David Spankie

Died: 11 August 1944, Dundee.

Member of Dundee Chess Club since 1894
Dundee CC Treasurer for 37 years

From the Courier and Advertiser, 8 November 1938, p. 6.

The Scotsman of Saturday, 12 August 1944, p 3:
Mr David Spankie, 92 Forfar Road, Dundee, who had the distinction of having been associated with the same firm for over 70 years, died at his residence yesterday. He was 84. As a lad Mr Spankie began his apprenticeship at £5 a year with the firm of Julius Salomon, merchants, Bain Square. He literally grew with the business and became its head. The main speciality was the manufacture of sailcloth. They also dealt in all local products, including flax and jute. In 1913 transferred the business to its present premises in Victoria Chambers. [1] Twelve years later his son, Mr Christian Spankie, became a partner. A keen chess player, Mr Spankie, when on a business trip to Germany before the last war, beat a German champion in Bremen. The latter was so annoyed at being beaten by a "foreigner" that he tossed away the pieces after the game. Mr Spankie competed in the Scottish Championship in 1914, losing by a point to W. Gibson, Glasgow. [Spankie was only a ½ point behind Gibson - AMcG]

[1] Peter W. Walsh, in The Story of Dundee Chess Club: Its Personalities and Games, points out that at the time of writing (1984), this was, coincidentally, the address of the Dundee CC.

Notes:
Mr Spankie was on the Dundee teams that won the Spens Cup in 1910 and 1922.
He also played in the Scottish Championship 1904.

Alan McGowan
Historian, Chess Scotland