The Royal Beacon Seniors Congress – A Look Back and Forward.

As is generally known, the Royal Beacon Seniors Congress has been held at the hotel from the very beginning in 2000. That year, Stewart Reuben expressed the opinion that it was probably the first event of its kind in England. Since then Seniors events have sprouted up all over the globe. When FIDE made a move to split the category into 2 (a) 50 – 64 and 65+, Exmouth got in first and formalised its “Junior” section to fit into the same age parameters. This way, some of the youngest Seniors, to their great amusement, were able to go back into the Juniors for a year or two.

Since 2000 the hotel has been owned first by local businessmen, John Fowler and then George Nightingale, both happy to host a midweek event in the first week of November, not usually noted as a high point in hotel activity, even at the sea-side. Earlier this year, however, the hotel was acquired by the Robertson Hotel Group, who are proactive in generating a wide range of activities; weddings, Murder nights, naked body painting etc. (don’t ask!) and for a time it was feared that they might raise the room hire charge to an unsustainable level, as far as this event is concerned, as has happened to the WECU Easter Congress, which next year will be held down the road at the Manor Hotel.

I spent several sessions negotiating with the new local Events Manager, arguing the economic good sense of keeping things the same. At the last minute, the good news came through that our argument has won the day – for the time being at least. Therefore the 19th Congress will be held from Monday 5th November to Friday 9th November 2018 – all arrangements unchanged. As this year, the Torbay Congress will follow closely on.

Meanwhile, last but certainly not least, many thanks to all who made donations large & small to ensure the events viability in these uncertain times.