LAST Saturday a combined effort of former Polish junior chess champion Ella Vine, the chess community, with the support of Thurrock Chess Club and the White Hart pub in Grays raised £110 for a local accessible transport charity, Trans-Vol.
The charity chess simultaneous challenge meant that Ella played 14 games of chess at the same time for 5, 5 hours with players from the community, Thurrock, Basildon and Southend chess clubs. Ella won 9 games, lost 2, drew 2 and one game was unfinished. The event was visited by former Mayor of Thurrock, Tony Fish and a trustee of Trans-Vol, who has also played a game of chess with Ella.
Ella said: ‘’It was a really successful event with a good amount raised for a much-needed local charity. Everybody had a great time. I would like to thank Thurrock Chess Club for lending the equipment and the White Hart pub for support.
The simultaneous was a real challenge to me, as I haven’t played chess for quite a few years due to other commitments, but I have really enjoyed it and I hope to come back to Thurrock Chess Club. It was great to see new faces at the event and I hope that people will be joining the Club for regular games. The Club meets on Wednesdays in the hall of St. Thomas’s Catholic Church in Grays at 7.30 pm and on other days in other venues.
I’m so glad that we were able to raise funds and awareness about the charity, Trans-Vol, which provide transport to lonely, isolated elderly and disabled people in Thurrock’’.
Denise Cheeseman, Manager of Trans-Vol, said: ‘’I would like to thank Ella for her support, and gratefully receive the donation on behalf of our Charity. Donations such as this enable us to further our mission in bettering the lives of elderly, disabled, and vulnerable residents of Thurrock”.
