Clacton AGM – Sheila with Chairman Peter White and new President Shirley Rowlen

There was a tinge of sadness at the Clacton and District League’s Annual General Meeting this month when League President Sheila Howe announced she had decided to step down and take a well-deserved rest.

It was sixty years ago – when Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister and premium bonds had just been introduced – that a young Sheila Mills burst on to the North East Essex table tennis scene with victories in the Ladies Doubles and Mixed Doubles at the 1957 Clacton Closed Championships.

Little did anyone realise that Sheila Howe – as she was to become – would dominate women’s table tennis in Clacton for the next four decades.

In 1960 she won the first of her 19 Ladies Singles titles, the last being in 1999. Together with 20 Ladies Doubles and 14 Mixed Doubles, Sheila chalked up 53 major titles, an unparalleled achievement.

Sheila (Mills – as she then was) and Ray Caley after their Mixed Doubles success at the 1957 Closed Championships

Sheila has always been a popular and well-respected member of the local table tennis community. She continued playing in the League until three years ago and, throughout her playing career, win or lose, it was always with a smile on her face.

It was no surprise that, in 2001, Sheila was made League President and, since then, she has undertaken her duties in a conscientious, dependable and friendly manner. Sheila was made a life member of Essex County TTA in 2006.

Thank you, Sheila, for all you’ve done for the Clacton and District League. You’re a genuine star!

“The man with the funny shaped bat”         

On the 22nd December 2016 we heard the sad news that Brian had passed away following a short illness. He had celebrated his birthday two days earlier on the 20th.

Brian was a top class table tennis player who represented both Dagenham and Essex as well as running a highly rated table tennis club called Milestone, in the East End of London from which many players benefited and reached a high standard.

I personally first met Brian when I was eight years old when he used to take me to West Ham United along with his close friend Eddie Sawyer and he ensured I was passed down the front to see the match; something I will never forget.

In later years I played against him on a number of occasions in table tennis matches in the East London League and these were all very competitive particularly when I lost to him in the Milestone match room (called the art room) when I was at the peak of my playing days.

In later years Brian ran and helped organise the Dagenham FC Table Tennis Club in the British League and along with Jimmy Cleeves and Peter Cranmer made playing such a special occasion with coaches of supporters travelling to away matches throughout the country.

Brian was an avid supporter of Dagenham and Redbridge FC and attended weekly with his grandchildren and was subsequently made Vice Chairman for his services.

In closing how will I remember Brian? Yes, he was competitive, but along with that came a thoroughly special human being who would always have a smile and would help anyone who asked.

Brian you will be sadly missed by many, many people especially your wonderful family.

Rest in Peace

Stuart Gibbs
PRESIDENT OF ESSEX TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION

Essex Vice-President, Neil Brierley added:-

“Brian was a fine player, who represented the Dagenham League many times during its heyday in the 60s and 70s. The talent pool at the time was very deep and Bob Potton, Les Eadie, Kevin Caldon, Sky Andrew, Dave Randall and Brian Mailey (and countless more) were all competing for places. Brian had a warm and ready smile and friendly handshake and he was truly a gentleman and a very popular guy in the world of Table Tennis. In more recent years, he had moved to Clacton and played in the Local League.”

Brian’s Funeral is this Thursday,12th January – 13.20 at the South Essex Crematorium in Upminster. The address is – Ockendon Road, Corbets Tey, Upminster, RM14 2UY (Telephone Number 01708 434433)

We have now been advised of the funeral arrangements for Lou.

Friday 1st July – 11.20 at the Southend Crematorium – family flowers only please but donations would be welcome to the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Service.

There will be a reception at Rayleigh Lodge from 12.30.

It is with great sadness that we heard the news that Southend stalwart for so many years, Lou Hopkins, passed away peacefully last Thursday 2nd June. As soon as we know when the Funeral Service is and the details we will publish here. Our thoughts are with his Family and friends at this sad time.

Lou has been involved with local Southend Table Tennis for over 50 years. He played in local leagues, Southend, Basildon, Chelmsford, Burnham and Brentwood. Always happy, always looking to help out wherever he could.
In Southend, Lou has done several roles for the Committee; running the Summer League for many years, the RoseBowl Competition, Closed Championships and has always looked to help wherever he could. In more recent years, Lou looked after the League’s Finances and always produced immaculate Books.

In his early days, Lou played for ‘Inflight Cleaning’: who were based at Southend Airport, who he also worked for. Later the Club switched to Rawreth where he continued to play for many years, ending up with the RESSC Club.

