| News Item #a03 |
| Date:23rd October 2001 MIKE WATTS - OBITUARY - 1937-2001 |
MIKE WATTS - OBITUARY - 1937-2001 The name "Mike Watts" is perhaps one of the best known in Essex Table Tennis Circles as Mike has been involved in all levels of the Sport - as a top-class player, League Official, County Official and Official of the National Association. Current Southend League Chairman Ken Field credits Mike for having done more to raise the profile of their League than anyone else having served as Chairman, General Secretary, Tournament Organiser, Inter-League Team Captain and Dance Organiser. Mike was a three times Mens Singles Champion of the Southend League and in all he won seventeen titles in the Southend League. In Chelmsford Mike was a member of the successful Maldon team of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mike was Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion in 1970 and he won the Mens Doubles title in 1970 with Tommy Caldwell and in 1971 with Steve Whiteley. He also took the Mixed Doubles title in 1972 with Jean Wadling. In later years he played for Danbury. One of Mike's most successful ventures was as the first Chairman of VETTS (the Veterans English Table Tennis Society) in the early 1980s which has gone on to become the sport's most popular playing age-group. As the spokesman for this group of players Mike may have found himself in conflict with the National Association but he managed to maintain diplomatic relations with them to such an extent that he was given the prestigious job of organising the 1997 World Championships in Manchester. If that wasn't enough work Mike was also a Co-Organiser of the very succesful 1998 World Veterans Championships (again held at the G-Mex Centre in Manchester) the largest Table Tennis event held in this Country. Mike also served the County Association as County Chairman and General Secretary. Mike's last job was perhaps fitting for someone with the same love of the Sport as him - Eastern Region Development Officer based at Causeway House in Braintree. Despite moving to Fakenham in Norfolk Mike maintained a close link with his Essex friends and it was no surprise to hear that he had played for Norfolk's Veterans teams or that he had become the Norfolk National Councillor. The ETTA made a fitting gesture on Saturday 13 October (the day before Mike's death) calling an Extraordinary General Meeting at their National Council Meeting in Milton Keynes to confer ETTA Life Membership to Mike, one of the sport's most genuine and tireless enthusiasts. |