Gravestone of ‘father of draughts’ restored

HISTORY: Game’s aficionados honour Scottish master James Wylie as gravestone in Fife given makeover

The Fife gravestone of a 19th Century “father of draughts” who travelled the world competing in the game has been restored to acknowledge his achievements.

James Wylie, a Scottish draughts champion, travelled as far afield as America and New Zealand, gaining international recognition.

He held the world title for more than 40 years, and was also nicknamed “the Herd Laddie”, as his earliest patron worked as a cattle farmer.

But after his death in 1899 in Glasgow, aged 80 years old, Mr Wylie was buried in Scoonie Cemetery in Leven and his grave fell into a state of disrepair.

When American draughts enthusiast Joe McDaniel visited to pay his respects in October 2017, he was shocked to see the headstone toppled over and split in half.

Along with the Scottish Draughts Association, a project began to restore the headstone – including listing Mr Wylie’s draughts achievements.

Mr McDaniel notified the Scottish Draughts Association to the plight of Wylie’s resting place, before John Thomson – a Leven stonemason – decided to help and the group resolved to restore the great player’s grave.

Now, the headstone stands proud in the cemetery, with Mr Thomson noting his status as a world champion.

Draughts enthusiast Christopher Reekie, a retired journalist who has followed the restoration project, said it was fitting that Wylie’s legacy lived on into the 21st Century.

Mr Reekie said: “The inscription places on record the amazing length of time that Wylie was world champion.

“He and other outstanding players put Scotland on the map in draughts.

“The game was popular among all classes over a long period.

“The Scottish contribution to draughts is not widely recognised among the public, but there is extensive literature on those times in the National Library of Scotland and the Mitchell Library.”

The secretary of the Scottish Draughts Association, Donald Oliphant, said: “I am delighted that the memorial is up again.

“Wylie is remembered and admired by draughts players everywhere.”

Born in Piershill, Edinburgh, in 1818, Mr Wylie moved to Kilmarnock after his father died during Army service in Ireland.

During his childhood he developed a passion for the game and competed in local competitions – beating players twice his age.

By the age of 30, he had won the world championship for the first time and held on to the title until 1894, apart from two brief spells when up and coming opponents got the better of him.

By the 1870s Mr Wylie began touring the world and was internationally recognised in the game.

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The stone’s inscription places on record the amazing length of time that Wylie was world champion. CHRISTOPHER REEKIE

Picture: SWNS. 19th Century Scots draughts world champion James Wylie, below, has had his gravestone at Scoonie Cemetery in Leven thoughtfully restored.