Kingston members spend a fascinating weekend playing chess with the public at beautiful Ham House, next to the River Thames in Petersham, Surrey

The National Trust is evidently keen to offer more activities at its gorgeous historical properties. Thus it was that on the weekend of 8/9 August, a small group of Kingston Chess Club members took a giant-sized chess set and a few smaller boards, and set up in a well-shaded avenue of trees at the early 17th-century Ham House in Petersham, near Richmond, to demonstrate chess to visitors young and old.

There were lots of games being played on the nearby lawns – badminton, bowls, croquet – and the chess fitted in perfectly. The giant set, as usual, proved a great draw, with some tremendous battles between parents and children, Kingston’s “experts” chipping in occasionally to assist the latter. A lovely occasion in a perfect setting. Well done to Kingston club secretary Seth Warren and the National Trust for making it possible.

Stephen Moss is Kingston Chess Club captain