With sadness I have to report that former player John Netherway passed away on 17th April at the age of 85.
I first met John Netherway in 1967, when he played for Birch Copse in one of the fifth divisions. John was an out-and-out defender and, according to John Dykes, played lawn tennis the same way.
John did a couple of jobs on the Reading Committee in the 1970s and transferred his allegiance to joining the Royal Berkshire Hospital Table Tennis Club. Whilst there as well as playing table tennis he assisted John Dykes with running the monthly quiz in aid of the League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital. I was invited to join them and we ran the quizzes - for over 40 years - first of all from the Royal Berkshire Hospital, then from Battle Hospital, and finally from the Curzon Club until its demise.
John was a perfect gentleman. He did not have a bad word to say about anyone. He took our leg-pulling in good spirits and enjoyed our banter.
When running his home became too much for him he moved into a nursing home. He enjoyed his food and the odd beer and never lost his interest in the ups and downs of Reading Football Club.
John, it was a privilege to know you and I am honoured to call you my friend. You will be missed.
Robin Arthur Lockwood.
Life Vice-President, Reading and District Table Tennis Association.
