(March 1983) Table Tennis

The Club was started soon after the last war by the (then) young Lambs and Stewarts, encouraged by the woodwork teacher at the Friends School, Roland Herbert. The older table, still in use, was made by Arnold Lamb and Roland Herbert, and the newer one by Fred Inns and George Hall. The Friends Hall has always been the Club’s meeting place.

In its early days, when transport was limited, the Club attracted staff from the Friends School as well as people from the village, and did, perhaps, play its part in one or two marriages at that time, there being many more ladies attending then than now.

As soon as the Banbury and District League started, Sibford entered a team, and over the years it has had a team in the first division more often than not. Now we have seven teams (the most of any club) distributed over the five divisions of the league.

In one vintage year, Sibford held three of the cups played for annually in the Banbury area: the mixed doubles, ladies doubles and ladies singles. At this time, two members of the club played for Oxfordshire. Since moving from the area two ex-members of the club, John and Heather Masters, have done a lot for table tennis nationally, and John was privileged to score the World Final when the Tournament was held in England.

Most weeks from October to April we have 3 or 4 home matches, with Friday evening as practice night. Our officers are:- Chairman, W.J. Wealsby, Secretary, David Lamb, Treasurer, Allister Wealsby.

Ina Lamb