Harold Webb, the President of Ellenborough Table Tennis Club in Enfield, sadly died on January 14th after a fall at home. Here, the Ellenborough committee pay tribute to Harold.
Harold Webb was always passionate about table tennis. He joined the Ellenborough Table Tennis Club as a young man in the early 1960s but took a short break in order to concentrate on passing his Quantity Surveyor exams.
A few years after his return he took over as Club Secretary. After the wooden clubhouse was destroyed by fire in 1972 he was involved in lengthy discussions with the Council in order to find a replacement home for the club and was eventually offered a disused first aid post with room for two tables, which was on the present site near Enfield Town.
Several reincarnations resulted in the excellent building and facilities that we know today and the club, now a TTE Premier Club for many years, carries on but would not be in existence in its present form, if at all, without the dedication and efforts of Harold Webb.
In recent years Harold was Ellenborough’s Club President as well as holding various committee positions, until recently including those of Treasurer and Premises Officer. In addition, Harold ran the Supporters Fund, which helped to maintain contact with many past members.
Harold was also a member of Winchmore Hill Cricket Club, secretary of their table tennis section (which he was instrumental in reviving) and, at some point, became a trustee. He was also involved with other local sports-related organisations.
He was a committee member of the North Middlesex Table Tennis League for some 50 years and of the Middlesex Table Tennis Association. He was also a member of the MCC, a dedicated Arsenal supporter and an avid collector of books, programmes, sporting memorabilia, etc.
Harold’s professional knowledge was invaluable in all things to do with the various council employees, negotiating of leases, etc. His many contributions were unpaid and unquantifiable. He will be greatly missed by many.