Marie-Jeanne Urchetti with husband Hugo (Photo: courtesy of Michele Urchetti) by Michele Urchetti Resident at Val Fleuri in Geneva, a medical and social institution for the elderly, after contracting Coronavirus (COVID-19), Marie-Jeanne Urchetti passed away quietly, without suffering, on Monday 13th April. Born in 1930 in the Swiss village of Le Châble in Valais; from 1937 to 1945 she lived in Martigny, before residing in Le Bouveret and then St. Maurice. In 1945 she moved to Geneva with her mother, sister Suzanne and brother Pierre. Later from 1946 to 1950 she worked as a secretary at the Pictet Bank and SA Import Company, before leaving for England where she resided until 1952. In 1956 she married Hugo Urchetti, a founder member of the Swaythling
Year: 2020
On this day, John Hilton, European champion
John Hilton, against incredible odds, the 1980 European champion (Photo: courtesy of Diane Webb) by Ian Marshall, Editor List successes that have stunned; not just in the world of table tennis but in the whole sporting sphere, nothing can matches the efforts of England’s John Hilton on Sunday 13th April 1980. At odds of 1000:1, he won the men’s singles title at the European Championships in Bern. Resident in his native Manchester, at the time the 32 year old was an insurance salesman in his local area; in Bern he was very much the third player in the England team. Under the guidance of Peter Simpson, alongside Desmond Douglas and Paul Day, John Hilton was selected for every match in the men’s team event; the
New dates for 2020 World Veteran Championships
The city of Bordeaux ready to fulfil the role of host (Photo: Franck Tomps / LVAN) by Ian Marshall, Editor Staged in the French city of Bordeaux, the new dates for the 2020 World Veteran Championships are Monday 26th April to Sunday 2nd May 2021. The decision was approved by the International Table Tennis Federation following extensive discussions between the Swaythling Club International, the Local Organising Committee and the French Table Tennis Federation. by Ian Marshall, Editor Notably the same two venues as in the original proposal, when in May 2015 at the Qoros World Championships in Suzhou the tournament was awarded to Bordeaux, will be used. The Velodrome will host 36 tables, the Exhibition Centre 152 tables; in addition 40 tables will be available
Five years absence, six world titles follow
Angelica Rozeanu, the owner of more titles at a World Championships than any other player (Photo: courtesy of Table Tennis Legends) by Ian Marshall, Editor Players confined to barracks, not able to enter the training hall; how long will the situation last? At the moment we simply do not know the answer; perhaps three months, daily we scan the internet for the latest on COVID-19. In a totally different era, a totally different situation, for the most successful female player of all time, she wondered if there would ever be an end to the isolation; there was but it took almost five years! Accepted that in her day, the World Championships were held on an annual basis, not biennial as from 1957; nevertheless the
Han Sangkook, respected worldwide, remembered
Han Sangkook, a most caring human being (Photo: Rémy Gros) by Ian Marshall, Editor It is with great sadness that the death of Han Sangkook is announced; he passed away on Friday 20th March. Born in 1936, he was 83 years old. Over the years we have admired the speed and athleticism of players from the Republic of Korea; the modern day era continues that tradition. In a different way but equally important, Han Sangkook maintained the values of his country, the qualities of respect, good manners, astute administration and caring for his fellow man. A university education in the United States, a teacher by profession at a private school, in 1976 he assumed his first role in officialdom, President of the Republic of Korea