Keith Bell
Keith was a true legend in the history of HTTA and I was asked to write an article on Keith which is detailed in the news article.
When I met Keith a few days before he sadly passed, he handed me his obituary – all typed up and just over a page long.
It was titled, “A very, very ordinary Table Tennis player”.
I was with his good friend Nick Davies and all three of us laughed – a bit of an understatement I said to them both. We spent a couple of hours reminiscing about the “good old days” – when table tennis seemed to be played by everyone and the characters in those days and of course the venues. Smokey filled rooms and many not suitable for all those wonderfully talented juniors. Keith for me was one of those characters, one of the legends of Harrogate Table Tennis Association that we talk about in the pub over a well-earned pint after our league matches. I had the joy in later years to play with Keith at Ripley Star – he was a joy to have as a teammate and I know many of you reading this will have the same feelings and memories.
So, back to Keith’s own reflections – his words and some interjections from myself.
I started playing aged about 9 – 1961 (not seriously) in Khartoum, Sudan – there was only one table with a wonky net and hard bats. – bet many of you didn’t know that!
I preferred snooker because my dad played that or swimming. Didn’t play again ( not seriously) until aged 14 – 1966. 4th year of secondary school they had 2 tables and had to get to school early to get on. – if only it was like that today!
The headmaster wanted us to do schoolwork and wasn’t very encouraging. – not surprised at that Keith - he was the headmaster!
It wasn’t until 17 when I joined Starbeck Methodist Church they had a team in the 5th division of the Harrogate League before moving up to the 3rd division. That’s when I met Richard Scruton. He was a great organiser, and I had a Viva HA van and could drive. - A little bit of HTTA history now – 1965/66 Starbeck Methodist Church reformed from the 3rd Harrogate Boys Brigade . They won the 4th Division in 1966/67.
I then joined Knaresborough Social Club which had a beautiful Stiga table on lino and a soft wood floor (slow or what). Derek Schofield played there and said, “this is the worst, slowest table I have ever played on” (he lost to our defender). – Many of you will remember playing at KSC – it might have had a slow table, but they continued until 1995 and then under various club names until the end in 2005.
By this time, I was attack, attack, attack – (now a bit more serious)
Richard Scruton then said why don’t we join the York League, so we joined Fulford Working Men’ Club in the 3rd division (great Christmas raffles), where the Pidgeon Racers had to walk through interrupting our match to get to their room. At this time, I was playing in the 1st division Harrogate and soon moved up to 1st division York.
Stopped playing in York and joined Yorkshire Bank in the Leeds League, Clayton Heights in the Bradford League (strongest in the area) and Northallerton League. – Keith obviously didn’t spend anytime at home! Four leagues at the same time – think he liked the refreshments afterwards though.
Played in various 1,2 and 3 star tournaments and all of the local closed league. Won Harrogate Division 1 with Knaresborough Social and St Georges (old MOD) quite a few times and Leeds Div1 with Yorkshire Bank but really enjoyed the travelling around with teammates and meeting new interesting players.
I played for Billingham Synthonia (lower league) in the National League for a couple of year(no success) with Ian Plummer, Jevin Chan, Phil Webster and Colin Davidson was the manager.
Then I was 40. THE VETERANS
Now you’re talking. A whole new lease of life, further places to travel, more interesting players to meet. Always with a car full the likes of, Steve Kosmowski, Linda Simpson, Richard Priestley, Nick Davies, Helen Shields, (not all at the same time). What a great time - arriving at the venue, going out for a meal, then the dinner dance on the Saturday evening. Only won 1 runner up Consolation Singles (in the South of England and everyone had to wait to get home because my game was last on). We won the Blackpool over 40’s or 50’s (can’t remember which) with Keith Fellows, only because he told me “stand on the forehand side of the table to serve and receive (backhand only and do no more than a little push) and he would do the rest”
I used to absolutely hate playing against combination bats (what I called deceiving b$st&rd bats). When I played Neubauer I greeted him with a smile on my face and said ”pointing at his bat- you are responsible for loads of my defeats”.
Only ever played in 1 Europeans – Courmayeur (stayed outside of town in a little hotel with the bed looking straight up Mount Blanc through French windows – what a view) and was overwhelmed by the size and set up – I presume the event not the mountain!!
I entered the Elche Europeans in Alicante but unfortunately had a stroke about 3 months before so had to give up my place.
THAT WAS MY LIFE AS A VERY, VERY ORDINATY TABLE TENNIS PLAYER WHO GOT SO MUCH ENJOYMENT FROM THE GREAT SPORT
Okay, those are Keith’s own words – I think you will agree that he does somewhat underestimate his contribution to table tennis in this area!
