Welcome to the website of the Middlesex Table Tennis Association. We hope that you will find it interesting and that it provides all the information you require. County table tennis plays an important part in the make-up of the national game. Middlesex remains one of the strongest table tennis counties in England, maintaining its position in the Senior Premier Division of eight teams. It also runs several Junior and Veteran teams.
County News
21st February 2024
It is with great sadness that the Management Committee learned of the passing away of Maurice Isaacs yesterday morning. Further information will follow when available.
20th June 2023
It is with great sadness that the Management Committee of M.T.T.A have learned of the passing away of Middlesex Legend Diane Rowe. Below is an obituary written by Diane Webb for Table Tennis England and reproduced courtesy TTE .
The whole table tennis world will mourn the passing of a great player and a great lady. Diane Scholer (nee Rowe) passed away in Dusseldorf, Germany yesterday, aged 90. She was a true legend of the game and it all started way back in 1947.
Di celebrated her 90th birthday in April this year, 2023, and to recognise the occasion a brief history of her table tennis life was written and is repeated below.
However, as important as table tennis was to Di, so too was her family and to them we send our most sincere condolences, husband Ebby, daughter Cindy and son Christian and her grandchildren – Jenny, Jarne, Nele and Nicole. To all Di’s table tennis friends around the world who will be saddened at her passing, we share your sorrow.
Friendship and mutual respect are the keystones to the ethos of the Swaythling Club International, which was so important to Di and these two principles were ones which she held close to her and the strong and lifelong friendships that Di had with so many people around the world are a testament to those beliefs.
Where did it all start? It was Christmas morning 1947 when two excited 14-year-old twins woke up hoping they were going to get bikes as their present so they were a little disappointed when they received table tennis bats. The disappointment didn’t last long as the two teenagers, right-handed Rosalind ‘Ros’ and left-handed Diane ‘Di’, were soon hitting a ball backwards and forwards across the dining room table.
It would have seemed inconceivable on that Christmas morning that less than three years later they would be world champions for the first time and on 14th April 1954, on their 21st birthday, a second world title was added.
However, back to 1947 where the dining room table and other furniture looked in jeopardy from the two girls and so it wasn’t long before Dad bought a table tennis table and set it up in a spare room. Ros and Di practiced and practiced for hours, they soon joined a local club where they began to beat not only other girls but the boys as well.
The famous West Ealing Club beckoned where top international player and coach, Ken Craigie, took them under his wing and trophies soon started appearing on the mantlepiece. Ros was the first when she beat Di in the West Middlesex Junior Championships in 1949 but they were both taking the tournament circuit by storm winning senior as well as junior titles in singles and doubles.
Ros was the first to be capped for England when she was selected to play in Czechoslovakia in November 1949 at the tender age of 16. Not to be outdone, Di soon followed and also had a major success when she won the Daily Mirror tournament in April 1950 in both the Girls’ and Women’s Singles events. The finals were played at the Royal Albert Hall in front of 4,500 spectators including Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and television cameras. As a result of the wins, Di was entitled to free coaching and so Victor Barna became her coach, she of course, took Ros along as well.
The improvement in their game was significant, bearing in mind they were already very good players, they moved up a level. Before they were 18 the pair had toured Belgium, Holland and France and were chosen to represent England at the World Championships in Vienna in 1950.
It was a magical Championships for England as first Johnny Leach won the Men’s Singles beating Ivan Andreadis of Czechoslovakia in the final. Then it was Di and Ros’s turn. In their first World Championships they had reached the final of the Women’s Doubles and were facing two of the best players in the world, Rumanians Angelica Rozeanu and Sari Szasz. What a match it was – Di and Ros won the first game 22-20 but lost the second 20-22, the third went their way 21-19 but the fourth saw the score levelled 24-22. All to play for in the fifth game which turned out to be the easiest of all as they won 21-13. Incredible scenes followed.
The Rowe twins were feted not only in England but around the world, they were true super stars of the 1950s and invitations came pouring in. A very official one invited them to play an exhibition match before the Swedish Royal Family in 1951. Prince Gustav, now the King of Sweden, who was then four years old went scrambling around the sumptuous room retrieving balls wherever they ended up.
