International Umpire Bill Moran has died at the age of 86.

A founding member of the AETTU, Bill had a long history in table tennis as a player, International Umpire, County Committee member and a member of many ETTA Committees. He was also a Table Tennis England vice-president.

He was also a former National Councillor as well as treasurer of VETTS and will be a great loss to the sport.

Bill qualified as a County Umpire in 1971, stepping up to National level in 1975 and joining the International ranks in 1977. He officiated as an umpire in Austria, Belgium, China and Denmark.
Bill was a member of the Grimsby, Cleethorpes & District TTA for more than 60 years. Mick Corry, the General Secretary of the local league, said: “Bill Moran was a product of the golden age of table tennis in Grimsby.

“He was a well-liked and respected member of the Association and was a very good player who played most of his career at the top level in Grimsby, winning the Grimsby Men’s, Men’s doubles and Veterans’ competitions in the Grimsby Closed Tournaments. He represented Grimsby at senior and veteran level in the county inter-town matches.

“Not only was he a good player but he was an international umpire who travelled the world to adjudicate in major competitions and he put this knowledge to great effect as Grimsby’s Umpire Secretary for many years and encouraged many people to undertake the County umpires exam.

“Bill was a member of the Grimsby Executive Committee for over 30 years and his service was recognised when he was made a Vice President of the Association.

“He was also involved in his county, Lincolnshire, where he was a past Chairman, Umpires Secretary and representative on the East Midlands Regional Council. At his sad passing he was President of Lincolnshire.

“Bill was one of the original members of the VETTS society and was their representative on National Council.

“Although he has recently stopped playing due to ill health he will be sadly missed as he often dropped in at our centre to watch matches and keep abreast of all the news.”

Bill’s funeral is on Friday December 4 at 1.40pm at the Grimsby Crematorium.