Parliamentarians take on HMP Wormwood Scrubs

Former Justice Secretary Alex Chalk of the Parliamentary Chess Team. Photo credit: Andy Aitchison.

CSC has been running a chess club at HMP Wormwood Scrubs for several years. In that time, we’ve had several notable visitors, including Woody Harrelson and Warinder Juss MP, who have enjoyed taking on the prisoners in friendly games in the wings.

Recently the chess turned a bit more serious as the Parliamentary Chess Team paid a visit to play a match against the members of our chess club. Nine Parliamentarians took part, including former Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, Baroness Miller, Lord Carter, Lord Wigley and Warinder Juss MP. The played a series of games against 16 prisoners, in a match that was intense and competitive, but still played in an excellent spirit. The prison staff were encouraged to join in and even the Governor, a great supporter of our work, was spotted playing a few moves. It was a great display of how chess can lead to greater socialisation and offer prisoners a break from their normal routines.

The final score remains within the walls of Scrubs but reports suggest the Parliamentarians just edged it. What is certain that everyone - prisoners, prison staff, and visitors - all really enjoyed the experience and are already talking of a rematch.

Our huge thanks to Peter Sullivan and his team of tutors and volunteers for all their work at HMP Wormwood Scrubs and for helping to arrange this great event. We look forward to hearing about the club’s continued success.