A local group started playing table tennis at Goodrich Village Hall two years ago, having won a Sports England grant to buy three top quality tables.

There are now 20 regular players who meet weekly on a Monday morning and Thursday evening throughout the year. A third of the players live in Goodrich, with most others travelling from around Ross, Monmouth or Drybrook.

During the winter months, Thursday night is usually match night; there are two teams in the Hereford Table Tennis League 3rd Division, playing against six other teams around the county. The team players range in age from 15 to well over 70.

Monday mornings continue as the social sessions for all-comers who are lucky enough not to be working. Most of the retired players are reviving skills learnt in youth clubs years ago, but they also have some regulars who started as complete beginners two years ago, and are steadily improving their skills. Some members come every week, while some turn up mainly on wet mornings when golf seems less appealing.

Players attend as often or as little as suits their lifestyle (and all those retirement holidays). There is no annual membership fee; you just pay £2 per session that you attend. Anyone is invited to join the group for the Monday morning meetings. Just turn up at about 10am.

They are now branching out with a 3rd session on Sunday evenings. This starts at 5.30pm and is aimed mainly at younger players who want to learn the sport, who are otherwise occupied with school or work on Monday mornings.

If you or your children might be interested in joining the new Sunday evening sessions, or playing competitively at League standard, please contact Rosemary Chatterton for more information. Email [email protected] or call 01600 891308.