Eric Hallsworth
Personal Background
- Born November, 1942
- Educated at Manchester Grammar School. Though I passed
their Entrance exams as a 10 year old (through natural talent!?), my
laziness as a teenager, and preference for sporting pursuits, meant that I was
something of an under-achiever, to put it nicely!
- My first career was in insurance - I managed to pass exams
there but, after becoming an 'inspector' and also doing some University
lecturing on insurance, left to be involved in full-time Christian
Ministry.
- I am married to Christine (Chrispy) - we have no children,
but have always had a German Shepherd. Our present one is Sky - born in Nov.
1996 and 10 months old when we got her - she was discarded by her previous
owners as a no longer wanted Christmas present. We got her from a nearby German
Shepherd Rescue Centre, and she's very different to our previous dogs, being
blonde - a blonde bombshell!
- When, in the early 1980's, the finances in our
Christian work stopped managing to meet necessities, I started teaching
myself about computers, particularly in the field of chess-playing
machines. These were the early days when the best you could get were
computers like the old Fidelity Sensory8 or Morphy Encore for which
the advertised strength claims were well over the top. Sometimes I
think the gradings we show in 1999 remain a little optimistic, but I
think we're nearer the 2500-2600 figures claimed today than we were to
the 1800 figures claimed back then!
- I published the first Issue of my Chess Computer
Magazine in 1985... Chess Mag, and moved to Wilburton,
near Ely, Cambs in 1989 to work with Mike Healey at Countrywide
Computers.
Main interests include:
- Our Christian Faith which is very important
to both of us... I believe there is a God!
- Music - I love good old Rock 'n Roll (Elvis
Presley), the Blues (Bob Dylan, Robert Johnson), Trad Jazz (Sidney Bechet) and the
Classics (Tchaikovsky).
- Sport - Football (Manchester United... I
was raised in the Manchester area and used to go to Old Trafford week
in, week out.... until I got married!). So I had enjoyable 1999
celebrating the Treble. Chris and I are also keen American Football fans
- I support the Chicago Bears :-( whilst she chose the San
Francisco 49'ers 'cus she liked their name... and had been laughing ever
since until they started a major collapse in the early 2000's. We also used to have a local English team we liked to support,
the Cambridge Cats, who played around 6 to 8 games during the Spring and
Summer months. But the game is falling on hard times in Britain
- the cost of players' equipment, and the high risk of injury to men who
need to be fit to earn a living Monday to Friday are the biggest
problems.
- When we've exercised our dog (or is it the other way
round?), we're usually involved in a Church activity or preparation for
one. Relaxation is to enjoy an occasional glass of wine while
we catch up on some worthwhile reading, or watch a decent film or some
sport on the
TV/Video.
Index of related Christian information &
stories:
My Faith
I Believe there is a God
Chess in the Bible?! An Easter
Allegory... Chess in the Bible?
An Unusual Meeting...
Daniel's Story
An Easter Painting, one of my
famous Family Service sketchboard stories!
The Great Exchange
A set of fascinating One Line Bible verse messages,
designed to make you think...
Bible Answers
For more information, or a free Booklet,
write to: Eric Hallsworth, 45
Stretham Road, Wilburton, Cambs CB6 3RX, England, or e-mail...
eric@elhchess.demon.co.uk