I was very fortunate as a boy to be given for Christmas a Lewis Chess set . It was my pride and joy. I loved the characters that made up the set. Somewhere, sometime in removals , the set went missing . I have no idea when or where. I recall looking for it thirty or more years ago and there was no trace of it.
About this time of year we put out the chess board and play a bit. I played at school and helped run the chess club at the school l retired from. I try to get my daughters to try Fairy Chess variants but they are less keen than I am . Anyway I decided to get a replacement, larger Lewis Chess set recently and there were some good buys on Etsy. It arrived the other day and I was delighted when I opened the parcel.Today we finally got it out and played with it. It brought back memories of my youth and also of enjoying playing with my daughters, the youngest is particularly keen. Here it is-
Odd that we only pull out the chessboard out around holidays too when the house is filled with guests.
ReplyDeleteWell I as also in a chess club as a boy (primary aged) at some ancient ladies enormous Victorian era house. I was never particularly good at it and although I can remember the basic moves, I have not played in thirty years (at least!) My Lewis Chess Set story is that I was given one that was runner molds, that you were supposed to fill with a plaster of Paris type compound....I think I probably did a few pieces, not even one of each type I don't think....and that was it. I still retain one chess link to the past....a Franklin Mint Battle of Waterloo set my mum purchased by subscription at one or two pieces per month over a year or so, when I was in my late teens from memory....should drag it out and do a post on it, actually!
ReplyDeleteYou should!
DeleteI’ll second that!
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
I learned the game of chess at 11 years old - from the old Bott and Morrison 'Chess for Children' book. Became obsessed with the game, something that stuck with me until my early 20s. Played in a few tournaments, but it was not until I went to Auckland University that I joined a club. No club nearer than 10 miles from where I lived as a kid.
ReplyDeleteMany decades later I discovered a copy of 'Chess for Children' in a second hand 'bring and buy', so I bought it - along with the companion volume 'More chess...' Nostalgia. But, apart from several games about 25-30 years ago on the giant chessboard in Christchurch Square, and a match-up with a Swiss traveller about the same time, I haven't played serious 'over the board' games since 1986 - South Island Champs 4W 2D 2L.
Now I play occasionally on the Gameknot site, no 'real time' stuff - don't have the patience - but more in 'correspondence chess' style. My monicker: 'archduke_piccolo'...
What killed my obsession with chess? War gaming...
Cheers,
Ion
Most interesting indeed.
DeleteI was never that serious l fear. I really enjoyed teaching the game to children and watching them becoming totally absorbed. I recall the headteacher popping into chess club and being amazed at the silence and the concentration, especially from some children who found their learning/ behaviour challenging in other circumstances.
Alan Tradgardland
Very nice! I picked up a Tafl game (branded as The Viking Game) from the history museum in Edinburgh after seeing the Lewis Chessmen there - a very fun variant on Chess that I sometimes break out for the chess club at work. I am still playing chess, because my boss makes me teach the kids.
ReplyDeleteI had a set of that in my youth, a great fun game l recall.
DeleteAlan Tradgardland
I love and covet those Lewis chessmen, they are works of art! Of course now that you have purchased a replacement set the "lost set" will turn up. :)
ReplyDeleteThey are great aren’t they. I am pretty sure the old one will turn up but you never know…
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland