Cambridge & District TTL 1946-1947

Les Constable's report on the season

This season saw New Chesterton Institute head the first division of the League despite strong challenges from the Telephones Club and Trinity College. They had such payers as Frank Jeffrey, Les Betterman and Wally Allen leading them and fully deserved their success. Strangely the YMCA club was at a very low ebb and a piece in the Sports Gossip [section] of the Cambridge Daily News bemoaned this fact bearing in mind the great previous successes of the team before the war with the likes of Bill Humphries, Reg Edwards and Ray Barrer. Things had certainly changed from the days before the war although teams like Wesley and St Matthews were now struggling for their position in Division 1. Both just escaped relegation this season.

Trinity College topped the Varsity League this season which league consisted of several divisions. Despite this Cambridge lost to Oxford in the Inter Varsity match and in their team was J.Kirbyshire of Trinity College (who won the Cambs Closed this particular season) and F.S.Aldercotte who later played for Cambs quite successfully.

Bedford and St Albans both beat Cambridge in friendly matches but table tennis was again booming in Cambridge at this time as later events proved. Norman Brand was a leading light for Cambridge at this time and paved the way for players like John Cornwell, John Thurston and George Lawrence also Fred Tilbrook who was to be a very good administrator.