| News Item #a05: Jon De Groot |
| Date: 16th November 2002 |
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The Southend League lost one of it's greatest stalwarts yesterday when Jon De Groot died after a valiant fight against Leukaemia. When Jon first learned he had the dreadful decease 2 years ago, he fought it off and was back playing in the league within 6 months. He never lost his sense of humour or his determination and on visits to the hospital we found him in track suit and on the treadmill. Sadly the illness returned suddenly a few weeks ago and this time there was no let off; we shall all miss Jon greatly. Jon arrived in Southend in the early 80s when his company "The Royal Insurance Company" relocated his department to London from Manchester. His loves were his Family, Table Tennis and Manchester United and he did a lot of charity fund raising before he fell ill. Jon joined the Invicta Table Tennis Club and gained a place in their first team. His team of Jeff Edwards, John Hill, Dave Sibley and Jon was a regular yo yo team in the 80s and early 90s, winning the first Division one year and getting relegated from the Premier the next; too good for Division 1 but not quite up to Premier standard. They were always a hard team to play against, Jon in particular. In recent years his team colleagues included John Golding, John Lott, Maurice Cornish, Talbot Wiseman and Colin Chatfield. Invicta Chairman Norman Creagor said Jon will be missed so very much by all members of Invicta, who will all have fond memories of him. Jon was a man who believed in giving something back to the sport he loved and he became Captain of Invicta A and General Secretary of the Club. He also served on Southend's Management Committee until work commitments intervened. He was always ready to help. Jon regularly entered our Championships with great enthusiasm and again was always quick to lend a hand in the organisation of the Event and 2 years ago he devised a software Programme to speed everything up. He was one of my Clients in London when with the "Royal Ins. Co" and again he was a pleasure to deal with providing you did the job up to the standard he required. He had a great sense of humour, sharp at times but always well meant. Jon's Funeral was held today, Wednesday, at the Jewish Cemetery in Southend and it was attended by a large group of friends and family and both Invicta and the Southend League were represented; it was clear how much he was loved by everyone. Jon will be very much missed and our thoughts are with his wife Carol, his children and family and his many friends. Ken Field Chairman on behalf of the Southend & District Table Tennis League |