Another remarkable tour was three months spent in New Zealand and Australia in 1953. The twins left England on 7th May and arrived back on home soil on 7th September, not only three months in the two countries but two long sea voyages as well. It was the sea journey home that changed both Ros and Di’s lives as Ros met her future husband en route, she married in 1955 and retired from play shortly after.
Di and Ros’ second world title came in 1954 at the Empire Pool and Sports Arena, Wembley and it was an all England final with Kathy Best and Ann Haydon the opponents. The score -19, 10, 19, 20. Di and Ros held aloft the W J Pope Trophy for the second time, presented by the Dowager, Lady Swaythling.
Di made more than 400 appearances for England, won two gold world championships medals, eight silver and ten bronze. She was a member of the England team which won the first European Championships Women’s Team title and went on to win again in 1964/65, she also won the Women’s Doubles twice with Mary Shannon/Wright with who she formed a world class partnership. She added five silver and five bronze medals to her collection.
Di also won 19 English Open titles as well as innumerable foreign Opens. In the first English Closed (now named the National Championships) she won the treble, Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles with Jill Rook/Mills and Mixed Doubles with Johnny Leach. She won 13 titles altogether before playing in and for Federal Germany following her marriage to Eberhard ‘Ebby’ Scholer, the top world class German international. They married in 1966 and she moved to Dusseldorf where she lived until her death.
When Di stopped playing competitively, she turned to coaching before following in the footsteps of her former coach and mentor, Victor Barna, as President of the Swaythling Club International (SCI). She held that position for many years before being elected as Honorary President.
Di has received many honours and accolades over the years: the ITTF Merit Award in 1993, the ETTA’s Victor Barna Award with Ros in 1954 and again in 1955, Player Achievement Award in 1983, Vice-President in 2021 and inducted into Table Tennis England Centenary Hall of Fame in 2022. The ETTU honoured Di when she was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2016, she was also made a Vice-President of the International Club of England in 1964 and the Veterans English Table Tennis Society in 1987. Sadly, her twin sister Ros passed away in 2015..
It is over 75 years since Di first held a bat in her hand and since that time, she has been a player, a captain, a coach, a World, European and National champion and a superb role model. Di had a wonderful life and one we give thanks for.
Many tributes have already been paid.
Table Tennis England President, Jill Parker MBE: “Di was a wonderful ambassador for the sport, who will be sorely missed by all her table tennis friends and fans from around the world.
“Di performed with distinction for the two countries she represented, England and Germany. Her performances in women’s doubles with her twin sister Ros were legendary. She was an inspiration to many players around Europe, including myself.
“Condolences to Ebby and the family at this sad time.”
Honorary Life Member and Honorary Past President, Doreen Stannard, who used to play with Di at Ultra TTC in the North Acton League many, many years ago, says a simple but heartfelt: “Goodbye to a lifelong friend”.
Table Tennis England Chairperson, Sandra Deaton: “When I came into the sport over half a century ago I was introduced to the incredible global performances and achievements of the Rowe twins. I remember clearly being in awe of such iconic women.
“As time moved on and travelling the world, I had the privilege not only to meet Diane but to spend some quality time with her. She was an unassuming lady with immense humility. Her understanding of the sport throughout the decades knew no bounds and she was always willing to help and support the progress of the game.
English table tennis has evolved as a result of the history Diane gave us. Her induction into the Centenary Hall of Fame will provide a platform to make sure our heritage is never forgotten.
“Thank you to Ebby and her family for allowing us all to share in Diane’s life. Global table tennis will always be indebted to her for her unfailing dedication. She will be sorely missed but never ever forgotten and I hope that the family gets comfort knowing that as the sport of table tennis continues so does the legacy of the incredible Diane.”
England International and Table Tennis England Vice-President, Mary Wright, who won innumerable medals with Di at World, European and National Championships, as well as many Open Tournaments at home and abroad: “My early memories of Di were when we were first paired together in 1962 not long after I had made my debut appearance for England at the Quadrangular Matches in Scotland.
“The selectors decided that we would make a good Ladies’ Doubles pairing in the forthcoming European Championships in Berlin. I was just 18 and in awe of Di’s standing in the table tennis world having been world champion in the doubles with her twin sister Ros twice before.
