e5 Nd5 10. Ne4 Qc7 11. Be2 f5 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Nxf6+ gxf6 14. O-O O-O-O 15. Be3 Ne7 16. d4 Nf5 17. Bf2 Rg8 18. Qd2 cxd4 19. Kh1 Bc5 20. g3 e5 21. fxe5 fxe5 22. Kg1 e4 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Bxd4 Nxg3 {Source: Canon A E Smith.} 0-1

Brian Denman tells me that in 1982 Noel-Johnson reached the Sussex final, and, if he had won, he would have been the oldest champion. However, he lost both games against Feliks Kwiatkowski. Here are a few more victories from Brian’s files.

[Event “Rustington CC Championship”]
[Date “1982.01.26”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Smith, Arthur Eric”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Nf6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. e4 Ng4 11. Qd2 Ne5 12. b3 Qa5 13. Bb2 Bg4 14. f3 Be6 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. f4 Ng4 17. Bf3 Bd7 18. Rfe1 Qc5+ 19. Kg2 Qh5 20. h3 Ne3+ 21. Rxe3 Qxh3+ 22. Kf2 Qh2+ 23. Bg2 Bh3 24. Rg1 e5 25. Nd5 exf4 26. gxf4 Bxg2 27. Rxg2 Qh4+ 28. Kg1 f5 29. exf5 Rce8 30. Bxg7 Kxg7 31. f6+ Kg8 32. Ne7+ 1-0

[Event “Sussex Championship”]
[Date “1982.02.07”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Watson, Paul”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 c5 8. b3 Nc6 9. Bb2 Rb8 10. d4 b6 11. Nbd2 Ba6 12. Re1 Re8 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Bh3 Rc7 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. a3 Bc8 17. Bxc8 Qxc8 18. b4 Be7 19. Nb3 Qd7 20. b5 Nb8 21. Rxc7 Qxc7 22. Qd3 Qc4 23. Rc1 Qxd3 24. exd3 Bd6 25. Nbd4 Nbd7 26. Nf5 Bb8 27. Rc6 h6 28. Nxh6+ gxh6 29. Bxf6 Nxf6 30. Rxf6 Kg7 31. Rc6 Re6 32. Nd4 Rxc6 33. Nxc6 Bd6 34. a4 Kf6 35. Nxa7 Bc5 36. Nc6 d4 37. a5 bxa5 38. Nxa5 Ke6 39. Kg2 Kd5 40. g4 Ba7 41. Nc4 Bb8 42. h4 f6 43. Kf3 Bc7 44. b6 Bb8 45. b7 Kc6 46. Ke4 Kxb7 47. f4 1-0

[Event “Rustington CC Championship”]
[Date “1982.12.07”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Smith, Arthur Eric”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nge2 d6 7. d4 Bg4 8. f3 Bd7 9. O-O Qc8 10. b3 Bh3 11. Bb2 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 O-O 13. h3 Rd8 14. d5 Nb8 15. Qc2 e6 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. e4 d5 18. cxd5 exd5 19. exd5 b5 20. Nf4 g5 21. Ne6 b4 22. Nxg7 bxc3 23. Qxc3 Nxd5 24. Qc4 Kf8 25. Rfe1 Nb6 26. Ne6+ Kg8 27. Qc3 1-0

[Event “Sussex Championship R1”]
[Date “1983.11.06”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Cannon, Lewis John”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bc5 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. O-O O-O 9. d3 Rb8 10. Qa4 b5 11. Qc2 Be7 12. Be3 a6 13. Nd2 Bb7 14. Nb3 Re8 15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. Bxc5 Na5 17. e4 Ba8 18. Be3 Qe7 19. f4 f6 20. fxe5 fxe5 21. Rf5 Rf8 22. Raf1 Rxf5 23. exf5 Bxg2 24. Qxg2 Qd6 25. d4 exd4 26. Bxd4 c5 27. Be3 Rf8 28. Qf2 Nb7 29. g4 Qe5 30. Bd2 c4 31. Re1 Qd5 32. Qf4 Qd6 33. Qxd6 Nxd6 34. Re6 Rf6 35. Re5 Rf8 36. Kg2 Nb7 37. Be3 Kf7 38. Bd4 Rd8 39. Kf3 Rd7 40. Re6 Rd6 41. Rxd6 Nxd6 42. Kf4 Ne8 43. g5 g6 44. f6 Ke6 45. Be5 a5 46. a3 Nd6 47. Bxd6 Kxd6 48. Ke4 b4 49. cxb4 {Source: L J Cannon. Played in the first round of the competition.} 1-0

