Events conspire, the Wembley fairy tale

The Lady Dowager Swaythling presents the W.H.Pope Cup to Diane (left) and (right) Rosalind in London in 1954 (Photo: courtesy of Diane Schöler) by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor The city is Düsseldorf, it is the home for the forthcoming Liebherr 2017 World Championships, proceedings commence in the Messeplatz on Monday 29th May. It is also the home for a lady who possesses a record in World Championships Women’s Doubles events that no player can match and no player may ever match. Diane Schöler, the Honorary President of the Swaythling Club International, is the lady in question. The former Diane Rowe; on Wednesday 14th April 1954, partnering her 20 minutes younger twin sister Rosalind, at the World Championships in London, events conspired to produce one

Reunion in Nottingham, members meet

English Swaythling Club members meet (standing left to right) Alan Cooke, Richard Scruton, Tony Chatwin, Harvey Webb, Jill Parker, Alan Ransome, Jeff Ingber, Nicky Jarvis (seated left to right) Jose Ransome, Ebby Schöler, Diane Schöler, Sandra Deaton (Photo: courtesy of Diane Webb) by Ian Marshall, ITTF Editor The city of Nottingham, home for the recent PG Mutual 2017 English National Championships, was also the host for a meeting of the English branch of the Swaythling Club International, the gathering was held on Sunday 5th March; the concluding day of play in a tournament that has received universal acclaim for the high standard of presentation. Notably Ebby and Diane Schöler, the respective President and Honorary President of the Swaythling Club International were present. It was

Val Langehegermann celebrates 80th Birthday

Cyclist and table tennis player, Val Langehegermann (Photo: courtesy of Val Langehegermann) by Gloria Wagener Born on Friday 26th February 1937; Luxembourg’s Valentin Langehegermann, not only a table tennis player of renown, also a cyclist on the international stage, recently celebrated his 80th Birthday. Alongside wife Kathy, some 60 friends and relatives attended the very special celebration at the Merterter Culture Centre. A former civil servant, always known as Val; as a young man he grew up in competitive surroundings; father was a racing driver. Times have changed but in the era of Val Langehegermann, table tennis was very much a winter sport, cycling a summer sport; thus he was able to combine both disciplines. The period 1964 to 1972 were the peak years of his