LANDLORDS are all powerful within the domain of their pub. They can ban what they like: music, smoking, swearing, flower sellers, work clothes, children, pets, tattoos, pets with tattoos, extra terrestrials, Manchester United supporters. But chess?

"I was astonished when I was told that I was not allowed to play chess in The Maltings pub near Lendal Bridge," writes Roger Hall, from Green Lane, Acomb, York.

"I had arranged to meet a friend for a game over lunch. As I got there first I ordered a sandwich and set up my chess board and sat back to await my friend's arrival, eagerly looking forward to the game.

"When the barman brought the sandwich he told me I couldn't play chess as all board games were banned. I believe he said this was to prevent gambling.

"I was absolutely flabbergasted. Nobody gambles on chess. Why ban a mind-expanding, non-intrusive, harmless, intellectual game?

"This policy is totally ridiculous. I protested but got nowhere. I demanded my money back and left. I will not be back with or without a chess board!"

What is going on? Is the Maltings fearful of an influx of hardened chess addicts descending to blows after a dodgy deployment of the King's Indian Defence?

Nope.

"I think there has been a lack of communication between me and the staff," confesses landlord Shaun Collinge.

Card games of all sorts are outlawed because gamblers can "become rude and crazy". But people play backgammon at the Tanners Moat pub, and chess players are equally welcome.

Shaun sends his apologies to Mr Hall and says he would be delighted to see him in his pub complete with pawns, bishops and the rest.

Ker-plunk is still banned, though. "Too noisy," says Shaun.

NEAR silence has met the Diary revelation that St Peter's School's claim to be the oldest in York is built on highly dodgy foundations.

Research by Martin Lacy led him to conclude that his old school, Archbishop Holgate's, has the longest continuous history.

We reported this a week ago. But no one has contacted us with counter evidence. Either Old Peterites have realised that the number's up, or scores of them are even now bent over old scrolls trying to prove Martin wrong.

We have had two responses. The first came from our cartoonist Wolf, otherwise known as Richard Stansfield. He went to St Peter's as did his dad before him.

When Richard asked his dad, Leslie "Jumbo" Stansfield, which was the oldest school, St Peter's or Archbishop's, he was immediately told: St Peter's.

How did he know? "He said, 'we had a rugby match to decide, and we beat them'," Richard recalled.

Meanwhile another Old Peterite, Annie Wright, who now lives in Birmingham, is in touch about the contentious plan to close a public footpath on school grounds.

"You missed one shot in Thursday's Diary piece on St. Peter's School footpath," she emails. "The school motto is 'Super Antiquas Vias' - Over Ancient Ways."

WE are thrilled to learn York's oldest DJ has secured his first booking.

A while back Alf Redpath said he was ready to spin a selection of golden oldies at functions large and small. And tonight he's back in the groove. "My first booking is on Thursday at the Tramways Working Men's Club family disco for their 40 years celebrations," he says.

"By sheer coincidence it is 40 years since I first started as a DJ in York."

Updated: 09:20 Thursday, November 11, 2004