Ellenborough Table Tennis Club is inviting current players and former members and coaches to a day of celebrations on Sunday, 1st November
A table tennis club is marking its 90th birthday with a celebration of the older players who say the sport helps keep them “fit, sharp and socially connected”.
Ellenborough Table Tennis Club, founded in 1936, will celebrate its 90th anniversary next month at its venue in Craddock Road, near Enfield Playing Fields.
Among its members are 40 players aged over 50 years, including some members who first started playing at the club in the 1980s. It began in 1936 as an offshoot of Ellenborough Tennis Club, in a Wood Green school in Ellenborough Road.
Ninety years on, Ellenborough is a Table Tennis England Premier Club with a purpose-built home in Enfield — a club that has always prided itself on developing local youngsters.
For many older members, table tennis is about much more than competition. The sport combines movement, hand-eye co-ordination, quick decision-making and social contact in a low-impact setting, making it accessible for people who want to remain active later in life.
Research also suggests regular table tennis can support balance, agility, muscle strength and physical function in older adults, while also providing cognitive and social benefits.
Club chair Paul Perkins said: “Reaching 90 years is a huge milestone, but what makes us proudest is seeing members in their seventies, eighties and beyond enjoying the game every week. While continuing to develop the junior’s players. Table tennis gives people a reason to get out, meet friends and stay active, you are never too old to improve.”
Long-time member Ian Allan, who is still playing at 84, added: “I come for the exercise, but I stay for the people. It keeps me moving, keeps my mind working, and there is always someone to connect with.”
As stated by AgeUK, the benefits of moving more can improve your mood, reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, improve your balance and your range of movement and joint mobility.
To mark the anniversary, the club is inviting current players and former members and coaches to a day of celebrations on Sunday, 1st November, with many past members attending from around the UK. The celebration will also be attended by Enfield mayor Emma Supple.
Ellenborough hosts adult coaching sessions on Wednesday mornings, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, intended for table tennis beginners and returners. It is free for members and costs £5 for non-members, with beginners welcome.
For more information about Ellenborough TT Club:
Visit ellenboroughttc.com
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