Lou ran Junior Coaching classes at the Southend Leisure Centre for several years and coached at various schools.

In the 90’s, he, together with Stuart Gibbs, Roy Savill, Paul Reed and Bill Wall, set up Setts in the Basildon League area, which he ran for many years, right up to the more recent months, when ill health got the better of him.

Lou was always a mid Division player, always capable of good wins, never complaining if he lost and always congratulating his opponent if he lost.

Lou was liked wherever he went.

Lou will be much missed by all.

Brian Brumwell
Essex & England
1928 – 2016

A personal reflection from Stuart Gibbs.

I first recalled meeting Brian Brumwell as an 11 year old, when I was given a ticket to watch Essex County 1st team play against the great Middlesex side in 1958 and was fortunate to play with him in my 1st game for Essex which coincided with this being his last game for the county.

Brian was a remarkable sportsman who excelled at football and more notably at cricket, as Captain of the Wanstead Cricket Club, the premier side in Essex, where he won numerous trophies.

However, it is in his achievements and influence in Essex Table Tennis that I and many, many others will remember him for.

Brian played for England on a number of occasions and was ranked No.5 in the Country, not an easy feat when you had such great players to compete with, notably Johnny Leach, Richard Bergman, and Aubrey Simons, to name but a few.

During his time as a player, Brian was always ready to help and influence those youngsters making their way in the sport and he became Captain of the England Junior side in 1960. It was a year later that he insisted that the then ETTA include a precocious 14 year old in the England Junior Team to go to the European Junior Championships, as he had recognised the potential of this player. However, he was unable to persuade the powers that be and the request was not granted. As a result of that decision, on principle, Brian resigned from the captaincy. The following year, this young player became England No.1 senior at the age of 15. The player was Chester Barnes. This proved Brian’s uncanny ability to recognise natural talent when he saw it.

During his time coaching juniors Brian had considerable involvement in Ray Dorking becoming England No.1 junior, at the age of 15 and also helped establish the St Luke’s Table Tennis Club in an underprivileged area of East London, to such an extent that it was able to host England Junior International matches.

On his retirement from playing nationally, Brian became president of the Ilford and District Table Tennis League and was made a life member of Essex County Table Tennis Association.

In closing, how will we remember this great man?

He was ferociously competitive, a visionary that was responsible for the golden age of Essex table tennis, in the 1960’s, but more importantly, he was a true gentlemen, with a heart of gold.

May you rest in peace Brian and thank you so much for everything you have done.

Stuart Gibbs
President Essex Table Tennis Association

Hockley TTC completed a first for the club on the 18-19 March, with a testing Sport Relief 24 hour Non Stop Table Tennis match. Hockley’s Chairman, Paul Strutt, said:-

The Event really worked well and came to a successful conclusion on Saturday night. At the time of writing the club have raised the fantastic sum of £1424 for Sport Relief.

Paul went on to say that considering this is the first time they have organised anything like this, coupled with being arranged at comparatively short notice, he and his club members are all very pleased with the result!

There were some amazing contributions in terms of money raised and hours spent at the Club and it involved all club Members – Juniors, Seniors, Social, Playing and U3A members.

In all, 38 Hockley Club Members played over the 24 hour period and they were supported by members from other Southend Clubs in the League:- Ken Field (Rawreth), Jayne Johnson (Hullbridge), Duncan Taylor (Rayleigh Mill), George Reeves (Rawreth), Craig Aukett (Canvey), Ro Brett (Warehouse), Bruce Kettle (Rawreth) and Tina Hutchinson (Warehouse).

Sincere thanks are also extended to those Hockley & Southend League Members who made Donations.

Now something for the nerds:-

we played 112 matches, 380 sets and 6725 points, with the final match result
IMPROBABLES 59 v HIGHLY UNLIKELYS 53

We certainly feel a great sense of achievement and will definitely do it again

About Hockley Table Tennis Club.

Hockley Table Tennis Club operate from a Primary School Hall with 7 days a week access. When in attendance they manage access to the hall which keeps their hires costs low and also means they have no time restraints within reason.

They have room for 4 Tables.

They have only been active for some 7 years and in that time have produced a Club with nearly 60 Members, 6 Teams in the Southend League and an active Junior Section led by coach Tim Pang.

They have been particularly successful in introducing a lot of Seniors into the game with some returning to the sport after many years. They have also formed a partnership with a local U3A Group.