Well-known umpire Brian Gibbs, who gave many years of service in the Somerset area, has died at the age of 75.

Brian, who was County Umpires Secretary for Somerset for a number of years, qualified as a County Umpire in 1991, a National Umpire in 1996 and an International Umpire in 2000, although he officiated at only one event outside England, at the UK School Games in Wales in 2009. He played for Henton in the Mendip League.

Table Tennis England Vice-President John Burtenshaw, a fellow Somerset stalwart, had known Brian since 1969 and he said: “Brian was outstanding in the umpiring world, taking in the English circuit and helping in many, many local competitions in Somerset and surrounding counties.

“He had been in failing health over many years but never gave up his ability to take part and participate in all he could.

“Table tennis has lost one of the few 100% givers to the sport, it is a great loss to the table tennis world.”

Brian’s funeral will be at Henton Church near Wells, Somerset, on Wednesday June 12 at 11.30am and afterwards at Henton Village Hall.