Obituary - Phyllis Lauder (nee Hodgkinson)

It is with sadness and regret that we acknowledge the death of Mrs Phyllis Lauder who died aged 94 on 11 January 2005. Phyllis enjoyed a lively, lengthy and exciting career as far as Sport and in particular Table Tennis are concerned.

She first picked up a bat in the 1920’s and within a few years was playing for Middlesex in County competition. This was followed by England selection in 1938 and that year she participated in the World Championships which were held in London. In partnership with Doris Jordan (later to become Doris Haydon - Ann Haydon-Jones’ mum) they reached the semi-finals of the Ladies Doubles. Sadly Phyllis’ international career was to be interrupted by the War. This did not prevent her playing, and she frequently participated in exhibition matches for War charities (often with the great Victor Barna). She also managed to find a few local Leagues to play in – and she recalled that the air raids simply became something of an inconvenience to the night.

After the War came marriage to Keith, her daughter Valerie was born and she moved to a new home in Essex. At this time Phyllis was involved in a number of sports; she was a member of the English Touring Party that went to Australia in 1937 to play Hockey and she played Cricket for Essex Ladies (where she was Wicket-keeper). She also achieved a great deal of success at Tennis, Squash and Badminton. However it was her later career in Table Tennis where she achieved her most memorable successes, these being at the World Veterans Championships :

1982 – Gothenburg - Women’s over 70’s singles Gold medal

1984 – Helsinki -  Women’s over 70’s singles Bronze medal

1984 – Helsinki -  Women’s over 70’s doubles Silver medal

1990 – Baltimore - Women’s over 80’s singles Gold medal

1992 – Dublin - Women’s over 80’s singles Silver medal

1992 – Dublin - Women’s over 80’s doubles Gold medal

Phyllis travelled the world with a Table Tennis bat in her hand. She visited China, Japan, India, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries have all welcomed her as a charming yet determined player.

Whilst her playing career was impressive enough she was equally well known as an administrator and with her lively, enthusiastic and pleasant personality it is no surprise that she was honoured by many Clubs and Associations globally. Among her proudest awards have been membership of the ITTF Swaythling Club for International players and Officials (1967), the Corti Woodcock Memorial Award for service to Table Tennis from the Essex County Association (1978), a framed Merit Award from the ETTA (1983) and the ETTA Leslie Forrest Trophy for Services to the Sport (1989).

Phyllis was Essex County Veterans Match Secretary for no less than 25 years during which time she administered up to four teams a season and she was also General Secretary for the Romford and District Table Tennis League from 1967 until 1992. After stepping down as their League Secretary she was deservedly appointed President of the League and even then rarely missed either an AGM or even a Committee meeting until late in 2004.

Her life and achievements are ones which most of us can only imagine and envy, and her passing has been a sad time for all those who knew her.