John Woodford, one of the Association’s longest standing members who covered table tennis for The Daily Telegraph for almost 30 years, died on Saturday. He was 78.
The funeral service will be held at Eastbourne Crematorium on October 5 at 2.30pm.
From his home in Eastbourne, John travelled the world to report on table tennis, covering some 900 events for the Telegraph during that time, including the entry of the sport into the Olympics at Seoul in 1988, two further Olympics and many Commonwealth Games and World Championships. He also wrote for the Sunday Telegraph, the Brighton Argus and for Table Tennis News.
John, who joined what was then the Sports Writers’ Association in the 1960s and went on to serve on its committee, was also a vice-president of the English Table Tennis Association and was still writing about the sport he loved and played until shortly before he died.
David Hunn recalls: “In all the years I lived at Eastbourne, I came to know John very well. He was a great supporter of SWA and a wonderful supporter of table tennis.” David described John as “a fearsome golfer”, who played regularly at Eastbourne Downs GC.
The Association sends its deepest condolences to John’s partner, Barbara, and their children, Steven and Moira.
With thanks to Trevor Bond