Bramley Table Tennis Club
History
Founded in 1953 at Bramley Church Hall by a few
young local players who, having decided to enter a team in the Guildford Table
Tennis Association’s League competition for the 1953/54 season, then moved
across the road to the Jolly Farmer public house with more suitable conditions.
Here, in what is now the restaurant, the Club
played for many convivial seasons slowly growing in size and stature until a
change of landlord brought this to an end in the early 1970s.
The Club then moved to the Birtley Tennis Club’s
Pavilion for about five years which saw the introduction of the coaching scheme
for local youngsters on Saturday mornings and further growth.
In 1978 the new Pavilion was built on Gosden
Common with the Table Tennis Club as one of the main users. With the young
players now proficient enough to compete in Guildford’s league and cup events,
Bramley TTC became one of the largest clubs in the district, fielding a maximum
of ten teams at all levels of competition and using the new club room every
evening of the season.
Current Situation
After over fifty years’ existence, the Club has
only four teams with players mostly over sixty years. Many of these are of
considerable ability with some who also compete in Veterans’ Championships at
National, European and World level. None of the many youngsters coached by
the Club are now with us due to pressures of education, employment and to-day’s
combination of lifestyle and enhanced mobility.
If the Club is to survive, we must attract new
players, especially local people. We have excellent playing facilities at
the Pavilion and there is a Table Tennis Centre in Guildford where coaching
sessions are available for players of all ages and abilities run by the
Guildford TTA.
Bramley TTC has always been organised for the
purpose of competitive play within the GTT A League structure. To attract
a wider membership it might be possible to create a social section for those
initially interested in taking up the game afresh or anew for the undoubted
benefits to be gained from the mental and physical activity associated with this
game of table tennis.
Contacts
Chairman: Mike Willimott 01483 892465
mike.willimott@virgin.net
Secretary: Nick Gould 01483 715586
nick.r.gould@virgin.net