By profession a teacher, Charles Sherrard was also a leading British amateur player. In 1902, he took a position in Cairo and played occasional tournaments when on leave in the UK. He died suddenly of typhus in 1906.
"Mr G.E.H.Bellingham writes to us:
It is with deep sorrow and regret that I pen these lines to the memory of Mr. C. H. Sherrard, whose recent death in Cairo, deprives me of a devoted friend and British chess of one of its strongest players. It is fifteen years since we first met in Worcestershire matches and tournaments, but throughout our friendship he was always kind and courteous, invariably displaying a charm of manner and sympathy that endeared him to all his fellows. He was the soul of honour and an ideal opponent, whose marked ability commanded sincere respect. He loved the game, and in victory or defeat he sustained the best traditions of an English gentleman. His leisure time he devoted to chess, and his name was rarely absent from any of the important British Tournaments. He competed at Craigside, Llandudno, Hastings, Southampton, Salisbury, Birmingham, Norwich, Clifton, Bath, Plymouth and Southport, the records of which all bear witness to his prowess. His last performance at Southport, where he tied for second prize, stamped him as one of the very finest British players.
Mr Sherrard was engaged in the scholastic profession, and was Master of Arts of London University. A few years ago he was Mathematical Master at Bath Grammar School, holding recently a similar appointment at the Koptic School, Cairo. The present month was fixed for his vacation, during which he intended taking part in the Tournaments at Ostend and Shrewsbury, and his many friends looked forward to his coming amongst them. Alas! it was not to be, and poor Sherrard sleeps in a strange land, his name but a memory of happy days, of ineffable courtesy and good-fellowship." 1
Career highlights:
1893 second board for Kent in county matches
1898 5th= with Rev John Owen at Craigside
3rd = Llandudno
1902 beat Rudolf Rudolf Loman 4-1 in a match 1902 and then went to Cairo to work
1905 2nd= Southport
Sherrard was planning to play his first master tournament at Ostende just before his death 2
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1 Obituary in British Chess Magazine 1906, p.287-288.
2 "Falkirk Herald", Wednesday 13th June, 1906, p.8.
Kibitzing
