History – South Shields Chess Club

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We have moved to The Customs House and no longer are playing at the New Ship.

We’re gathering the history of South Shields Chess Club, which has been active in the area for many years and played at several local venues.

Over the years, the club has played at places including the Marine and Tech College in the 1960s and 70s, then Mortimer Comprehensive School, and now meets at the Customs House. Original Annual General Meeting notes show the club was reformed in 1944, though it likely started much earlier.

The club once played a match against chess players from Wuppertal during their visit as part of a twin town exchange, though the score is unknown. A 1997 PhD thesis by John Richard Hind mentions a Young Men’s Institute formed in 1868 at St Hilda’s Church, which held a chess tournament in 1881—possibly the club’s origin. At that time, draughts was more popular locally, with players having their own room, while the reading room was kept quiet and free from draughts or talking.

A quote from the Daily Telegraph in 1895 captures the spirit of the game well:
“Men who have attained a high proficiency in Billiards, Chess or Draughts seldom utilize their skill in direction of mere money making. As a rule, they exert it for the honour and glory of achieving a victory that is mentally gratifying but materially unprofitable.”

If you have any stories, images, or anecdotes about the club, please contact us at chess@southshieldschessclub.co.uk. Your contributions are very welcome!

Club Established October 1866

The South Shields Chess Club held its first open chess night on Monday, October 1st, 1866, at the Mechanics Institute on Ocean Road, South Shields. This date is confirmed through the British Newspaper Archives, particularly an article in the South Shields Gazette that expressed hope for a strong turnout of both chess lovers and learners. The club also placed an advert promoting the event, which went on to become a regular bi-weekly gathering for many years. Over time, the club played at various venues including the Golden Lion Hotel on King Street (now the site of a former Marks and Spencer) and the Criterion Pub on Ocean Road.

Details about the original committee are scarce but expected to surface eventually. It is believed that the club’s first president was Mr. John Williamson JP, Alderman, and Major of South Shields during 1858-60 and 1868-69. Records mention a supper held after a chess evening at Deans House, where 19 men gathered. A portrait of Alderman Williamson can still be seen at the South Shields Museum.

Note: The word “muster” was commonly used back then, often referring to a gathering of men for battle—a term less familiar today. Another interesting old term from that era is “Wayzgoose.”

The Mechanics Institute building, opened in 1860, initially served an educational purpose before becoming home to the South Shields Public Library. When the new library opened in 1973, the building became the South Shields Museum. The building celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2010, and the Chess Club will mark its own 150th anniversary in 2016. Despite many changes and challenges over the years, chess has remained a popular and enduring pursuit in South Shields.

Club Reformed 1944

In our effort to piece together the history of South Shields Chess Club, we discovered that the club was originally established in 1866. From the book of AGM minutes—carefully preserved by current Treasurer Stanley Johnson—we also know the club was formally restarted on December 6th, 1944. The Toc H organization generously donated four pounds and offered the use of their headquarters at Talbot House in Westoe Village as the club’s base.

Exploring this history reveals many forgotten stories. Toc H began as a soldiers’ club on the Western Front during World War I and grew into an international organization dedicated to Christian fellowship, especially supporting servicemen during wartime. One can imagine how important such groups were to returning soldiers in South Shields after World War II. Although chess is often seen as a gentle pastime, playing well requires great dedication and concentration, and no doubt offered therapeutic benefits during those challenging times.

The first committee after the club’s restart included Mr. George W. Plater as Chairman, Mr. Arnold L. Friends as President, Mr. E. J. Hutton as Secretary, and Mr. J. E. Gibson as Treasurer. The very first open chess night was held on Wednesday, December 13th, 1944, with match nights on Wednesdays and Fridays. Subscriptions were set at 5 shillings. It’s interesting to note that the club is now celebrating over 70 years since this reformation.

Since then, the club has played at several venues around South Tyneside, including The Marine and Technical College, St Hilda’s Church, and the Ocean Road Community Centre. Currently, matches are held at the Customs House.

All the Presidents Men

While reviewing the minutes, we felt it important to honor the members who helped keep the club thriving over the years. Please bear with us as we work to complete this tribute, and apologies in advance to anyone we may have missed.

