Following the historic visit to China in 1972, always known as Ping Pong Diplomacy, Alan Hydes received an award from Prince Charles, now King Charles III
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Björne Mellström (1933-2024)
Photo: Christian Heyerdahl A most valued and respected member of the Swaythling Club International, it is with great sadness the passing of Björne Mellström is announced. Born on Friday 10th March 1933, Björne Mellström passed away on Sunday 4th February, just a few days short of his 91st birthday. He won 16 gold medals at the Swedish Championships – five men’s team, five men’s singles, two men’s doubles and four mixed doubles. The leading Swedish player of the 1950s was Tage Flisberg, men’s singles runner up at the 1954 World Championships. In the men’s singles at the 1956 Swedish National Championships, Björne Mellström beat Flisberg in the semi-finals before repeating the feat in the 1957 and 1958 finals. Notably, Björne Mellström competed in six consecutive World
New Zealand Reports
Yvonne Fogarty has kindly brought to our attention the following: The Book Collector Alongside her husband Tony Eyre and four grown up children, she was present for the launch of “The Book Collector - Reading and Living with Literature”. Photo: (left to right): Theresa Eyre Vossen, Sarah Eyre, Yvonne Fogarty, Tony Eyre, Danny Eyre, Michael Eyre The Book Collector - Reading and Living with Literature - a bibliomemoir by her husband Tony Eyre in includes Yvonne’s Pong Diplomacy story, for which he came second in the Shanghai Library competition, He was flown over for the award ceremony! Read: The Book Collector, Tony Eyre The whimsy and magic of Dunedin's second-hand bookstores Friendship First, Competition Second mmm James Morris New Year Honours 2024: Northland table tennis veteran James Morris made officer of
Enjoying the Action at the CCB Europe Top 16
Swaythling Club members, (left to right): Reto Bazzi, Michael Theis, Pedro Moura and Ina Jozepsone enjoying a break in proceedings the Europe To 16 tournament staged in Montreux on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st January. Slovenia's Darko Jorgic won the men's singles, the women's singles was won by Yuan Jianan from France. Full Details: CCB Europe Top 16 Cup
Christmas Cancelled but Visitors from Far North Bring Tidings of Comfort and Joy
All smiles in Aqaba as Norwegian family provides welcome source of motivation Resident in Norway, Alain, Kristin and Ilka Doval were most welcome visitors on Wednesday 3rd January to recently opened Aqaba Table Tennis Academy; the premises located in the very south of Jordan. The town, principally a holiday destination, borders Eliat in Israel, a walkable distance; it is somewhat divorced from the current war in Gaza but there is an effect on life. Many residents in Aqaba have friends and relatives in Gaza, they receive horrific images on their mobile phones; there is sense of helplessness, something is happening over which they have no control. The town has come to a standstill. Therefore, as a mark of respect there were no Christmas
Merry Christmas from Netherlands
Encouraging young players in Lesotho
World Health Festival Proves Successful Initiative
Petra Sorling, ITTF President and member of the Swaythling Club International, addressed all present at the World Health Festival in in Heraklion, Crete. Staged from Wednesday 1st to Sunday 5th November the Swaythling Club International was a major supporter of the initiative. “The main objective of the Swaythling Club International since its creation in1967 is to help others; as it is difficult to help people individually, we decided tofinancially help research concerning diseases such as Alzheimer ‘s and Parkin-son’s. The opportunity was presented thanks to the efforts of the ITTF Founda-tion.” Claude Bergeret, Swaythling Club President. A most successful initiative. Read More...
