Wokingham

A gaming club has proved a hit at Winnersh Wokingham Library and is looking to expand its membership.

The Winnersh Gaming Club, at which members play popular strategy and tactics simulation war games, was launched last year thanks to the enthusiasm of a group of teenagers and the help of library staff.

Chris Smith, 18, a pupil at The Forest School, Wokingham runs the club, which has now established a regular membership of 15 to 20 who meet twice a month on Saturday mornings and is looking to attract more members.

Chris said: “The game makes you think quite a bit and, if you want to get good at it, there are a lot of tactics and strategy to learn. The club has been doing very well, but we need more members now and it is the more the merrier really. It is a good hobby and great fun with a lot of things involved.”

Wokingham District Council library service helped launch the club with a £200 grant and library staff help Chris run its sessions. The simulation games played at the club (Lord of the Rings, Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000) involve players making strategic and tactical military decisions to compete against one another using small figures representing armies. Players not only take part in the game but also paint the figures as well.

Elizabeth McDonald, Wokingham District Council’s children’s librarian, said: “The games are very strategy based – like a modern version of chess – and it is great fun. They are also a good way to get teenage boys into the library, which is an important aim for us, and we do have a rule that everybody who comes must borrow one book from the library. Some of the members are brilliant at painting the figures and are very creative and they use our books, computers and internet too.”

The sessions cost £1, which is used for buying more gaming equipment, and those going along do not need to provide anything themselves or have any experience. The club is open to anybody aged 12 and older.

Wokingham District Council