Essex Press Office

Reported by Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Essex County Table Tennis Association

10th August-07
Roy Franklin - Obituary

Ron Fosker of the Braintree League writes:-

You will all, I’m sure, be deeply saddened to hear that Roy Franklin, Essex County Table Tennis Association Life Member and the 1988 recipient of the Corti Woodcock Award (the County's foremost Award for services to the Sport) died in Broomfield Hospital recently. He was 79.

Roy had been part of the framework of the Braintree League for as long as most people can remember and he was awarded Life Membership of the League 20 years ago. He was the first person from the League I met when I moved to Braintree when he called in at my office to ask if I would like to play for Braintree Youth Centre. He was also League General Secretary at the time, one of a number of posts he held during his time with the league.

He was at various times Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Fixtures Secretary,Coaching Secretary and Press Officer. No one in the league’s history has ever held so many different posts. He was also Competitions Secretary (also known as Inter-League Secretary) for the Essex County Table Tennis Association and an active County Umpire for a number of years.

Perhaps his greatest legacy is as the founder of the now thriving Black Notley Community Table Tennis Club. He was the founder of the club,the club's first secretary and he oversaw the development of a number of high-quality junior players.

He will also be remembered as a tenacious competitor. Until he had a stroke some years back, he was an active player who never knew when he wasbeaten.

It was very pleasing to see that a number of present and former Braintree League players attended his funeral.

In recent years I used to see Roy at Braintree Town Football Club matches which he rarely missed, and he always wanted to know how things were progressing in the Braintree League.

It will be sad not to see him around.

Ron Fosker Chairman
Braintree & District Table Tennis League