Table Tennis England Vice-President John Freeman passed away in June at the age of 91.

John, who became an ETTA Vice-President in 1999, was Chairman of the Board of Appeal from 1994 to 2015.

A member of the Tournaments Committee from 1973 to 1987, he also received the Merit Award (now the Maurice Goldstein Award) in 1989 and a Special Award in 2013.

But it was in the Royal College of Berkshire that he was best known. For the County TTA, he was President from 1992 to date and had two previous stints as Chairman and one as General Secretary. He actively served on the committee from 1962 to 2013 and became a life member in 1980.

He was a stalwart of the Reading & District TTL, having been on the Committee for most years since 1962, notably as Chairman, Handbook Secretary and, since 1984, as President. He was awarded life membership of the league in 1979.

John was an International Umpire, a qualification he gained in 1974, and officiated at the Commonwealth Championships in 1979. His County Umpire qualification was gained in 1962 and he became a National Umpire in 1969. In 1975, he attained the National Referee qualification.

He played for Woodland TTC, where he was also Chairman or Secretary at various times from 1964 to 1988, and Tilehurst Methodists TTC.

His funeral took place earlier this month in Tilehurst.