When and where does the club meet?
During the league season we meet at the Merley Social Club, Harrier Drive, Merley. BH21 1XE from 7.15 pm until 11 pm on Wednesday. There are informal chess mornings on Friday at the Royal British Legion Club which can be accessed via Redcotts Lane and also West Borough, Thursdays from 9.45 am
How much is the subscription?
£35 per year
Are new members welcome?
New members of any playing strength are always welcome; please note juniors (under 18) must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
Does the club compete in leagues?
Yes, there are 7 teams in the Bournemouth & District Chess League and 3 in the Dorset County League
What is the playing strength of the club?
The club is one of the strongest in both the Bournemouth & District League and wider Dorset County League. If you click "Members" from the top menu, you will see the grades of players range from below 100 up to over 180
Are there internal competitions?
Yes, there is an All Play All tournament, and also a Knock-out competition; both count towards ECF grading. And at the end of each season a social evening includes a Handicap competition.
How do I get more information?
Please ask your questions through email: info@wimbornechessclub.org.uk
Our HISTORY
Over Way back in ‘78 over coffee at St John’s Church a few young blokes mentioned that they used to play chess. Some are now old blokes moving the pieces around at Wimborne Chess. We met at my home to try to remember the moves. Jim Fox, an early joiner, remembers one of my daughters telling another one to be quiet as we were playing chess. She replied very loudly ‘it’s our home so we can do what we like’. Jim is still somewhat scared if he meets my family. We decided to form a club.
We had a first match against Ringwood and lost 6-0.
Dodd Caines, an inspirational West Indian, was a founder member. He had aspirations for the club. He became secretary and publicity officer. In his enthusiasm he wrote to the House of Lords and challenged them to a match. He also wrote the Russian Embassy challenging them to a match. Neither happened.
The Red Cross hall was out first venue when we joined the league. Early members included a young banker, Mike Davidson, who was promptly made treasurer. After a season or two he disappeared, returning about 30 years later to become the club chairman. Early members included George Dodman and Phil Wallace who is club secretary and local grading officer.
Venues included:-
The Allenbourne School. Had to leave - the chairs were too small.
The Allendale Centre. Had to leave -they closed too early.
The Kings Head. Had to leave. John Turnbull, the treasurer couldn’t find space for a game in the tiny room allocated. The enterprising duty manager suggested a bedroom. John accepted and the next person to turn up was a woman. John has the unusual claim to have played with a woman in the bedroom at the hotel. Moves of the game are not recorded but frequently recalled, especially by John.
Martyn Adams became a keen member and teaching at the local Queen Elizabeth School encouraged some excellent young players. He ran an evening club on Friday evenings. This was called the QE Chess Club, But open to Wimborne members. Later the two clubs united.
The Dormers Hotel (now he Olive Branch) was an ideal venue. They had plans to redecorate the upper room and we had to leave.
We moved to the Royal British Legion. The premises were suitable but the noise from the bar didn’t help. Many of us became members. We had to sign up and agree to keep the rules. They asked if we had served in the forces. Arvids, one of our members replied ‘yes but does it matter which side you were on?
We had to leave the Legion because of the noise from the bar and a particularly loud barmaid who clearly didn’t like us. The stories she told and the juicy gossip resounded round the hall and was far more exciting than the Queens Gambit. Graham Willetts joined us at this time and inspired us to move on and aim higher.
The next venue was the Conservative Club. This caused anguish and horror to some members who refused to pay homage to Maggie Thatcher. They sat with their backs to her photo. Then the Con Club closed.
At this time the excellent Oakdale Chess club decided to close and we welcomed some of their players including Ian Clark and Steve Culleton. Ianwith Martin Simons of Southbourne, continued to be the inspiration of Dorset Chess. Ian manages the top end of the club.
This time we went back to the Dormers. The management were very welcoming but if they got a better booking we were turned out into the restaurant, playing among the diners.
The next venue was the Coach and Horses. We played in the bowling Alley. But if they had a booking, we had to play in the pub a delightful place but without a section for serious chess. The log fire was a delight and some of us didn’t bother to play chess.
The Con Club had by now become a Weatherspoons pub, named ‘The Man in the Wall’. We were offered the first-floor room and we had a good season there. Then health and safety hit us. Weatherspoons decided we weren’t safe upstairs. We moved to the restaurant below and they saved us a small room. It wasn’t big enough and some of us had to play among the happy eaters and drinkers. Very jolly, but not chess, especially as happy drinkers would give us advice and move a piece or two for us.
We then tried the White Hart in the Cornmarket. Again, mixing with the happy customers didn’t please serious players.
So, we moved to the Coach and Horses again and played in the bowling Alley. A familiar problem arose. If they took a booking we were bowled out and had to play in the bar amongst the pool squad and diners. Serious chess players with no sense of humour didn’t like it.
The next venue was the Scout Hut. Did well for a while but not an ideal place.
So, we moved to the Football Club. At this time the club was probably had its largest membership, with 6 or 7 teams. We didn’t drink enough and we were gradually elbowed out.
At last we found our present premises at The Merley Social Club. Probably the best venue yet.
In between these wanderings, we had a spell at the Town Hall. However, the large rectangular table in the committee room meant that only those with long arms could administer a back-rank mate so we left.
In 2004, Phil Taylor (later to be Phil Taylor-Bowd) joined us and set up what we believe was the first club web site in Dorset.
