Lillington Free Church Table Tennis Club was born in September 1972. The club originated at Lillington Middle School the previous September and consisted of nine ex-pupils, eight girls and one boy.
Four of the six girls pictured here were founder members of the club in 1972. From left to right they are Jayne Sharp, Lorraine Wardle, Angela Hall, Lynn Brison, Rachel Mackriell and Claire Watson. Lynn (mother of Kelly Sibley) and Angela joined in 1973.
All were ranked in Warwickshire. Rachel and Lynn were both destined to become Warwickshire Champions with Rachel attaining the number 11 England Junior girls’ ranking, playing for England Schools and later becoming Sussex Ladies Champion.
The club’s most successful player is one of its more recent members, Kelly Sibley the daughter of Lynn Brison. At the age of seventeen Kelly represented England in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia before going on to become the number one lady on the England ranking list, competing for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games and winning a bronze medal in the Mixed Doubles at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Soon the boys also showed their worth and David Matthews, Stuart Kurle and Mark Williams all attained England rankings.
Lillington Free Church Table Tennis Club is very much a family club and encourages players of all abilities. Whilst we are justifiably proud of the club’s achievements , loyalty is the quality we cherish most.