“For me it was my first experience of a major championship and together, mainly due to Di’s experience and encouragement we not only finished runners-up to West Germany in the team event but won the Ladies’ Doubles title beating the German favourites Simon and Haarst in the final.
“These was heady times for me and Di and I became firm friends and partners for the rest of Di’s England career before she married Ebby Scholer and moved to Germany.
“The season after Berlin we together reached the final of the Ladies’ Doubles at the World Championships in Prague, losing 3-1 to the Japanese top seeds.
“We continued to have great success both in team events and doubles for many years, one of the highlights being successful in Malmo at the European Championships both in the team event and once again in the doubles.
“As a person, Di was my mentor. She was 100% loyal to both her county, Middlesex, and to England, and represented both with pride and honour. Always immaculately dressed and scrupulously fair and a fighter until the last point was won or lost. She also had a great sense of humour and a world champion at drinking PG Tips tea whenever she could.
“I feel very proud to have been her partner and friend for many years.”
Details of funeral arrangements will be notified at a later date.
24th October 2022
The funeral of Babs Blanch will take place on Friday 4th November at Mortlake Crematorium followed by refreshments at The Oaks Club, Actonians Sports Ground, Gunnersbury Drive, W5 4LL (additional parking in Gunnersbury Park – opposite). The family have asked guests to wear minimal black clothing to “celebrate” their mum’s life. For catering purposes, the family would appreciate it, if people could Gill Lesh know by email, if they intend to come (gillianlesh@talktalk.net). Also, rather than flowers, please donate to the British Heart Foundation, a Just Giving page has been set up:-
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/barbara-blanch
Obituary: Barbara (Babs) Blanch, pioneer for women in our sport
Babs Blanch, Life President of The Oaks Club in Middlesex and a volunteer in table tennis for 70 years, died recently at the age of 90. Her children Gill, Pam and Liz, pay tribute.
It is with great sadness that we share the news that our mum, Babs Blanch, Life President of The Oaks Club in Middlesex, died peacefully at home on 13th October 2022, at the age of 90.
Babs was born in August 1932, above a pawn broker and jeweller’s shop in London’s North Kensington, managed by her father. At the outbreak of war, having just turned seven years old, she was evacuated to Rowde in Wiltshire, where she enjoyed the freedom of the countryside.
On returning to London after the war she completed her education and gained employment in the China and Glass department of a large Kensington department store, Derry & Toms (now the Kensington Roof Garden). However, her parents had recently acquired a household goods shop in Acton, wherein she was keen to work. Her dad only agreed to this on the understanding that she join a club to meet people her own age.
Babs joined the local youth club, at St Albans Church, Acton Green, (the forerunner of The Oaks Club) on 23rd September 1952.
Immediately, Babs found herself appointed “Welcome Hostess” – tasked with meeting and greeting new faces. At the club she enjoyed participating in many activities including ballroom dancing, tennis, club rambles, hikes and holidays and she performed (singing and dancing) in several “Club Reviews”. Babs also set her sights on Eric who taught her to play table tennis. On 24th September 1958 they married and became the 21st wedding between members who met at the club.
Babs and Eric Blanch playing in 1956
Babs’ table tennis volunteering career spanned 70 years, during which she undertook every job there was to be done for the club. Additionally, she served for over 40 years on the Acton & District Table Tennis League (subsequently West Middlesex TTL) committee, and as well as working in the local community to encourage and develop our sport.
As a player, Babs helped pave the way for future women in sport, as the first lady to ever play in the Men’s 1st Division of the Acton & District League, she also chalked up over 300 appearances representing the league, she represented Middlesex in the county championships, competed in the early years of the VETTS Tournaments, and played Women’s British League for The Oaks – alongside her daughters.
Babs qualified as an ETTA Club Coach in 1989, although she had coached and nurtured dozens of players who passed through the club for years prior. Even having had four children of their own, the never-ending commitment, determination and enthusiasm of Babs and her late husband, Eric, ensured the continued success of The Oaks Club.
