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METROPOLITAN CHESS CLUB
(Established since 1959)
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Allan Respini
Allan Respini was the first Club President, 1959.
Metropolitan Chess Club developed from chess games played in his office before work and during the lunch hour. Allan worked in the Medical Department of the State Government where he was the Stores Requestioning Officer for all hospitals statewide.
He was a gifted artist with the pen and well known for his printing and sign writing. He was crippled from polio and had a leg deformity. Allan and his wife, Ivy, lived in Riverton and had no family. He passed away some years ago.
Robert Pilgrim
Bob was born in Fremantle on 25 January 1931, and was educated at Kensington State School and Wesley College. He had a distinguished career in the State Public Service.
Bob's chess career started in 1947, and in 1948 he and Allan Respini began the Chief Secretaries Chess Club. In 1959 this club became known as the Metropolitan Chess Club. Highlights of Bob's chess achievements include three Club Championships (Metropolitan 1959 and 1960, and South Perth 1960). He also gained a third place in the 1961 W.A. State Championships.
The Club honored Bob with Life Membership some years ago in recognition of his significant contribution to chess administration of W.A. In 1989 he became a Life Member of the Chess Association of W.A. In 1991 he was awarded the Garry Koshnitsky medal for services to Australian Chess Administration.
Furthermore Bob was awarded an Australian Sports Medal 2000. This Commonwealth Government produced Australian sports medal was issued to celebrate Australia’s sporting achievements and provide recognition for current and former sports participants and those who have contributed to sport through the provision of support services.
John Butcher
John was born in England in 1931 and emigrated to Australia in 1956. He joined the Metro Chess Club in 1959.
Administration of chess in W.A. through the Metro Club and the Chess Association of W.A. has taken much of John's time over the years, however this has not entirely prevented him from gaining chess achievements. John finished third in the State Reserves Championship in 1964. At club level, John won the Respini Tournament in 1973. He has also been the Auditor for the Association's financial accounts and has held all major positions in this Club and in 1994 was awarded Life Membership.
Victor Allan Smyth
Vic was born in 1933 in Belfast, Northern Ireland to an Irish father and Scottish mother. He trained as a Medical Technologist at the Institute of Pathology at the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast, qualifying in 1956. Vic learned to play chess at the age of 18 during his training period.
In 1959 Vic migrated to Perth W.A. to take up a post at the old medical school in Victoria square. He travelled to Australia on the P & O ship Orsova and met his wife-to-be who was returning to her home in Tasmania, from a European holiday. They were married in 1960 and have three adult children.
In 1963 Vic moved to a senior position at the King Edward Memorial Hospital laboratories (Perth) and worked there until 1994, retiring as Chief Technologist. 1963 was also the year that Vic was invited to join the Metro Chess Club. He has also given valuable administrative service to the Club over many years. Vic won the B Grade Club Championship in 1980 and 1986. Vic was made a Life Member of the Club in 1999.
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