We know that he played in 5 local leagues and if HTTA is anything to go by then he will have had an impact on every single one of them. In Harrogate, Keith played on and off from 1969 right through to the 2017-18 season – some going. He actually played for a limited number of clubs – he mentioned Starbeck Methodists, Knaresborough Social and St Georges and the only other club I believe he played for was Ripley Star – 14 seasons spanning 1991-92 to 2017-18. I believe he played for St Georges throughout the 80’s. A real sense of loyalty and camaraderie towards his fellow team-mates.
In his own words, Keith highlights meeting and playing against more interesting players. With the number of years played, he certainly achieved this, and it was the discussions afterwards about table tennis, the game, the match and more that made it a pleasure to know you would be playing on his side/against him that evening – it didn’t matter which.
I have tried to list out all his achievements in Harrogate – sadly 4 times runner up in the Men’s singles on every occasion to Richard Whiteley – he wasn’t the only player to suffer this fate!
What’s clear is that Keith liked his doubles, winning the event 4 times with different partners – Cliff Twineham, Nige Pennock, Richard Whiteley & Ricky Slack . He also won 2 mixed doubles and 2 handicap doubles events along with 3 Best Pairs finals. His record shows what a good doubles player he was, he knew his game so well.
He won at least 7 HTTA Division 1 titles – my records are a little sketchy in the 70’s and the list goes on and on.
Everyone I’ve spoken to has only good things to say about Keith – this sums it all up so well:
From Nige Pennock
“One of my fondest memories was playing with Keith and Ian Walmsley for Harrogate Men’s 2nds back in the 1980’s and Keith was our Number 1, and a far better player than me, but he never once made me feel inferior and was so supportive and such a great teammate – and a fabulous player to play doubles with”.
A lovely man, generous in spirit and appreciative of everyone he played against.
I can tell you for certain, that Keith was not a very, very ordinary table tennis player!
Graham Bowland
From the HTTA archives – Keith’s achievements to the end of his playing days in 2017/18:
Division 1 Winner
1976-77 Div1 Winner : Kn Social
1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88 Div1 Winner: St George’s
2007-08, 2011-12, 2012-13 Div1 Winner: Ripley Star
HTTA Closed Tournament
Mens Singles
1980-81 men’s singles runner up to Richard Whiteley
1989-90 men’s singles runner up to Richard Whiteley
1991-92 men’s singles runner up to Richard Whiteley
1992-93 men’s singles runner up to Richard Whiteley
Men’s/Open Doubles
1980-81 men’s doubles runner up with John Troughton to Richard Whiteley & Nige Pennock
1982-83 men’s doubles winner with Cliff Twineham against Len Browning & Ian Walmsley
1984-85 men’s doubles runner up with Mick Emmerson to ?? we don’t know but they must have been good!
1989-90 men’s doubles winner with Nige Pennock against Richard Whiteley & Peter Campkin
1990-91 men’s doubles runner up with Nige Pennock against Richard Whiteley & Peter Campkin
1991-92 men’s doubles winner with Richard Whiteley against Nick Davies & Len Browning
1992-93 men’s doubles runner up with Richard Whiteley to Nick Davies & Len Browning
2012-13 open doubles winner with Ricky Slack against Jan Hoppe & Li Panjun
Mixed Doubles
1974-75 mixed doubles winner with Miss R Danby
1977-78 mixed doubles winner with Mrs Janet Ellis
1980-81 mixed doubles runner up with Mrs Janet Ellis
Handicap Singles
1983-84 handicap singles runner up to Peter Campkin
1983-84 handicap singles runner up to D Scruton
Handicap Doubles
1984-85 handicap doubles winner with Sarah Jackson
1991-92 Handicap doubles winner with Richard Whiteley
Other HTTA Events
Best Pairs
1979-90 Best Pairs winner with John Troughton
1983-84 Best Pairs winner with K Mellor
1984-85 Best Pairs winner with Mick Emmerson
Charity Cup
1976-77 Charity Cup winner with Kn Social A
1977-78 Charity Cup winner with Kn Social A
Divisional Singles
1978-79 Premier Division singles runner up to Nick Davies
Divisional Doubles
1977-78 Premier Division doubles winner with S Kidson against M Batty & J Jefferson
1983-84 Division one doubles winner with Mick Emmerson against Len Browning and Ian Walmsley
Teams played for:
1989-90, 1990-91: St Georges A
1991-92, 1992-93: Ripley Star A
2006-07, 2007-08: Ripley Star A
2008-09, 2009-10, 20010-11: Ripley Star D
2011-12 : Ripley Star B
2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15: Ripley Star A
2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18: Ripley Star C
Represented Harrogate in Yorkshire League over several seasons.
