A FORMER student has donated several chess sets to a school's rapidly growing chess club. 

William Howard School thanked former student Sam McStay for donating six extra sets to its chess club which has been rapidly growing since its creation and recently hosted a record attendance.

The school's club, which was created by teachers Jim Conolloy and Holden Davis, has also been gifted other sets such as a 'beautiful' glass set and an outdoor set as well as a Japanese set that features hand-painted pieces.

Writing on social media, the school said: "After the request for extra chess sets was sent out a fortnight ago, Mr Connolly and Mr Davis would like to thank the William Howard community for their tremendous generosity.

"As well as a beautiful glass set and a giant outdoor set, which is perfect for teaching chess techniques, we have been gifted a hand-painted set with pieces based on historical Japanese characters.

"Special thanks must go to Sam McStay, an ex-William Howard Student who joined the school in 2005 and remembered playing chess with Mr Connolly through his years here.

"Sam donated six new chess sets to the club and students began enjoying them for the first time this week."

For Holden, the school's chess club provides students with several benefits in and outside of the classroom from social skills to patience and concentration.

Speaking previously, he said: "You get so many of the kids making new friends at the club and it encourages the kids to get involved with the chess - it is a great way to bond with others and that has been great to see. 

"One of the biggest reasons we like to push the chess club is because it also has huge benefits towards patience, concentration, social skills, impulse control, and it teaches the kids about consequences.

"These skills not only translate into chess but also into their wider lives."