Popular table tennis player and coach dies, aged 76

Tributes have been paid to a popular table tennis player and coach who devoted much of his life to the sport he loved.

Hugh Bartholomew died peacefully on Saturday at Sandridge House in Ascot, aged 76.

After moving to Maidenhead in 1956, Hugh joined the Maidenhead & District Table Tennis league and competed for 50 consecutive years.

Hugh, who spent much of his life working at Doig Springs in St Peters Road, would go on to help build up the club and became the most successful male players in the history of the mixed doubles in the Maidenhead Closed Championships.

He served in the league's committee for a number of years, including three years as chairman, and trained as a coach in 1970 to pass on his knowledge and experience to young people.

Soon after, he founded the Castle Hill Table Tennis club, which grew to become one of the most powerful leagues in the region.

Hugh retired from the game in 2006 and a year later was awarded a silver plate by the Maidenhead & District league for his years of service.

Hugh's funeral will take place at Slough Crematorium on Tuesday.