Ross Smith

@Carl_Portman Stay strong thinking of you both

Awful start to the day. One of my best mates passed away in the early hours. I am happy he is not in pain, but devastated to lose him. Then my wife has more chemotherapy later today and feels a bit yuk! Yet... My spirit remains on fire, and I refuse to be bowed.👊

@chessforumnyc So good to be connected with you @5asideCHESS 😊👍🏽🙏🏾

This is a link to the new 5asideCHESS film which shows 5asideCHESS in action in HMP Chelmsford. One of the Governors & the CM Safety explain how 5asideCHESS WingMAN initiative is helping change culture, breaking down barriers & reducing violence in UK. youtu.be/i_d7wcgXTmQ

@NPorter_ …and therein lies the problem with working with people at the top of organisations Natalie… waste of time.! Real change is bottom up.

Hoping we find out who the new prisons minister is today. This will be the 12th since I started working with prisons 7 years ago!

@PenVogler Did you try Hockings only in Devon - apparently only 2 people have the recipe 👌🏽 at any one time

This was fun to write and, errr… “research” (that is, to eat ice cream)

@Carl_Portman 😂

Dormeo beds advert. Hybrid mattress. Hilarious. 'Imagine wonderful sleep for the next eighteen years.' I can't even imagine it for a week. This, and how do they know that I will live for another eighteen years?

The Battling Suicide bus tour is coming to The Life Rooms Walton this Friday! The bus tours around the UK, stopping off in towns to offer a chat, cuppa and game of chess ♟️🤝 @5asideCHESS builds connections and fights loneliness. Come along from 11:30am - 2pm 💚

#JohnHealy #thegrassarena in @cafenero 23/11/23 of@course beat me at chess - he’s still got it. Then we had a nice chat with this wonderful lady … @5asideCHESS

#comment: Change is in your gift buff.ly/3uC5gi1

‘Cutting back on care funding, along with the bare minimum service that results once charities and their subsidies disappear, disrupts those relationships and offers a dismal prospectus for service users.’ theguardian.com/society/2022/n…

@adeleandmaddie @danscully8 @stateofmindsprt @ProfLAppleby @ProfAndySmith @samaritans @PAPYRUS_Charity @SJMcDonn @JR_MerseyCare @Prevent_Connect @HealthyNeighb @MHF_Oldham @AndyBurnhamGM @TheErwinJames coffee soon - north or south 👊🏽

@danscully8 @stateofmindsprt @ProfLAppleby @ProfAndySmith @samaritans @PAPYRUS_Charity @SJMcDonn @JR_MerseyCare @Prevent_Connect @HealthyNeighb @MHF_Oldham @AndyBurnhamGM I’ve had a few talks now with @Ro55HMD & team. The beginning of a plan is coming together. Watch this space. 😃

youtube.com/watch?v=1G6Exw… @stateofmindsprt @ProfLAppleby @adeleandmaddie @ProfAndySmith @samaritans @PAPYRUS_Charity @SJMcDonn @JR_MerseyCare @Prevent_Connect @HealthyNeighb @MHF_Oldham @AndyBurnhamGM how good is this?

@danscully8 @ProfLAppleby @stateofmindsprt @adeleandmaddie @ProfAndySmith @samaritans @PAPYRUS_Charity @SJMcDonn @JR_MerseyCare @Prevent_Connect @HealthyNeighb @MHF_Oldham @AndyBurnhamGM Thanks for sharing Danny and look forward to Friday

#Chess #grassarena

An absolute must watch, btw he had Coffee House Tactics, The Metal Mountain and The stress Above us published. A fine writer who never got his just deserves

@Carl_Portman A winner ... nice and hope all is good

I was Black. What was my move?

@Carl_Portman 🤷‍♂️😊🤔

I had this dream. I was stuck for 24 hours in a lift with Jon Speelman, Vassily Ivanchuk and Vladimir Epishin. It was an experience, I can tell you. 😳

Thanks for inviting us in. It’s great to see the impact @5asideCHESS is having inside. As you say, it’s breaking down barriers and helping smart guys see they have choices @HmpWayland @HMPErlestoke @HMPChelmsford @HMPPentonville @OfficialBerwyn @HMPHewellGov

"I came over to 18 people sat around watching 2 people play chess games - it was the quietest I've ever seen my wing!" This #InternationalChessDay, 2020 participant Jace speaks about the rehabilitative benefits of chess therapy in prison with @5asideCHESS and @schoolschess

Thanks to @lemontwittor for visiting the Battling Suicide Bus @flackstock on Monday. So many people came by for a game of 5asideCHESS and a chat. Sadly too many had messages to write on the Bus to loved ones lost to suicide. #checkonyamate #your1stmoveishello

@manwithbooks @manwithbooks yesterday #JohnHealy #TheGrassArena said In the name of the father was one of his all time favourites - trying to find it now 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

‘If I had to choose a best-in-show, the one that ticked every box, it would be In the Name of the Father, a film about the Met police fitting up a family, knowing full well they had the wrong people.’ theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2…

@Carl_Portman Thank you sharing this best news ever 🎈❣️

Forgive me. I just sent this around, and I simply had to share. Thanks to all of you for your love and support. We think it actually makes a difference! ❤️