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August 2002

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BRITVIC TABLE TENNIS CLUB

Do you remember Britvic Table Tennis Club?”  Formed in 1962 with just 4 players, Ian Gardiner, Chris Wiseman, Ron Barnard and myself, Ray Clements, we entered the Chelmsford & District T.T.League the following year.  In season 1964/65 more players were recruited including Hugh Wensley, Mick Voyce (ex YMCA), Les Pallant, Dave French, Dave Cook & Derek Jones.  The “A” team played in Div 5 against such teams as The National Assistance Board, Springfield Park Baptist, Abbey Works, Crittalls, Rudisco, Rainsford Y.C. & Chelmsford T.T.Club.

Over the years the following players joined the club:  Gary & Andrew Jarvis, Bob Gorham, Maurice Hardy, Pip French, Chris Turner, Malcolm Jacobs, Jamie Watts, Keith Fletcher, Martin & Ken Cracknell, Andy Skues, Geoff Morris, Dave Bradley & yes, even Graham Turner!

In 1967 we signed on the C.T.T.C  Div 4 team of Ken Purton, Ron Mahoney & Dave Hampshire & in 1971/72 season the “A” team reached the dizzy heights of Div 3 playing against teams like Writtle, Post Office, Crittalls, Danbury, R.H.P., Nalgo, Chelmer & Roseberry, which was one of our favourite fixtures.  The matches there were played in the converted garage of the Levett’s home in Rosebery Road, where a balcony was built so we could look down on the play.  I remember especially that the balcony area was heated by an electric fire but when we went down to play it was freezing cold!  The highlight of the evening was the refreshments, including Grace Levett’s home made cakes!

Britvic were also well known for their refreshments & the away teams always enjoyed the left –overs from the canteen lunch including apple pie, pork pie, sausage rolls & large chunks of bread pudding. We would also be given 2 dozen bottles of assorted Britvic Fruit Juices for every match.  In the late 70’s we had a lot of young players & formed a junior team in Div 10 which consisted of Ian Middleton, Claire Milburn, Andrew Cheesewright, Paul Horton, Mark McGregor, Mick Richardson, Tim Abbott, Nicola & Marc Clements.

A sad day for the club was on the 14^th Jan 1980 when the Britvic “D” team were playing E.C.C. “D” in the canteen when the Britvic No 1 Ray Sutton collapsed while playing his second game against Andrew McLaren & suffered a fatal heart attack. The other players in this match were Ray Clements, Mick Devenish & Ken Cracknell (Britvic) & Denis White, Ken Burgess & Colin Watson (E.C.C.).  On a lighter note I recall a match against Chelmer when I was involved in an expedite game against Jim Howson which finished about 11 o’clock & with one game to go involving Andrew Jarvis. We finally finished at 11.45. but  couldn’t get out of the premises as the security guard had locked the gates  We finally escaped around 12.30a.m.

In 1982 we were asked to find another venue as the Company needed the space for re-development.  We were offered all the equipment if we could find somewhere else to play.  This resulted in us moving to the Bowls Club pavilion in Central Park which eventually became the new name of the club.