The first recorded AGM took place on December 7th, 1944. The minutes list the following key members:

President: Mr. Arnold L. Friends
Chairman: Mr. George Plater
Secretary: Mr. E. Hutton
Treasurer: Mr. J. E. Gibson

Additionally, four committee members were noted: Dr. R. G. Tate, Mr. J. Plater, Mr. F. Burnside, and Mr. J. P. Jobling. At that meeting, it was decided to set the subscription fee at 5 shillings and to hold two chess sessions per week on Wednesday and Friday evenings. Competition for free time was likely less intense then, unlike today with hundreds of TV channels and countless distractions pulling us away from the game.

Mr. Friends served as President until 1947, when he passed the role to Mr. J. C. Bishop, a respected local schoolmaster. Mr. Bishop remained President and later Chairman until around 1974.

Lance Oliver Circa 1955

A big thank you to Peter Locke, a member of South Shields Chess Club in the 1950s. We believe this photo was taken around 1955 or 1956. In the picture, Lance Oliver is receiving the club championship trophy, the Friends Bowl. To his right is Jack Bishop, who taught at the Boys Grammar School. Peter Locke is the tall, thin young man wearing glasses. Allen Bage is standing behind Lance, and E.R. Sanderson, wearing a scarf, is peeking through the gap. Also pictured is Mr. Hutton, the club secretary.

This photo brought back memories for Simon McGuinness, one of our long-standing members, who recalls occasionally playing chess with Mr. Bishop at The Vigilant. He also remembers Mr. Bishop as a keen pipe smoker.

Another player in the photo is Keith Lundy (far right), who went on to win the championship trophy in 1961.

Wuppertal Visit 1978

In the summer of 1978, the Wuppertal Chess Club visited South Shields as part of a twin town exchange. The Wuppertal team was exceptionally strong, made up not just from one club but a combination of players from several clubs in the area—making it almost like South Shields facing off against all of Yorkshire! Simon McGuinness played on third board against A.W. Helsburg but lost after 33 moves to a Dutch Defence. We believe Lance Oliver and Keith Dunmore played on boards one and two in what was a ten-board match. Unfortunately, the visitors dominated the event, winning 9-1—a tough game to forget!

If anyone has more information about this visit, especially confirmation of the players on boards one and two, please get in touch. We’d love to learn more.

Wuppertal Away Leg 1978

This photo was taken just before the trip to Wuppertal in 1978 and features both the South Shields football team alongside four members of the Chess Club.

A young Stan Johnson is leaning against the lamp post, with John Barnfather standing at the far left. Steve Gamsby, now playing in Berwick, is fifth from the left wearing a leather coat, and Dave Patterson’s head is visible third from the right at the back. The football team reportedly lost 4-0, and Stan recalls losing his chess match to an International Master. As for the other results—while we don’t know the details, with a bit of editorial licence, we’ll say the games were all close and that the home team just edged it.

South Tyneside Festival of Chess 1996

Maisie Stewart, Mayor of South Tyneside, officially launched the first Chesstival on March 28th, 1996. This month-long event began at Mortimer Road School and featured a simultaneous chess match with 25 players, led by Grandmaster Bogdan Lalić. The event was organised by Albyn Snowden, then headmaster of the school, with support from Charlie Storey. Albyn was passionate about promoting chess and aimed to make the school a Centre of Excellence for the game.

If anyone has photographs from the day, please get in touch with the club.

2008 British Championship at Liverpool

Stanley Johnson is pictured here receiving his trophy for winning the Minor (Under 100) section at the British Chess Championships held in Liverpool in 2008. Presenting the award is Maria Eagle, MP for Liverpool Garston—fittingly, a local representative for the host city.

150th Anniversary Events

To celebrate the remarkable achievement of our club’s long-standing presence in the community, we organised a series of special events. These not only marked our 150th anniversary but also helped raise the profile of chess across the Borough and beyond. The celebrations were a great success, attracting both new and returning members to our club and others in the region.

Planned 150th Celebration Activities:

One-Day Rapid Play Chess Congress
Simultaneous Exhibition Match
Community Roadshow Events, including the Westoe Fete

Whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned player, there's a place for you at South Shields Chess Club. Come along for a few games, meet friendly faces, and discover a community that loves the game as much as you do.