Chester Barnes, the racket his trademark by Diane Webb & Ian Marshall England international, Chester Barnes passed away on Thursday 18th March; born on Monday 27th January 1947 in Forest Gate, east London, he was 74 years old. He died of a heart attack. Always known as Chester but in fact legally George. The legend is that his father suggested “Chester” after the entertainer, Charlie Chester, one of the most celebrated comedians, radio and later television presenters of the era; a man who could talk the hind leg off a donkey! Perhaps it suited, Chester Barnes was no mean conversationalist. It was an era when England needed a table tennis star; Diane and Rosalind Rowe, alongside Johnny Leach, being world champions were household names, but
