Hammersmith Chess Club

Our Beginners’ Officer, Jenny Mulholland, is standing for election as a Gold Members’ Representative on the English Chess Federation Council.

If you are an ECF Gold member, you should recently have received details of how to vote. We are delighted that Jenny has put herself forward and hope Hammersmith members will take a look at her candidacy.

Since joining Hammersmith, Jenny has become one of the club’s most enthusiastic volunteers. She joined the committee, launched our weekly adult beginners’ sessions, helped organise a range of outreach events, and has been a passionate advocate for making chess welcoming to newcomers and to communities that have traditionally been underrepresented in the game.

Away from the board, Jenny brings extensive experience in public service, governance and safeguarding. She recently completed eight years as a Camden councillor, is a founding member of Yas Queen! Chess Club, serves as Deputy Safeguarding Officer for the London Chess League, and has a long record of volunteering, community engagement and charity work.

Jenny says:

“I love being part of Hammersmith and have thrown myself fully into the club since joining as a member. I’ve joined the committee and helped kickstart a new weekly session for adult beginners which has proven very successful. I’m full of energy and enthusiasm for chess and getting more people into the game, and I’d love the opportunity to bring that same energy to the ECF Council.”

We wish Jenny every success in the election.

Read all candidates’ statements here: https://www.englishchess.org.uk/gold-members-representatives-2026-election/

After nearly 14 years as a member of Hammersmith Chess Club, I believe the answer is clear.

What makes this club special is not just the chess. It is the spirit of the place.

It is the sense of ownership that members feel: this is their club. It is the camaraderie — the way Hammers support one another, compete together, and take pride in each other’s successes. It is the welcome we offer, creating a safe and friendly environment where people come not only to play chess, but also to make friends.

Our club reflects London, and especially Hammersmith and Fulham, at its best: diverse, open, and outward-looking. We build friendships beyond our own walls, and even beyond our own city. Our recent trip to Lübeck was a perfect example of that spirit in action.

We are also ambitious in what we offer. We actively support women’s chess, girls’ chess, juniors, beginners and improvers. We innovate. We bring in outstanding guest lecturers. And we are fortunate to have a superb venue in which all of this can happen.

All of these things are part of our DNA. They define who we are.

But none of them happens by accident.

At the heart of Hammersmith Chess Club is one thing above all else: our volunteers.  The trainers, captains, committee members and helpers who give their time, energy and expertise so generously.

People such as Adam, Ana, Jenny, Sarah, Gaston, David, David, Christof, Nadim, Tom, Tom, Richard, and many others contribute enormously to the life of the club. They step forward, take responsibility, and make things happen. They do so not for reward, but because they believe in the club and want to see it flourish.

That, more than anything else, is what makes Hammersmith Chess Club so special.

Now that we are a charity, our ambition is greater than ever. We want to do more, and to do that, we need more volunteers.

So if you can help, please get in touch at jdrw9591@gmail.com.

You could become a captain, help with one of our classes or club sessions, support an event, or simply bring fresh ideas. However you choose to contribute, you will be helping the club continue to grow and evolve.

Our immediate need is for the Community Event in Ravenscourt Park on 18 July 2026, where Hammersmith Chess Club will have a stand. If you can help, please check the WhatsApp poll and put your name forward.

Many hands really do make light work.  More importantly, they help build the kind of club we all want to belong to.

So this is a call for Hammers to assemble.

Join the team.

John White
Events Officer

All members are warmly invited to attend.  The General Meeting will be followed by a blitz tournament including our guests from Lübeck!

The committee for the coming year is:

• Adam Cranston – Chair
• Christof Brixel – Treasurer
• Dave Lambert – Secretary
• Gaston Franco – Club Captain
• Sarah Ewart – Membership Secretary
• David Steyn – Webmaster
• Richard Thursby – Deputy Webmaster
• Tom Townsend – Junior Officer
• Jenny Mulholland – Beginners Officer
• John White – Events Officer
• Anastasija Royce – Diversity Officer
• Tom Rendle – Advisor

We are particularly delighted to welcome Jenny, Sarah and Richard who have all recently joined the committee. Fresh ideas and new volunteers are vital to the success of the club, and we are extremely grateful that they have stepped forward to help.