In 2014, Babs was thrilled to be awarded Table Tennis England’s Unsung Hero Award, and in 2019 she was recognised by the London Borough of Ealing for her Contribution to Sport.
First and foremost, Babs was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother to nine.
Gill, Pam, Liz, and our families, have been touched by the many messages received, saying so many wonderful things about our mum, whose unstinting work for The Oaks and for table tennis as a whole has made such a positive impact on the lives of so many. Babs will be enormously missed by all of those who knew her.
Babs Blanch
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14th October 2022
It is with great sadness that the Management Committee learned of the passign away of Babs Blanch this morning. Babs was a stalwart of the Oaks Club, Acton League, and Middlesex. Our deepest condolences to Gill, Liz and Pam and families.
8th September 2022
The Managment Committee joius the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We offer our condolences to all members of the Royal Family at this sad time.
2nd September 2022
It is with great sadness that the Management Committee reports that Lorna Slifkin, wife of Norman Slifkin (who died in April), has passed away. Lorna was a lifelong Middlesex Stalwart and Vice-President and a major contributor to Ashford Table Tennis club.
Lorna’s Funeral will be held at Hanworth Crematorium Friday 23rd September 13.40pm, followed by a Wake at Runnymede Hotel Windsor Road, Egham TW20 0AG.
16th May 2022
It is with great sadness that the Management Committee has learnt of the passing away of another of our Vice Presidents, Middlesex legend and stalwart Mary Sawyer. Mary passed away on Friday 13th May at her home in North Walsham, Norfolk.
14th April 2022
It is with great sadness that the Management Committee has learnt that one of our Vice Presidents and stalwart Norman Slifkin has passed away. Norman was the Life President of the Ashford Table Tennis Club in addition to having undertaken many other roles at Ashford over the years. Norman also represented the Club until not too long ago on the Boards of WR Sports and Ashford Sports Club. Additionally was President of the Staines League and again held many roles for them and furthermore was involved for many years with Middlesex TT Association. As an Administrator there was probably little that Norman didn’t do over the years for our Sport.
A very good player in his day at League and County level, Norman won numerous Vetts tournaments at different age group events, he also represented the Country at one of the age group events a number of years ago.
Norman – always very friendly and helpful with quite a mischievous sense of humour, a great friend to a lot of us.
Our deepest sympathies go to Lorna, Mike, Clive and the rest of the family.
Funeral is on May 12th, 2.20 p.m. at South & West Middlesex Crematorium Hounslow Road, Hanworth, Feltham, Middlesex, TW13 5JH, followed by the wake at Ashford Manor Golf club, Fordbridge Road, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 3RT
16th January 2022
It is with great sadness that the Management Committee anonces the passing away of one of it’s own members. We learned that Harold Webb, a stalwart of the North Middlesex Table Tennis League, Ellenborough Table Tennis club and a member of the Middlesex Table Tennis Association passed away on 14th January 2022. Funeral details below.
Funeral at New Southgate Crematorium on 9th February 2022 at 3pm. Family flowers only please. The Crematorium is in Brunswick Park Road, London, N11 1EZ
Wake at Winchmore Hill Sports Club afterwards and Winchmore Hill Sports Club is at The Paulin Ground, Ford’s Grove, Winchmore Hill, London N21 3ER
Note: If you plan to attend the wake, please tell Peter Bayman at peterbayman@gmail.com so that he can advise the family of numbers to be expected. Thank you.
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10th August 2021
At the Table Tennis England Annual Conference it was announced that cadet star Joseph Hunter was awarded the Mike Watts Achievement award for the junior showing the greatest imporovement in 2019-2020. Congratulations Joseph, a deserving award. Well done.
10th July 2021
The Management Committee is looking for volunteers to assist with the running of Table Tennis within the county. The vacant positions are *Inter-League Championships Secretary, *Tournaments Secretary (to revive our Closed Championships) & a Development Secretary. Please contact our Chair Mrs Doreen Stannard chairman@middlesestta.org.uk or our Secretary Tony Dias generalsecretary@middlesextta.org.uk
4th March 2021
Jason Sugrue, a former champion Middlesex player and now a prominent coach and mentor to many aspiring players recently spoke about his career. It is a very interesting podcast, and I recommend that people should listen to what Jason has to say. If you feel the need to speak to the man himself, he can be contacted +447583573960. https://coordinate.cloud/podcast/jason-sugrue/
17th February 2021
Further to the last news item, a proposition has been put forward to address the issues within the sport. a Kick Start V2
9th February 2021
There has been a lot of comments, debates, blogs, discussions about the recent issues within the sport. Attached is a letter that I am in receipt of, which I feel echoes the sentiment within the sport.
