TTT30 Spring 2023

Which perhaps was not a bad thing? Both Karenza and I had been up to our necks in table tennis for many
years and maybe we needed to find new interests. As you read this you might well agree! If you have followed
Karenza’s playing career and my involvement with the players, you may be really fed up with reading about
tournaments and the long lists of results. And so, with the exception of a few more meetings and some more
exhibitions, our table tennis days were over.
In October the squad did two exhibitions. The first one was on the 2 nd and it was for the Plymouth Branch of
the Civil Service Sports Association. Only four players for this one: Linda, Karen Witt of Buckinghamshire - now
England senior number five - Donald Parker and Andy Barden.
The second exhibition was at the Maidenhead Leisure Centre on 2 nd October and was put on by the Windsor
and Maidenhead Sports Association for the Disabled. Four players for this one, Jill - now the European
Champion - Angela Mitchell, who was the England number 11 (it was tough for her playing Jill - but I think Jill
made it a little easier for her!), Paul Day, England number three, and Andy Barden, England number four. It
was a good evening and made better by the presence of a number of paraplegic players.
We went to an interesting meeting in London on 20 th October. This was with Micky Takahashi. Micky was the
owner of a large sports goods manufacturing company in Japan. Karenza had met him at a tournament
somewhere when, in the middle of a match, she had got a nosebleed! When she stepped out of the arena to
try to stem the flow, Micky, who as always, was dressed in an immaculate and very expensive suit, stepped
forward and offered her his handkerchief. She gratefully accepted but as the handkerchief was made of
priceless lace, she quickly reduced it to a bloody rag. She apologised but he gave her his card and said that he
would contact us next time he was in London. Now here he was and when he telephoned us, we met up with
him for a drink.
1978
During February and March, I attended a few more meetings of the Development Committee of the
Association. A new, full-time Development Officer had now been appointed and I think that my function was
only to discuss things that had happened in the past, discussions that might lead to different ways of improving
the Association for the future.
On 8 th April the England Squad did the last
exhibition that I was to compere. In fact, as I had
now retired from the ranks of the ETTA officials,
I think this was probably the last of these kinds
of events - mainly because there was no-one to
organise them. A great pity as the exhibitions
had provided some welcome funds for the
players – and had taken England’s top players to
many venues around the country. This one was
at Macclesfield in Cheshire and was to celebrate
the 50 th anniversary of the Macclesfield and
District Table Tennis Association. Jill played with
Karen Witt, Donald Parker, Paul Day, Andy
Barden and Martin Shuttle who was the England
junior number one. As this was the last of an era
the letter, left, which is similar to many that
were received, is a testimony to the many
players who had taken part over the years and
who had brought a great deal of pleasure to so
many people:
TTT: Issue 30: Spring 2023
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