Paula Cant hit the headlines in the 1950s when, as the young Paula Songer, she won a national knock out tournament organised by the Daily Mirror. A glittering future in table tennis seemed to be beckoning but although she won numerous honours at County level, she never progressed to an England spot for which she had appeared destined.
Instead, she concentrated on her family life and confining her talents to the domestic scene as far as table tennis was concerned. So much so that she was mentioned as a stalwart of the League in the Management Committee minutes when turning in a match winning performance for Crittalls in the final of the 1971/2 Ladies Team Knock Out.
Paula's name looms large in the Chelmsford League honours. The inaugural winner of the Junior Girls Singles in 1953-54, she retained that title for the next two years. Strangely, Paula only once got her name on the Ladies Singles title (in 1963-4), but the Doubles is a completely different story. She was a five times Ladies Doubles champion, twice with Betty Bird and three times with Muriel Buck (Chambers)..
A look down the Mixed Doubles list shows wins in the mid sixties in partnership with Tommy Caldwell and then a long break of eleven years before teaming up with Steve Whiteley (in 1974/5) to get the better of an emerging young partnership of Dave Newman and Linda Barrow, her last title at this level. When questioned about this Whiteley was able to reminisce fondly "we certainly played very well for that win".
Paula also won the Ladies Singles in the Braintree League in 1956 / 57 / 58, her first success coming at the age of 17.
In more recent years Paula retained her interest in the sport and was a frequent visitor to the Chelmsford League Finals Night.
Paula is a player who was only ever in the news for the right reasons, and one who was an an unassuming and charming person whom it was a pleasure to know.
Steve Kerns Press Officer Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League
