PLAYERS from the Okehampton and district Table Tennis League are set to say goodbye to one of its great servers, when Peter Richardson steps down from his role as league secretary. Peter, who lives in Moretonhampstead, has been the secretary of the league for four years and a member of Okehampton Table Tennis Club in Castle Road for five years. The keen table tennis player is moving to retire to Christchurch in Dorset but he told the Times that he will miss many friends in the area, particularly from the club. Peter, who works for the post office at Moretonhampstead, comes originally from Essex and has enjoyed the game since an early age. 'I have always enjoyed table tennis and started off playing the game on a table at home with my brothers and sisters and was bitten by the bug. 'I am sure that the league in Okehampton will get bigger over the next few years. Two more teams are joining in from Tavistock next season and there are so many youngsters at Okehampton playing now, so we are quite excited for the future. We all support each other and playing table tennis has been a real team effort. 'I have met some wonderful friends here, friends who will last a lifetime and I will certainly keep in touch.' Fred Phillips, the chairman of Okehampton tennis club, thanked Peter for all the hard work he has put into his role as league secretary. He said; 'He has been excellent and will be sorely missed we wish him well. People like Peter are hard to replace and any table tennis club would be fortunate to have him as a member.'
l Pictured left to right Fred Phillips and Lorraine Robinson, the secretary of Okehampton Table Tennis Club, bid a fond farewell to Peter Richardson (centre). Picture by James Bird