In a recent newspaper article entitled Games have no place in adult society. I would ban them for anyone over 12, Emily Watson, a freelance writer, recounted a meeting in the park with a friend, who “… pulled out a pair of ping-pong paddles and indicated a nearby table. ‘Fancy a quick game?’ We are no longer speaking”. Where to start with such a (deliberately?) provocative statement? Leaving aside minor issues like the fact that the game is table tennis (ping pong was only ever a trade name) and we play with bats not paddles, it is a mite curmudgeonly, to say the least. Watson goes on to trash cards, Scrabble and any other board games, so convenors of other groups, who enjoy such a wide range of games, may have something to say about it too. The writer clearly has not experienced the unabashed joy that is regularly and frequently released in our table tennis group – who knew the rather mundane time of 3pm on a Friday could be so enjoyable? The fact that our enjoyment may stem equally from a fabulous smash for an outright winner (if it’s one’s own shot) to feebly missing a little dink over the net (if it’s an opponent’s shot) is immaterial. It’s fun! Of course, there may be frustration and even despair at times but, as in life, that’s all part of the game. A reader later wrote to support the article and quoted the line in the poem Leisure by W H Davies: “What is life if, full of care/We have no time to stand and stare?”. Well, one may stand and stare as an unreturnable ball whistles past one’s ear, but your doubles partner will certainly not be too enamoured of you for standing and staring during the course of play (even if you are trying to remember where you left your glasses). Anyway, there are another 167 hours in the week for all that standing and staring, so an hour’s table tennis per week doesn’t seem too much to ask, now, does it?
If you would like to join our group to learn the game, improve your skills or just enjoy playing and socialising, please contact Peter Singer. All are welcome, whether you play regularly, have not played for some time or have never played before.