Graham is the founder of the Cippenham Table Tennis Club and through his extensive public relations, marketing and financial skills the club has massive local publicity, outstanding communication with members, and obtained grants enabling it to be a nationally recognised example of outstanding good practice.

Not only is Graham responsible for most of the public relations activities at the club but he also finds time to be General Secretary and Chairman. Somewhere, in between all that, he also finds time to earn a living too!

Graham is meticulous with his presentation and attention to detail as anyone coming into contact with the club will testify. The following tasks are part of his Press Officer role:
• Newsletter editor
• Webmaster
• Press releases

As Newsletter Editor Graham publishes a four page issue every month throughout the year. These are aimed at both members and visitors featuring reports of all major events, news of those yet to come and diary information. They are beautifully illustrated and painstakingly put together, and he takes great care to include stories of members who, whether adult or junior, just love to have their name “in print”.

As Webmaster Graham produces and maintains what is probably the most extensive Table Tennis website in the country. It is updated regularly and usually on the same day as the event being reported.

In a typical season Graham issues 40 press releases covering 60 stories: that’s a story every week! All major events held at the club and achievements by the club and its members have been reported to the three local newspapers: Slough Observer, Windsor Express and Maidenhead Advertiser. All reports with appropriate interest have then also been sent to TTN and the VETTS Newsletter.

Table Tennis Development Officer of the Year: Waterside
Colin French, TTC

For the last three years Colin has been working on an application to develop a school sports hall into a Table Tennis centre. This has been a long and difficult journey, especially when the final building cost of £240,000 was almost double the original estimate. The centre finally opened in September and is already proving to be a big success.

This great achievement has happened with a small group of volunteers led by Colin under the guidance of former ETTA staff Wes Bush-Harris and Paul Baker.
A long standing, devoted Table Tennis volunteer, other recent highlights include:
• A staggering seventh successful A4A grant aid bid and working in partnership to develop primary and secondary school Table Tennis with sports development officers, competition managers, ETTA supported development officer Sara Lunn and coach Adam Proszko.

Since moving to a four day week at work, Colin has spent most of his Mondays developing TT, attending meetings, coaching and organising. He coaches during the day at his school (unpaid!) – runs an after school club at Testwood - does an early evening junior coaching session at the club at Dibden Purlieu – then is present at the senior club night to welcome newcomers or just play. To cap all that he then packs everything away, locks up and heads home at about 10.30 pm to prepare going back to work the following day for a rest!

Volunteer Co-ordinator of the Year:
Aubrey Hughes, Kidlington TTC

Aubrey is the local “Mr Table Tennis” and has devoted a major part of his life in developing Kidlington Forum TTC and junior Table Tennis in Oxfordshire. Now 74 years young, he is as active as ever being Kidlington Forum TTC Volunteer Co-ordinator, Treasurer and mentor to many players.

He is also a member of Oxford & District League Committee, Oxfordshire County Committee and sits on the National Council on behalf of the county.

A specialist facility for the club has been a hard fought dream for Aubrey for many years, and through his active involvement in countless meetings, planning and funding bids proposals to secure the club new premises should come to fruition at the end of the year making Table Tennis available five nights a week in Kidlington.

Young Volunteer of the Year:
Sarah Holden, Waingroves Methodist Church TTC

Sarah joined our club in September 2007. She had only played Table Tennis a few times on holiday but asked if she could join and learn how to play. Although it is unusual to have a 16 year old complete beginner with much younger children she immediately fitted in very well. A modest player but her help at the club has been invaluable.

She collects the subscriptions and records details in the book. She arranges refreshments for visitors and is setting up a refreshments system for practice nights. From a coach’s point of view it is invaluable to have Sarah there to help on our weekly sessions with the younger children aged 8 to 12.

The committee have been so impressed they have asked her to shadow the Club Welfare Officer with a view to sharing that position when she is old enough.

PremierClub Volunteer of the Year:
Brenda Stephenson, Ormesby TTC

Brenda Stephenson is the pinnacle of a “behind the scenes” unsung heroine - volunteer. It is not unusual for Brenda to spend six or seven days per week at the club.

At the Ormesby Club Brenda’s official role is Treasurer, in addition to managing the club’s popular canteen. Together with Gary Whyman, Brenda also runs the popular Ormesby Saturday morning junior club, which often provides the first introduction to the club and sport for local youngsters, as well as supporting the successful Wednesday morning disability sessions.

Equality Award:
Shaun Newcomb, Waterside TTC

Shaun took up Table Tennis in 2000 when a road accident left him paralysed and wheelchair bound. Since that time his achievements in the sport, both as a player and in his quest to promote the game to others, with or without a disability, have been outstanding and inspirational.

A qualified Level 2 coach, Shaun has adapted his knowledge to coach people with various disabilities including regular sessions at the Spinal Injuries Centre at Salisbury Hospital and sessions with youngsters with learning disabilities. In both cases the sport is as much about rehabilitation as it is about recreation and in the latter case attention spans are very short, requiring regular changes of exercises to maintain interest. Three wheelchair players under Shaun’s tutelage are aspiring to qualify and win medals at the Paralympic Games in London 2012.

On the national front Shaun is on the ETTA’s Equality Committee, and assists with the delivery of the “PremierClub – Ability” disability awareness training to Table Tennis clubs in the south of England. Recently elected as Vice-Chairman of the BTTAD - British Table Tennis Association for people with Disabilities, Shaun sits on their Technical Support Group.