Joy at table tennis club of sanctuary

BRIGHTON Table Tennis Club was founded in February 2007 by Tim Holtam and Harry McCarney, two ex-international table tennis players, who wanted to share their enthusiasm for the sport with keen amateurs and disadvantaged young people throughout the city.

It was not long before they were joined by former table tennis Chinese champion and legend in his homeland, Wen Wei Xu. He came over from China to be with family, found the table tennis club and stayed as a coach, bringing his wealth of experience, humour and enthusiasm to training sessions.

But the club had humble beginnings. It started with just two broken old tables and over ten years, has grown into the umbrella organisation it is now, hosting 100 tables across Brighton.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life are now playing the sport and last year, BTTC became the first Club of Sanctuary a distinction awarded by the City of Sanctuary Network for welcoming refugees and asylum seekers and providing a safe haven along with table tennis tuition.

And the club has picked up other prestigious awards.

It won Brighton and Hove's Council's Sports Club of the Year in 2014 and a national award for table tennis club of the year.

BTTC has now built up a track record of working with young people and became a recognised charity in January 2015 - Charity Number 1160103

Its disability programme was founded in December 2013.

In September 2015, the club moved to its now permanent address, the former site of St John the Baptist Primary School, The Fitzherbert’s Centre, at 36 Upper Bedford Street, Kemp Town, Brighton.

And to celebrate its tenth birthday, the club is holding an open evening there tomorrow, Thursday February 23 - anyone is welcome.

Tim, a former school teacher and Harry, managing director of a software company and international junior table tennis player, both believe an enriching programme should be the aim of every sports club and want to bridge the gap between the perception of sports clubs as either exclusive, elite centres, only available to a few, and traditional community halls. “We are offering a set up that could be replicated over the country, if we get it right,” says Tim.

“I wish more clubs would at least try to aspire to what we want to do.”

The club is currently working on a major indoor refurbishment to the building, due to be completed within the next month.

The outside of the building was renovated and decorated last year.

Councillor and former mayor Bill Randall, a trustee at the club says it is, “one of the city’s brightest sporting lights. It helps people from many communities and all ages keep fit in mutual support and friendship”.

BTTC has teams in the senior British league, eight teams in the Brighton League and junior teams, all playing around the city

Chris O’Flinn, 30, used to play football, but has been ferociously committed to table tennis for four years. “I have got Down's Syndrome and hay fever but I can play table tennis like anyone,” he says.

Chris describes his condition as having, “thunder and lightning in his head,” similar to the symptoms of epilepsy.

Yet he feels younger than his age and when he leaves the club after a good session, he is happier, fulfilled and more energised.

Chris lives in a shared house in Hove with others with learning difficulties. He plays table tennis two to three times a week at group sessions and one-to-one sessions.

"All the coaches are fantastic,” says Chris.

If you do not get Wen Wei Xu, you might get Tim, or Pedro.

One of Chris’ favourite coaches is Ciccio, a gardener from Sicily, who came to play at the club four years ago, eventually took coaching qualifications and now runs disability groups at the club on Fridays.

“They all bring sunshine to my life,” says Chris.

He has been living in Brighton since his mum moved to England from Dublin in 2000 and now plays as part of BTTC’s Down’s Syndrome team.

He has just returned from Sweden representing Brighton in a club exchange with two other learning/physical disability teams from Sweden and Berlin.

He has already been to Sweden three times and Berlin twice – all of this courtesy of a 50,000 Euro donation from the EU who back the idea of exchange programmes and like what BTTC are doing.

Next year, the EU is donating 500,000 Euros to spread the exchange to other countries like Greece and Estonia.

Chris feels privileged and uplifted to be part of all of this - his competitive spirit cannot be suppressed

“I want to be the number 1 in the world,” he says.

“I’m fantastic at beating everyone. I won’t give the Swedes a chance this year,” he says with a twinkle in his eye.

“As you can see, BTTC have taught me how to feel good about myself. I am a multi-tasker now - I know I can carry on. I’m always healthy and realise the benefits of looking after my body. Eat well and take sport - it will all help you.”

If table tennis can help with hand to eye co-ordination and fitness, there are other more subtle benefits from playing – how to compete with respect with a healthy team spirit, how to take a loss, how to be more resilient, how to handle triumph, how to communicate and interact more cohesively with strangers - to see them as less threatening - how to think differently, to feel less isolated - to be more open to the world.

And at BTTC, Chris has found himself a brand new social life with like-minded people.

Of the club Chris says, “Everyone there has become my family - I’m a new man because of it - they are my future and I would never leave them. They have shown me the way to get through my situation. Now I want to be a champion and commit to the club for the rest of my life. This is a big motivation for me. I could teach young kids, other adults with learning disabilities and the golden oldies in the future. You see, I don't see myself as disabled any more. I feel fit, strong, powerful and successful through achieving in table tennis.“