Early Days
A Forest of Dean Chess Club was founded sometime in the second half of the 20th century and was originally associated with Rank Xerox in Mitcheldean. One of the earliest records from those days is from 1973 depicts Mr Portman presented the Wickstead Shield.
Records indicate that there may have been more than one club or group at the Xerox site as a 1974 article refers to Forest Rooks.
A 1984 image shows the presentation of a Junior award
Rank Xerox has a small museum based in Mitcheldean and past publications record the club’s events and presentations.The club was active in playing chess in North Gloucestershire throughout the latter part of the 20th century and became established as the Rank Xerox Chess Club when in 1995 it amalgamated with Ross Chess Club.
Several images from the 1990s and 2000s depict club members and presentations that took place
Into the Twentieth Century
The club continued to meet at the Rank Xerox Social Club premeses but changed its name to The Forest of Dean Chess Club. With the closure of the venue circa 2013 the club moved to a new site: Mitcheldean Library, where it met until 2023.
The Present Day
Forest of Dean Chess Club
The Forest of Dean Chess Club meets over the board at The Lamb, New Road, Mitcheldean GL17 0BX on Monday evenings from 7.00pm onwards. We compete in the North Gloucestershire League and welcome members of all abilities and interests. Membership is currently £10 for the whole year (juniors free). Activities include friendly matches, training, quickplay competitions and our own club championship: the Portman Cup . Come along for a couple of taster sessions with no obligation. And visit our online sites on chess.com and Facebook.
The playing area in The Lamb. Picture shows a cup match between Forest of Dean and Cirencester (Feb 2024).
Club members can play friendly games in the overflow room when a match is in progress in the main playing area.