Chess Teacher Michael Basman 1946-2022

described as “in many ways the most important person in British Chess.” His reputation, chess books and unorthodox openings were well known and admired by many, including the hundreds of pupils he taught during his time at LEH.

Many alumnae will be sad to hear that Chess Coach Michael Basman, who ran the Chess Clubs at LEH Junior and Senior Schools for nearly 30 years, died aged 76 in October 2022.

An International Master, he created the UK Chess Challenge and was

Meena Santhosh, Class of 2006, who is Client Portfolio Manager at asset management company Robeco, said: “Mike spent his years ferociously advocating the merits of chess amongst Juniors, and was instrumental in giving me the confidence I needed to recognise and develop my strengths through the game. Having forged a career as an Investment Strategist, I owe a great deal to Mike in helping me develop the necessary skillset and unique traits needed for this.

“He was a bundle of positive energy for as long as I remember, and I had always looked forward to our chess classes at LEH on our Friday lunchtime breaks. He continued this unwavering support when I set up my chess club for Juniors in Surrey, with support from the LEH Alumnae Emerging Talent Award, mentoring me throughout. I will miss him deeply.”

Although he never achieved the rank of grandmaster, he defeated several holders of that title, and was a charismatic champion of the game. He wrote: “To be a winner you just need confidence, concentration, and the ability to learn – from books, videos, computers and your own defeats. Chess was once the game of royalty but is now open to everyone.”

Peggy Pinfold (Franklin) 1934-2022

glowing reports in French, German, Music and History, as well as prizes. In the U6 she received the Margaret Rochford Prize for being Deputy Head Girl, which is one of the prizes still handed out to current pupils at Celebration of the Year.

After leaving LEH, she studied at Birmingham University where she met husband-to-be Brian. They went on to have two daughters, Sue and Kathy. After qualifying as an infants’ teacher, she taught in several school in Ashford and Staines and was an active member of the local church, St Hilda’s, becoming the church warden before her retirement.

Peggy Pinfold, Class of 1952, passed away on Easter Monday aged 88. The sad news reached us shortly after her daughter Sue came in to LEH to donate Peggy’s impressive collection of LEH prize books to our archive.

Peggy, was a gifted student receiving

In later years she and Brian loved to travel. They were keen National Trust visitors, as well as enjoying trips further afield around Europe, including their favourite spot in south-west France. Peggy was quite the character and cut a familiar figure, nipping about town on her scooter. Her interests included crossword puzzles, baking and keeping in touch with friends and family, whose fond memories of Peggy include:

• Selecting routes that avoided having to turn right

• Claiming she was only resting her eyes, and wasn’t asleep (despite the loud snores)

• Being slightly optimistic at times on her fluency in French, and thinking nothing of launching into a complicated explanation about pickling walnuts

• Somewhat irrational dislikes of Greensleeves and Danny Boy

• Her inability to select tortoise mode on her scooter provided exercise for anyone foolish enough to try to accompany her. Indeed she has left her mark on one of the pillars at the back of the local church as she made a slightly too fast entrance.

It was Peggy’s request that anyone wishing to remember her make a donation in her name to Dementia UK.

Patricia Longmore, Class of 1950, who was also an LEH Governor in the 2000s died peacefully at home in May, aged 88, surrounded by her family and loving husband Professor Donald Longmore OBE.

Pat was the first of three generations to attend LEH. Having enjoyed her time here so much, she sent all three of her daughters – Annabel, Juliet and Susie – to the school, and then her granddaughter Charlotte Harris (daughter of Juliet), followed in their footsteps. Charlotte left in 2013 and went on to graduate from Edinburgh University having read Physics.

Aged just nine, Pat started at Burlington House, during the war, in September 1942. She always claimed that her father had written to the then Head, Miss Nora Nickalls, requesting a place at LEH but saying she was unable to travel in to sit the entrance exam.

Pat faithfully kept all school documents and correspondence from her time at LEH, including 24 school reports, and they make for interesting reading. School regulations at the time required pupils to wear a white frock for school functions and stated that ‘no pupil may attend school without a pocket for a purse and handkerchief’. The fees when Pat started at the school were £7 7s 0d per term with £1 1s 0d less per term for a second family member attending the school at the same time.