John White: Help for Hammersmith schools to start chess clubs

A guest post by John White, the PR Officer of the Hammersmith Chess Club

Hammersmith Chess was founded in 1962.

We meet most Monday nights at Lytton Community Hall near West Kensington Station. You can find more information on our website.

We welcome chess players of all strengths from beginners to strong experienced players. With over sixty members, our club reflects the cosmopolitan environment that is Hammersmith.

We are a very active club with participation in three different chess leagues, internal competitions, training evenings and special event evenings -all open to the members. Currently, we run eight chess teams giving all our members ample opportunity to play competitive games and gain an official chess rating.

The club is also active internationally with a visit to an Amsterdam chess club last June and a coming one to Cork in June this year. Indeed, later in the same month we will be hosting visitors from both clubs for a chess weekend in Hammersmith.

Last year we ran a chess event in Lyric Square in support of Hammersmith MIND that raised £400 for that very important organisation. We will be repeating the event on the 19th May this year, and hope to raise even more money. I must mention Helen Pinnington and the events team at Fulham & Hammersmith Council who have been tremendously supportive in this matter.

We strongly believe in chess as an educational aid that has been demonstrated to help children perform better, academically, at school. If any school in Hammersmith needs help with setting up a chess club or any advice please feel free to contact us,

If you have an interest in chess whether casual or serious, please come down to the club and pay us a visit. The first visit is free and the tea and biscuits are on us.