A history of the chess club, published in the 75th League anniversary issue of the Bristol Chesstimes in 1982.
Until recently, Little Thatch was known as Totterdown Y.M.C.A., one of the oldest chess clubs in Bristol, where organised chess is known to have been established in 1901. On formation of the Bristol and District Chess League, the club soon affiliated but folded soon after. The club was revived in 1919 and continued to take part in League competitions until 1934, when the club had to fold once again due to the departure from the district of a number of its stalwart members. However, the club was revived again in 1952 and has continued to take part in League activities since then.
Membership has always been recruited largely from Knowle and Totterdown, and in 1957 had a playing strength of 21.
Totterdown YMCA has at various times run two teams, depending on the size of the membership, with the A team oscillating between Division 1 and Division 2, and the B team, when in existence, occupying a place in one of the bottom two or three divisions.
Four years ago, the club moved its premises and changed its name to Little Thatch by which it is known today. The A team currently is involved in the Division 1 struggle, while the B team is competing in Division 4. The club appears to have an active membership and is consequently thriving. One of its members from earlier times, Ken Hillier, still occupies the Board 6 spot in the A team.
1997 postscript: in Summer 1983, Little Thatch moved to the "Happy Landings" pub and changed its name to Hengrove. Later, they merged with Whitchurch and moved to the Whitchurch Folk House; the name of the new club being South Bristol. - JR
History of South Bristol Chess Club
By Robert Radford
On the 15th May 1984, Hengrove Chess Club formerly known as The Little Thatch Chess Club, held their A.G.M. and discussed a possible merger with the Whitchurch Chess Club. Both clubs had stated a desire to merge. So of the16 member vote, it was 15 in favour and 1 member abstained. On the 5th June 1984 the newly merged Hengrove and Whitcurch Chess Clubs held an Extra Ordinary Meeting, where it was voted upon as to the new name of the club.(a) Bristol South (b) Hengrove and (c) Whitchurch and Nomads were failed votes, but after an amendment was put forward forward for motion (a) Bristol South, a vote of 8 for 6 against with 3 abstentions it passed in favour that the club would be called The South Bristol Chess Club, The committee membership in that first season was :
President ; D.Jarrett
Secretary : A.Dolling
Treasurer: R.Bagshaw
Club Captain: G.Miller
The club began with four teams and today the club though not so large in membership is financially sound and still has 2 teams in divison 2 and 3.
In 2006 the clubs vision of reaching out to a wider audience was realised when it went public on the world wide web. The clubs website address is www.freewebs.co./southbristolchessclub/
Only Robert Radford remains a member and was of those that met back on 15th May 1984, having been with Little Thatch since 1979.
Bob Bagshaw and Ken Hillier the 2 longest serving members of the club from the days of Totterdown Y.M.C.A. have now both retired from active chess in their later years.. I actually remember visiting the Whitchuch Chess Club just weeks after David Jones started it up in the early part of the 1980s little knowing that over 25years later it would still be going strong. I hope it continues for many years to come.
13th August 2007
