Table Tennis England Volunteer of the Year Chris Beckley extols the virtues of table tennis in a book which showcases healthy living.

He is featured in A Picture of Health – Collecting Perspectives, published by the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Chris, who coaches across London and runs the Clissold club in Stoke Newington, said his inclusion came about because one of his students works at the MRC and was collating views for the book from various people on what healthy living meant to them.

The book includes contributions from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and former Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King, alongside testimonies from community figures.

Chris’s entry in the book includes the line: “A table tennis club offers loads of fun for members of all ages to learn bat, ball and hand and eye co-ordination skills and, more importantly, raise their fitness levels, get active and stay healthy.”

Chris said: “I gave an insight on how well table tennis is helping my life and health and of course how much of a lifeline my work is, running clubs and sessions and coaching people – inspiring, encouraging and improving my customers’ table tennis skills.”

Click here to read about the 2022 Pride of Table Tennis winners, including Chris.