The Third Rook! Chess membership in turmoil after discovering its prized junior trophy has historic hyperlink to the Nazis
A chess club is in turmoil after discovering its prized junior trophy has historic links to the Nazis
Members of the Basingstoke Chess Club recently discovered their Silver Bishop trophy, which is awarded to winners of their Junior Chess Championships, has ties to the British Union of Fascists.
Now the Hampshire club is deep in talks over whether they should keep the eight-inch award after uncovering its murky past.
Secretary David Graham, 77, found out the tropy had been donated by Henry Drummond Wolff – an MP during the 1930s who had a strong connection to Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists.
Mr Graham, a retired systems engineer, said the revelation presented the club and its members with a huge ‘dilemma’.
He explained that ‘due to its links to fascism’ they debated whether to sell it to raise money.
He added: ‘When we found out its history it obviously raised a few eyebrows
‘None of us had even heard of the guy but I think it gave us all something to debate.
The Silver Bishop trophy (pictured) had connections to Henry Drummond Wolff – an MP during the 1930s who had a strong connection to Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists
‘Everyone I have spoken to has said we should keep it but if an offer came in then who knows?
‘If the Fahnestock family came up with a £10,000 offer then I’m sure people might be persuaded.
‘I don’t think it’ll ever happen but you never know.’
Mr Drummond Wolff, a keen chess player, presented the trophy to a champion player in the 1930s and it had remained in the club’s trophy cabinet for several years.
It was retrieved from the cabinet during the Covid pandemic and it was decided that it should be given to the winner of the Basingstoke Junior Chess Championship, which is a competition that runs every May for players aged 5 to 15.
But after the trophy was presented to one of the winners, the boy’s father noted faded writing that read that it was presented to Basingstoke Chess Club in 1935 by Henry Drummond Wolff MP.
The club, which dates back to the 1890s, was at the time based at the Conservative Club and it is believed that Mr Drummond Wolff was a keen player.
He was also a very wealthy man due to his grandfather, Sir Henry Drummond Wolff, who was a famous British diplomat in the Middle East.
Henry junior married Margaret Fahnestock, the daughter of a wealthy investment banker, in 1933, but soon started espousing controversial views.
Drummond Wolff hoped Germany’s Nazi-style government could be replicated in the UK and loathed socialist ideals.
He stepped down in 1935 but helped Oswald Mosley select a successor – Patrick Donner, another fascist.
Mr Wolff maintained business links with Nazi Germany and even had meetings with some of Hitler’s top advisers.
The trophy, which is awarded to winners of their Junior Chess Championships was discovered by club secretary David Graham (pictured)
But after the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Wolff and Donner modified their views, with the latter joining the RAF.
After the war, Wolff toured the world with his wife before dying in 1982.
Even though the former MP eventually turned his back on Nazism, the trophy is still a controversial item at the club.
Mr Graham added: ‘At the moment it’s just an interesting discussion piece that we’ll keep within the club. It’s certainly an interesting piece of history.
‘Everyone in the club has their views on it and how it should be used.
‘Chess is doing well at the moment and certainly came to the fore during Covid times as people were playing online.
‘Now people want to come out and play in person and have that social element of the game.’
