Peter Fordham – table tennis player, coach and committee member – has passed away at the age of 80.

When playing, Peter used the penholder grip and was mainly a determined defensive player who could test the patience of many of the local top players in the Bury St Edmunds League.

In 1998 Peter became the first Chairman of the new Bury St Edmunds Table Tennis Club and shortly afterwards set up the Suffolk & Cambs Border Junior League. This league has been instrumental in giving young players their first taste of competitive table tennis outside of their parent club. Many of those  players are now playing at a higher standard in the local league and some have represented Suffolk in the Junior County Championships.

Peter qualified as a Level 2 ETTA coach and helped run sessions at several schools in the area. Peter was heavily involved in committee work. Offices he held were: Chairman of the Bury St Edmunds League; Chairman of Bury St Edmunds Table Tennis Club; Secretary of Suffolk County Table Tennis Association; county representative on the National Governing Body. Peter was also an Honorary Life Member of the Bury St Edmunds Table Tennis League.

There was no doubting Peter’s complete commitment to all aspects of table tennis in the area and the effects of this will impact for years to come. Our sport has lost a good friend.

Peter’s funeral will be held at 11.30am on Monday 16th December at West Suffolk Crematorium.