1st August 2020
With the suspension of Indoor Sporting activities there is currently no activity relating to the county. Most leagues are taking advice from TTE.
27th July 2019.
Earlier this month, at the Middlesex AGM, it was agreed that Derek Burridge our President would be made a Honorary Life member for his contributions to Table Tennis and in particular to the Association.
Our Chair, Mrs Doreen Stannard visited Derek at his business premises and presented him with Honorary’s Life Members medal.
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15th May 2019.
The Management Committee are pleased to announce that the County’s Closed Championships will be held on 6th and 7th July at the Greenhouse Center. Please download the form from the link below and send your entry at your earliest convenience to avoid missing out.
Closed Championships entry form.
10th January 2019
Obituary: Margaret Hiorns, England international
Author:
Diane Webb
Publish date: January 10, 2019
Former England international Margaret Fry (Mrs Hiorns), an English Open semi-finalist who played at two World Championships, has died at the age of 90.
Margaret began her table tennis career in Bristol where she soon came to prominence and it wasn’t long before her name was in the record books, winning four league titles.
Margaret went on to represent her county of Gloucestershire more than 30 times, with her debut against Yorkshire on 12th November, 1949. Margaret also played tennis for her home county. Her achievements gained her Gloucestershire’s ‘Green ‘Un’ Sportswoman of the Year Award in 1951.
In September 1952, Margaret moved to London and became great friends with the Rowe twins, amongst many others, and became part of the Rowe household when she first moved to the capital. Despite strong players within her new county of Middlesex, Margaret nonetheless established herself in the county team and played for them on over 50 occasions when they were one of the most formidable county teams in the country. She also became the Middlesex County Women’s Singles champion in 1952.
Margaret Fry (centre) with Rosalind Rowe and Diane Rowe (Central Press Agency, from the Leslie Woollard Collection)
The move to London reaped considerable benefits for Margaret and resulted in being selected to play for her country, with her first cap being against Scotland at St Andrew’s Hall, Glasgow, on 17th December 1951. The team won 9-0 and Margaret won her singles match and, partnered with Rosalind Rowe, her doubles match too.
Margaret was a prolific tournament player and won around 50 titles at various Open tournaments both at home and abroad. She played in two World Championships, in 1954 and 1955, and reached the last 32 in the Women’s Singles in 1955, the Women’s Doubles with Pam Mortimer in 1954 and the Mixed Doubles with Ron Crayden in 1955.
At the English Open, her best result was reaching the semi-final of the Women’s Doubles in March 1950 with Joan Crosby. Margaret was the Women’s Singles Consolation winner in 1950/51 and 1961/62.
Margaret, who was also a talented golfer and bowler, moved into the administrative side of the game and was a member of the National Executive Committee from 1960-64; she was also on several ETTA committees including the National Championships Committee, County Championships Committee and Selection & Ranking Committees for senior and junior players. At county level, Margaret was on the Middlesex Committee as the County Umpires Secretary and was a committee member for London Business Houses.
Table Tennis England Honorary Past President Doreen Stannard, who was a lifelong friend of Margaret, said: “For someone who achieved so much in the sporting world, she was a very modest person. She and her husband Frank really enjoyed their life together. She will be missed.”
Our condolences go to Margaret’s family and friends.
The funeral is to take place at Breakspear Crematorium, Ruislip on January 24, at 12.30pm.
Our Activities
The county is an active participant in the National County Championships, with teams in the Cadets, Juniors, Seniors, Veterans and Over 60s. In the last few seasons we have regularly entered a total of 13 teams. In addition to these events, the county has run Inter-League Championships and Closed Championships. Whilst some of the Inter-League events are still organised, the Closed Championships have not been held for a while and the Management Committee actively looks for a volunteer to run these championships.
