Brighton Table Tennis Club hit another high spot by holding a special exhibition match at the top of the i360 tower in the city.
The weather and mood could not have been better as the club closed its doors at 3.30pm and the nearly 100 strong group, dressed in vibrant red, walked from Kemptown to the tower for a 20-minute flight at 5pm.
Two tables were placed in the pod of the seafront attraction, as members from all walks of life boarded amidst whoops and cheers.
Former Brighton and Hove mayor Councillor Pete West was there, along with three-time UK-Chinese champion and club coach Wen Wei Xu, while ITV reported on the event too.
The idea came from 11-year-old club member Mason Tangmar, who received a massive round of applause during the event.
Last year the BTTC became the first Brighton “Club of Sanctuary,” a distinction awarded by the City of Sanctuary Network for welcoming refugees and asylum seekers and providing a safe haven.
An i360 spokesman said: “We greatly admire the work of Brighton Table Tennis Club and we share mutual ambitions about inspiring young people to aim high.
“When we heard Mason’s fantastic idea of playing table tennis on the pod we were delighted to help make his dream come true.”
Tim Holtam, club co-founder and director, said: “We are very grateful to the i360 for supporting this community initiative. The players taking part, included children, some of them with learning difficulties, young refugees and young people from the travelling community.”
After the flight, BTTC set up two tables on the promenade outside the i360 and demonstrated their skills to sun seekers.
The club was founded in February 2007 by Tim Holtam and Harry McCarney, two ex-international table tennis players. They wanted to share their enthusiasm for the sport with amateurs and disadvantaged young people throughout the city.
BTTC believes in an all-inclusive programme to increase awareness of the health and fitness benefits of playing table tennis. It runs training sessions for anyone who may be interested, from cancer patients, Afghan war refugees, pensioners, schoolchildren to plain enthusiasts.