Hammersmith Chess Club has always depended on the generosity of its members. Every coaching session, junior activity, league match, social event, website update and administrative task happens because volunteers give their time and expertise. As the club continues to grow—and now that we are a registered charity—that support is more important than ever.

Whether you can spare a few hours each month or are willing to take on a larger role, your contribution can make a real difference.  We would love to hear from you.

 

Twenty-two members of Hammersmith Chess Club travelled to Lübeck last weekend to renew a friendship that began seven years ago when a group from Lübeck Chess Club visited Hammersmith during our summer season at the Albion. We always intended to return the visit, but the pandemic intervened. This year, we finally made the journey.

Lübeck Chess Club proved a wonderful host. Founded more than 150 years ago, it has over 200 members, thriving junior sections, around 20 teams and its own dedicated clubhouse—making it a club with much in common with Hammersmith.

Our travelling party reflected the breadth of our own club: juniors and adults, competitive players and social members, parents and supporters alike.

The weekend began with a Friday evening blitz tournament, won by Tony Niccoli ahead of Peter Finn, followed by a rapid tournament on Saturday, won by one of Lübeck’s talented junior FMs. Temperatures climbed above 37°C, making the playing hall almost as challenging as the opposition! The planned long-play match was sensibly abandoned because of the heat, but an excellent barbecue hosted by our Lübeck friends ensured the afternoon was no less enjoyable.

Sunday was devoted to exploring Lübeck itself—a beautiful Hanseatic city and well worth a visit. As always, however, the lasting memories were not only of the chess but of the friendships renewed and new ones made.

The exchange continues this weekend when our Lübeck friends visit London. They’ll be joining us for a friendly match on Friday evening, attending ChessFest on Sunday, and taking part in our club blitz tournament on Monday 13 July.

Members are hereby given notice that a General Meeting of Hammersmith Chess Club will take place at the Mindsports Centre on Monday 13 July 2026 at 7.30pm.

A important milestone in our history, this will be the first General Meeting of Hammersmith Chess Club as a registered charity.

It marks the next stage in our evolution: strengthening our foundations, widening our community role, and continuing to build a club that is about more than the game itself.  Now with charitable status, we have the opportunity and responsibility to carry that vision further.

The agenda will be:

1. Annual report of the Club, including our finances up to 19th April 2026;

2. Outlook for the next year, our first full year as a charity.

All members are warmly encouraged to attend and take part in shaping our next chapter.

 

Hammersmith Chess Club will be taking part in a community event in Ravenscourt Park on Saturday 18 July, where we’ll be flying the flag for the club and showcasing the joys of over-the-board chess to the wider public.
It’s a great opportunity to promote the club, meet local people, and perhaps inspire a few future Hammers.

To make the day a success, we’d love as much support as possible:
● Meet at the Mindsports Centre at 10.00am
● Transport and set up equipment in the park from 11.00am
● The event opens to the public at 12 noon

How you can help:
● Gazebo – if you can lend one for the day, please get in touch.
● Transport & set-up – help moving and assembling the kit in the park.
● Play & engage – take on members of the public and help run the stand.
● Blindfold players wanted – if you can play without sight of the board, we’d love to show off your skills!

A car may not be needed, but extra hands definitely will be.  If you can help in any capacity, please email John White at jdrw9591@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Let’s make this a strong Hammers presence in the community.

john White, Events Officer

June is LGBTQ+ Pride month, and with diversity and inclusion at the very heart of Hammersmith Chess Club’s ethos, we are very excited to celebrate with a big team tournament on Monday 15th June (7.30pm at London Mindsports Centre).

Entrants will be assigned a colour of the rainbow Pride flag and placed on an appropriate board in a team of 8 players. All players in the team should dress in this colour, and each team will play 5 rapidplay matches against other teams. The winning team will all receive Hammersmith rainbow t-shirts!

These t-shirts will also be available to purchase on the night.

The tournament is completely free to enter, but numbers are limited, so only those registering in advance will be able to play. It will be open to players outside the club, but Hammersmith members registering before Sunday 7th June will be given priority.

Games will be rated, so it is a requirement to be ECF-registered to take part. Please sign up here: https://forms.gle/k8XfcGC8hUv8TWF86

We look forward to a fantastic evening!

Adam Cranston & Jenny Mulholland
Club Chairman & Beginners’ Officer