A feature of the club over the years has been the excellent fund raising, especially by John George.
Another highlight is our annual Christmas dinner.
So, we’ve moved a lot, had a visit from the Mayor, raised over £1000 for Naomi’s House, played two simultaneous matches against top national players, tasted a lot of Merlot and enjoyed ourselves.
But we never played the House of Lords and are still waiting a reply from the Russian Embassy.
We had a first match against Ringwood and lost 6-0.
Dodd Caines, an inspirational West Indian, was a founder member. He had aspirations for the club. He became secretary and publicity officer. In his enthusiasm he wrote to the House of Lords and challenged them to a match. He also wrote the Russian Embassy challenging them to a match. Neither happened.
The Red Cross hall was out first venue when we joined the league. Early members included a young banker, Mike Davidson, who was promptly made treasurer. After a season or two he disappeared, returning about 30 years later to become the club chairman. Early members included George Dodman and Phil Wallace who is club secretary and local grading officer.
Venues included:-
The Allenbourne School. Had to leave - the chairs were too small.
The Allendale Centre. Had to leave -they closed too early.
The Kings Head. Had to leave. John Turnbull, the treasurer couldn’t find space for a game in the tiny room allocated. The enterprising duty manager suggested a bedroom. John accepted and the next person to turn up was a woman. John has the unusual claim to have played with a woman in the bedroom at the hotel. Moves of the game are not recorded but frequently recalled, especially by John.
Martyn Adams became a keen member and teaching at the local Queen Elizabeth School encouraged some excellent young players. He ran an evening club on Friday evenings. This was called the QE Chess Club, But open to Wimborne members. Later the two clubs united.
The Dormers Hotel (now he Olive Branch) was an ideal venue. They had plans to redecorate the upper room and we had to leave.
We moved to the Royal British Legion. The premises were suitable but the noise from the bar didn’t help. Many of us became members. We had to sign up and agree to keep the rules. They asked if we had served in the forces. Arvids, one of our members replied ‘yes but does it matter which side you were on?
We had to leave the Legion because of the noise from the bar and a particularly loud barmaid who clearly didn’t like us. The stories she told and the juicy gossip resounded round the hall and was far more exciting than the Queens Gambit. Graham Willetts joined us at this time and inspired us to move on and aim higher.
The next venue was the Conservative Club. This caused anguish and horror to some members who refused to pay homage to Maggie Thatcher. They sat with their backs to her photo. Then the Con Club closed.
At this time the excellent Oakdale Chess club decided to close and we welcomed some of their players including Ian Clark and Steve Culleton. Ianwith Martin Simons of Southbourne, continued to be the inspiration of Dorset Chess. Ian manages the top end of the club.
This time we went back to the Dormers. The management were very welcoming but if they got a better booking we were turned out into the restaurant, playing among the diners.
The next venue was the Coach and Horses. We played in the bowling Alley. But if they had a booking, we had to play in the pub a delightful place but without a section for serious chess. The log fire was a delight and some of us didn’t bother to play chess.
The Con Club had by now become a Weatherspoons pub, named ‘The Man in the Wall’. We were offered the first-floor room and we had a good season there. Then health and safety hit us. Weatherspoons decided we weren’t safe upstairs. We moved to the restaurant below and they saved us a small room. It wasn’t big enough and some of us had to play among the happy eaters and drinkers. Very jolly, but not chess, especially as happy drinkers would give us advice and move a piece or two for us.
We then tried the White Hart in the Cornmarket. Again, mixing with the happy customers didn’t please serious players.
So, we moved to the Coach and Horses again and played in the bowling Alley. A familiar problem arose. If they took a booking we were bowled out and had to play in the bar amongst the pool squad and diners. Serious chess players with no sense of humour didn’t like it.
The next venue was the Scout Hut. Did well for a while but not an ideal place.
So, we moved to the Football Club. At this time the club was probably had its largest membership, with 6 or 7 teams. We didn’t drink enough and we were gradually elbowed out.
At last we found our present premises at The Merley Social Club. Probably the best venue yet.
In between these wanderings, we had a spell at the Town Hall. However, the large rectangular table in the committee room meant that only those with long arms could administer a back-rank mate so we left.
In 2004, Phil Taylor (later to be Phil Taylor-Bowd) joined us and set up what we believe was the first club web site in Dorset.
A feature of the club over the years has been the excellent fund raising, especially by John George.
Another highlight is our annual Christmas dinner.
So, we’ve moved a lot, had a visit from the Mayor, raised over £1000 for Naomi’s House, played two simultaneous matches against top national players, tasted a lot of Merlot and enjoyed ourselves.
But we never played the House of Lords and are still waiting a reply from the Russian Embassy.
Useful Links
English Chess Federation: https://www.englishchess.org.uk
Dorset Chess: https://www.dorsetchess.co.uk
Bournemouth Chess Club: http://www.bournemouthchessclub.org.uk/p/home.html
Poole Chess Club: https://poolechessclub.org.uk
Chess & Bridge Shop: https://shop.chess.co.uk
English Chess Federation: https://www.englishchess.org.uk
Dorset Chess: https://www.dorsetchess.co.uk
Bournemouth Chess Club: http://www.bournemouthchessclub.org.uk/p/home.html
Poole Chess Club: https://poolechessclub.org.uk
Chess & Bridge Shop: https://shop.chess.co.uk