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Irish Women's Champion 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956
Member of the Irish team at the European Women's Team Championship, Emmen 1957
Biographical sketch by Albert Long (Abridged)
Miss H. F. Chater came to Belfast to live with her nephew, Sir Eric Ashby, when he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Q.U.B. She joined the Belfast Chess Club in the season 1951-52, being first mentioned in the Minutes on 18/2/52, and although 78, attended regularly through all weathers, and entered all competitions including the Ulster Championship and the Ard Scoil Feis, in which she reached the Final, only being defeated by P. J. McMahon. She received the Silver Medal for 2nd place.
She came to Belfast with a high reputation in Ladies' Chess, having played several times in the British Ladies' championship with creditable scores.
She is the holder of the Royal Red Cross, presented to her at Buckingham Palace by George V in recognition of outstanding bravery, whilst performing her duty as a nurse, under enemy gun-fire from "Big Bertha" in 1918.
In 1953, she played in the Premier at Galway, and at the same venue was started the 1st Irish Ladies,' Championship, with a few entries. This ended with a tie between Miss Chater and Miss E. M. Cassidy (Leinster) which was subsequently decided later in 1953 by Miss Cassidy coming to Belfast and playing a series of games in Miss Chater's home at 16 Lennoxvale....
Miss Chater finally left Belfast to live in England, Sunday 6 July 1958.
Born Friday Friday 28 August 1874. Died Wednesday 27 November 1968 at 2 Westminster Court, St. Stephen's Hill, St. Alban's, aged 94.
Article in the Ireland's Saturday Night 28 January 1961 (Abridged)
The Ulster Chess Union has had a "problem" solved in an intriguing way. Owing to the growth of chess in the schools, a perpetual trophy was badly needed for the Ulster Schoolgirls, Championship. The problem got around among the fans, and was promptly solved by post from St. Alban's, Herts., by Miss H. F. Chater, for many years a well-known figure in Ulster chess, but now living in England.
She offered the Union £20 to buy a cup, or, as an alternative, an old silver salver which was a family heirloom. The Union chose the salver and Miss Chater had it cleaned and inscribed in London and sent to Belfast, where it so impressed the committee that they decided to have it valued for insurance purposes. And the value? £150.