[Event “Rustington CC Championship”]
[Date “1984.04.17”]
[White “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Black “Smith, Arthur Eric”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 d5 4. b3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bb2 Nc6 7. Nf3 f6 8. O-O e5 9. d3 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Rc1 Be6 12. Ne4 b6 13. Qd2 Rc8 14. Rfd1 Ndb4 15. Nc3 Nd4 16. e3 Nxb3 17. axb3 Bxb3 18. Ne1 Bxd1 19. Rxd1 Qd7 20. Qe2 Rfd8 21. Qh5 g6 22. Qf3 a5 23. h4 Rc7 24. h5 Qe8 25. g4 Rcd7 26. e4 Qf7 27. hxg6 hxg6 28. Qe2 Qb3 29. g5 Nxd3 30. Rxd3 Rxd3 31. Nxd3 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 Qxb2 33. Nd5 Kf7 34. gxf6 Bxf6 35. Qf3 Qc1+ 36. Kh2 Qh6+ 37. Bh3 Qg5 38. Qb3 Kg7 39. Qxb6 Qh4 40. Qxc5 Bd8 41. Qa7+ Kh6 42. Qf7 a4 43. Qf8+ Kh7 44. Qf7+ Kh6 45. Qf3 a3 46. Qxa3 Qxf2+ 47. Bg2 Kg7 48. Qg3 Qb2 49. Qg4 Qb7 50. Qe6 Qb8 51. Qe8 Qd6 52. Bh3 Kh6 {Source: Canon A E Smith.} 1-0

The last game I have is a loss, from 1987.

[Event “Paignton Premier R4”]
[Date “1987.09.09”]
[White “Griffiths, Peter Charles”]
[Black “Noel-Johnson, Reginald Charles”]
[Result “1-0”]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e5 c5 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nc6 8. f4 Nge7 9. Nf3 h5 10. a4 Qa5 11. Qd2 cxd4 12. cxd4 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Nf5 14. Bb5 O-O 15. Ba3 Rd8 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Rab1 Ba6 18. Bc5 g6 19. Rb2 Kg7 20. Rhb1 Kg8 21. Ne1 Nh6 22. Nd3 Bxd3 23. cxd3 Rd7 24. a5 a6 25. Rb8+ Rd8 26. R8b7 Rdc8 27. R1b6 Ng4 28. h3 Nh6 29. Rd7 Rcb8 30. Ra7 Nf5 31. Raxa6 Kg7 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. a6 1-0

In the final years of his career his grade, inevitably, fell into decline, last appearing in the grading list on 159 in 1991, at the age of 87.

Reginald never lost his interest in chess, though, as my friend Guy Holloway recollects.

Noel-Johnson’s daughter, Patricia, was the very first school secretary at The Harrodian School. In those days I ran the chess club and, one day (around 1995), 90-year old Reginald came in to play a simultaneous against a large group of ten-year old boys and girls. He was in sparking good form and gave the youngsters their first taste of ‘playing against a champion’.

After the simul, on returning to Worthing, he sent Guy a postcard, written partly in French, reproduced here with Guy’s permissioin.

Reginald Charles Noel-Johnson died on 27 December 2000 at the great age of 96, his death being registered in Windsor and Maidenhead.

Two of his brothers also had interesting stories to tell. Dennis, who, you may recall, changed his surname to Cullum, achieved fame as an athletics coach, specialising in hammer throwing. You can read more about him here.

Reginald’s youngest brother, George Douglas, had been a member of the Territorial Army (Artists’ Rifles) in 1937, but in 1939, with war imminent, joined the RAF, flying Hurricanes in Greece and eventually rising to the rank of Squadron Leader. He retired from the services in 1956.

They would have three children, Clive, Mark and Sally, and, while her husband died relatively young in 1972, she would live on until 2018, reaching the age of 98. I must show my appreciation here to Clive and Sally for generously sharing so much family information through their online trees.

Her parents had met while working in a mental health hospital, and Catherine, the youngest of four children, lost her father to pneumonia when she was only 2. Her mother, Edith Mary White, was the daughter of a groom, and the granddaughter of an agricultural labourer from near Warwick. Her grandfather, Thomas White, had a cousin, Sarah, who married Robert Padbury. Robert had many granddaughters, one of whom, Florence, was, in 1921, working as a housekeeper to a farmer whose wife was in Hatton Lunatic Asylum. She was no doubt unaware that her third cousin Edith had been working there ten years earlier. Florence had an affair with her employer: their daughter was my mother. This makes Reginald Charles Noel-Johnson, if my tree is correct, the brother-in-law of my 4th cousin once removed. And, you might recall from the first article, he played on two occasions against my father’s kinsman Alfred Lenton.

Noel-Johnson and Lenton, despite their very different backgrounds, had a lot in common. They were both mainly positional players, Noel-Johnson playing in classical style, as opposed to Lenton’s hypermodern approach. Lenton was slightly stronger in the 1930s, playing for England on several occasions, but Noel-Johnson retained much more of his strength into old age. Both took a break in middle age, returning to chess in their retirement, and both remaining active in the chess world into their tenth decade.

We should certainly thank Reginald Charles Noel-Johnson for his services to chess, both as a player and an administrator, over more than 70 years. I believe it’s important for the whole chess community to keep the memory of players such as him alive.

It’s wonderful that John Saunders has a number of collections of games played by strong amateurs available on BritBase, and that Brian Denman also has collections of games by a number of Sussex players available. My thanks to both of them.

Sources & Acknowledgements:

ancestry.co.uk (family trees of Clive Noel-Johnson and Sally (Noel-Johnson) Giddings)
findmypast.co.uk/British Newspaper Library
Wikipedia
BritBase (John Saunders – thanks also for his RCNJ games collection)
ChessBase/Stockfish 16
Brian Denman (thanks for his RCNJ games collection)
Guy Holloway
YouTube