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
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, Mrs D (Rowe) Scholer, LF Landry, A Shepherd, Mrs D Stannard, M Mitchell, JM Wright, D Burridge, A Dias
Vice Presidents: Mrs M Sawyer, M Gatting, J Souter, MJ Holland, Mrs M Stanford, DS Howes, M Sugden, N McKoy, RR Templeman, Mrs S Tyler, G Sandley, Mrs L Slifkin, N Slifkin, C Ho, A Dias, P Denholm
| Chairman: Mrs Doreen Stannard | Tel: 02088456713
email: chairman@middlesextta.org.uk |
| Deputy Chairman: 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: Wembley & Harrow: Tony Dias Clubs & Associates: Hillingdon: Sue Merican |
North Middlesex TTL: Harold Webb
South West Middlesex: 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
Table Tennis in Middlesex
Welcome to the Blog section of the Middlesex Table Tennis Association. This area is to share your views and opinions about table tennis. Some guidelines to be observed: Please use plain English. Please refrain from using bad language, posts with such language will be deleted. Please refrain from using inflammatory language.