Vandeleur Benjamin Crake (1816-1894)

A retired lawyer, resident in Hastings, he was a Justice of the Peace and was associated with a wide variety of organisations in the town. Though not playing a great deal of chess himself, he was very proud of his position as the Club's first President. He carried out his role with dignity and sincerity which did much to establish the Club's pretige in its early days. He died on the 21st August 1894, age 78, whilst still in office.

Below are a couple of Mr V. B. Crake's games.

VB Crake - P Coles - Hastings CC handicap tourney, 1884

Source: Hastings and St Leonards News of 10.10.1884, which gives B-Q5 as Black's 35th move. The newspaper states at the end of the game, " And as time pressed and the game is about even it was, by mutual consent, given up as drawn. We are sorry, however, that so interesting a position was abandoned." The article tells us that the game was played 'last spring'. 1/2-1/2

HE Dobell - VB Crake - Hastings CC Captaincy Tourney, 1886

Source: Hastings and St Leonards News of 15.10.1886. Played 'last week'. 0-1

Taken from the minute book June 20th 1888.