William Henderson Winter

From the BCM 1937, page 206:

In William Henderson Winter, who died after an operation in a London nursing home on February 16, aged 78, the BCM lost a subscriber for many years, who had a complete file of the magazine, and the Hampshire C.A. a loyal supporter.

Born in Scotland, he was a member of the two universities, St. Andrew's and Cambridge, taking his M.A. degree at the former in Classics, at the latter in Mathematics (23rd wrangler), and had a successful career as private tutor in both subjects.

His only great hobby in life was chess, which he first studied seriously with H.E. Bird at Simpson's. He played regularly for Winchester, occasionally for Hampshire, and constantly represented that county in correspondence matches, generally winning his game. He sent off his last move in a correspondence game the day before he died; and his last coherent words were on the subject of chess, of which he was truly a devotee.

He was married to a sister of Sir James Barrie, and it was but a year ago that we had regretfully to record her death. Their only son was William Winter, the British Chess Champion for the past two years, who learnt the moves first from his father, and in whose successes that father always took the greatest interest and pride. To him we offer our sincerest sympathy.

Mr Winter was buried on February 25, in the cemetery at Medstead, near Alton, having had a house in that neighbourhood for over 40 years; and the tributes to his memory, both local and from elsewhere, were numerous and touching.

Notes:
The death of Mr Winter was wrongly reported in the BCM of 1932, page 331, with a retraction and apology on page 394.

Alan McGowan
Historian, Chess Scotland