I tend to believe that many experts indeed vote for their mates & award those people who are influential and can potentially serve as valuable connections. 
 
However, there is also an issue of stereotypes and branding. For example, let's consider an imaginary situation. Four authors have released new books. They are Kasparov, Polgar J., Gormally and Arkell. Regardless of the quality of the books, who of them do you think are more likely to make it to Stage 2 of any voting procedure (two candidates proceed, two are eliminated)?  
 
I believe it has less to do with being private schooled or not and more to do with the strict hierarchy in the minds of the chess community members, where any 2700 is "better" than any "2600" and so on. Even in areas that are not directly related to being a good player, e.g., in chess writing.

http://pogonina.com

Yes, Danny Gormally is being paranoid, but there is nothing new there. I have glanced through a copy of Keith Arkell's book and, although I intend to procure a copy myself (and I don't buy utter crap), I wouldn't consider it a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination. I suspect Jonathan Hawkins omission is more serious. Unfortunately I haven't seen the tome myself, but I have only heard good things about it. Oh, by the way, I am privately educated, which I hope still entitles me to express an opinion...

No comment, on the grounds that 
AQUILA NON CAPTAT MUSCAS

Nobody is "entitled" to abuse, attack personally or treat anyone like **** on internet. This aint like jr. High skeeewL  
 
But its internet; so... yeah.  
I could be wrong. 
Its all good, Life can be boring sometimes... ^_^ 
 
Have a nice day/night! 0_x

Nigel Short's curmudgeonly prattle against a book which he even admits to not having read is exactly the attitude which Danny Gormally is complaining about.  
 
Let us instead turn our attention more profitably to the glowing tributes of those who have actually bothered to read 'Arkell's Odyssey' - Keith's extraordinarily delightful and gripping autobiography. Check out the glowing reviews on Amazon UK, or on the English Chess Forum. Or reviews in the English Chess magazines by respected contributers such as Andrew Farthing and Gary Lane. 
 
It is only a pity that the book hasn't been circulated better overseas. It appears that, for example, 'Chessbase', 'New in Chess' and 'Chess Cafй' are oblivious to it's existence.

Arkell's book is crap anyway. Why aren't i in it?

GM

Please can someone remove the above comment(number 6). It was written by a certain Matthew Wilson, in bad taste, knowing that miss Blackburn and myself had a difficult and unresolved falling out a few years earlier. 
 
Please also remove this comment, of course! 
 
Thanks 
 
Keith