Table tennis club enjoys half century

The current 2015/16 season marks a milestone in the history of St Andrews Table Tennis Club.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Feb 2016, 16:17 BST
Some of the hard workign men and women who have helped the club down the years. Graham Bell, Ian Smith, Kong Wan, Graham Neilson Front: Elaine Forbes, Bill Sutherland, Tim GroveSome of the hard workign men and women who have helped the club down the years. Graham Bell, Ian Smith, Kong Wan, Graham Neilson Front: Elaine Forbes, Bill Sutherland, Tim Grove
Some of the hard workign men and women who have helped the club down the years. Graham Bell, Ian Smith, Kong Wan, Graham Neilson Front: Elaine Forbes, Bill Sutherland, Tim Grove

It is the 50th anniversary of the formation of the club in the fairly informal and little recognised sporting venue which was the Art Room in the Old Burgh School. 

Tim Grove and Arthur Edwards passed any waking moments not taken up teaching languages and art to the youth of St Andrews by playing as many sports as possible, and decided that lunchtimes were best spent wielding table tennis bats.

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Pictured in our main photo is of the club committee in the early noughties, and features founder member Tim seated on the right.

Also pictured is Kong Wan (standing second from right) who is now the longest serving playing member of the club, having represented teams in the Dundee League since season 1982/83.

On Kong’s right is the late Graham Neilson who was also a club stalwart for decades.

Graham was responsible for drawing up the club’s constitution when it became necessary for us to have a more formal footing.

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While enjoying looking back over the past, the current batch of players who make up our four teams must also keep their eye on this season’s ball and this week saw success for the  two teams who were in action.

In Division One, Prefects had a very handy 8-2 win over Gauldry rivals, Defibrillators, as this ensures the St Andrews team is a comfortable 17 points clear of the relegation zone.

Peter Bladen again amazed in winning his three singles.

Howard Lee chipped in with two wins, and the two regulars had reason to be grateful to third man, late substitute Clyde Johnston, who also provided three valuable points.

In Division Three, Prospects visited bottom team Princes and came away from Ward Road with nine points in the bag to cement their mid table position. Dave Goddard, Ian Brumwell and Emily Howat were all in convincing form.