Bridge and Chess Club celebrate 50 years at Maydene

The club’s history is intertwined with that of Charles Henshaw, a passionate Bridge player who, in 1974, sold the lower portion of his home to the Bridge club.

Mr Henshaw was also a very able chess player and made provision for Basingstoke Chess Club.

With an extension added, Maydene became one of the region’s premier venues for Bridge and Chess.

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The arrangement has remained unchanged for decades, with Bridge played on weekday evenings and Chess on Wednesdays.

Both clubs have flourished, with the Bridge Club now boasting more than 250 members and the Chess Club having a steady stream of adult and junior players.

With an increasing membership, plans were formed to extend the main playing area, effectively doubling its size. These were accepted by the council and works start soon.

The clubs have a rich history, with the Basingstoke Chess Club tracing its roots back to 1898 when the Silver Rook trophy was first awarded.

The Silver Bishop was provided by local MP Henry Drummond Wolff in 1935 when the club played at the Conservative club. This trophy is currently the prize for the Basingstoke Junior Chess champion.

An individual who did more than anyone for Basingstoke Chess Club was the late Joe French, club secretary for 40 years. He will always be remembered for his amazing work in running the junior section and a trophy in his memory is awarded to the Basingstoke Individual Champion.

The efforts of Joe French were noticed and coupled with the excellent Maydene venue Basingstoke Chess Club were awarded English Chess Federation Club of the Year in 1992. 

In recognition of being provided with Maydene as a venue the Chess club also have a trophy played for annually named the Charles Henshaw Shield.

The Bridge Club has also played a significant role in the local community, offering a variety of sessions for players of all levels.

It has a full involvement in county and national competitions.

With events every weekday and games ranging from beginners to a competitive club standard, there is something for everyone.

The landscape of Bridge has changed a lot since the early days at Maydene. Back then, scoring was on slips of paper that were taken away and entered on a chart. 

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With a sense of anticipation, players saw the results the next time they played. Nowadays there are gadgets, scoring is instant and the website contains details of every score and deal.

The players have changed less. Individuals come and go, and some have given loyal service over decades.

But there is always a sense of community, of like-minded people enjoying a friendly social occasion, and sharing enthusiasm for a fascinating card game.