Our Organisation
President: Derek Burridge
Honorary Life Members: A Rhodes, R Grant, LF Landry, Mrs D Stannard, M Mitchell, JM Wright, D Burridge, A Dias, A Boyle, G Hawkins
Vice Presidents: M Gatting, J Souter, MJ Holland, DS Howes, N McKoy, Mrs S Tyler, G Sandley, C Ho, A Dias, P Denholm, S Sweeney
Chair: Mrs Doreen Stannard |
Tel: 02088456713 email: chairman@middlesextta.org.uk |
Deputy Chair: Vacant | |
Honorary Secretary: Tony Dias | Tel: 07541942710 email: generalsecretary@middlesextta.org.uk |
Treasurer: Peter Denholm |
Tel: 020 8952 5233 |
Coaching Secretary: Vacant | email: coach@middlesextta.org.uk |
County Match Secretary: Tony Dias (Senior, Junior, Cadets) |
Tel: 07541942710 email: cms@middlesextta.org.uk |
County Match Secretary: Gerry Hawkins (Veterans & Over 60s) |
Tel: 020 8428 7088 email: vcms@middlesextta.org.uk |
Umpires Secretary: Sue Merican |
Tel: 01895 251724 email: umpire@middlesextta.org.uk |
Tournaments Secretary: Vacant | Vacancy |
Handbook Secretary: Vacant | Vacancy |
Press & Website Secretary: Tony Dias | Please see County Match Secretary (Senior, Junior, Cadets) email: info@middlesextta.org.uk |
League Representatives:
Central TTL: Stuart Sweeney Staines: Alan Boyle Wembley & Harrow: Tony Dias Clubs & Associates: Hillingdon: Sue Merican |
North Middlesex TTL: John Fitzgerald
South West Middlesex: George Mijalnic Greenhouse: Jason Sugrue |
Our Blog Page
New clubs
24/7/2022
eBaTT – THE FIRST & ONLY FULL TIME TABLE TENNIS CENTRE IN NORTH WEST LONDON! Locally, nationally and internationally, eBaTT (Eli Baraty Academy of Table Tennis) is and has been a vocal and physical advocate for table tennis. We visit locations all over England, Europe and now the world, in pursuit of promoting and developing our beloved sport (table tennis). We work with players of all levels and backgrounds, youth, clubs, corporate companies, schools, national teams and professional players. It has been a long-standing dream of ours to run a full time, 24/7 access, table tennis centre. This wonderful initiative has been sought after by Eli Baraty for over two decades and with the help of Guy Ben-Aroya (partner) and Michael Gerrard (main backer/investor), we are delighted to announce that eBaTT will officially be opening its doors in June 2022!
One of the main drivers for this new venture is the lack of full time table tennis centres in the community. We will be the first club in England that provides 24/7 access and usage. Table tennis is not a commercial or professional sport in the UK but it’s much bigger than you would expect; according to various stats over 300 million people play the sport world wide. Internationally it is governed by the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) which was founded in 1926 and currently has 227 member associations, making it the first and only International Sports Federation to achieve 227 national associations, representing every country and territory on earth.
The new eBaTT table tennis centre will provide a varied set up of; 6 training tables or 4 elite training tables and 3 match play/competition lay out. The centre will provide private and group coaching for juniors, adults, disabled, specialist groups and private hire. We aim to provide for everyone including; OAPs, women-only, family group sessions, corporate, parties, disabled, specialised sessions for individuals with Alzheimer’s, Dementia and of course not to forget a key focus on elite/ professional players. We hope to raise funds from sponsorships and our corporate league which will provide assisted and potentially free sessions for those who are unable to afford it. Ultimately eBaTT is a community based centre, giving people the opportunity to be physically and mentally active via a fun and productive Olympic sport. We have already raised over £21,000 to-date via GoFundMe. This has helped with the startup costs for equipment, décor, professional table tennis flooring and much more!!
M: 07900401144
Another new club commencing acitivities is the West Harrow Table Tennis Club, based at Vaughan Primary School , The Gardens, Vaughan Road, Harrow HA1 4EL. The club is looking for players. Please contact Tony Dias on 07541942710