A visit to the 'Bat and Chat' table tennis club in Cheslyn Hay, which is going from strength to strength.

Express & Star

Transcript

00:00Okay, John, so you're club secretary with Batten Chat.

00:03We started in 2019.

00:05Right, so it's been going six years and I believe that the numbers have dramatically

00:10increased since you started.

00:11Well, when we started we only had four members.

00:13Four members?

00:14Yeah, which was obviously, but you know, all through Covid we opened as well and now we're

00:19getting between 30 and 40 a week.

00:21That's incredible, isn't it?

00:23It's also reduced isolation.

00:24So what do you put it down to?

00:25What do you think the appeal is?

00:27I think that what we put it down to is the friendliness, the companionship, because lots

00:34of people have dementia or widowers and stuff like that and it's a way of getting together

00:39and just enjoying a couple of hours of activity.

00:42It's a social aspect, I suppose, isn't it?

00:44And we do loads and loads of activities, we take them all out for meals.

00:48Oh, do you?

00:49So it's not just this then?

00:50No, no, no.

00:51So how often do you do that?

00:52Sorry?

00:53How often do you do that?

00:54About every month or so.

00:55Right.

00:56We go out 50 people.

00:57Fantastic.

00:58So what kind of things do you do?

01:00We go out for meals, we go for beer and skittles, you know, we go for horse racing nights and

01:05because we're non-profit, all the money we raise goes back to the community.

01:10Yeah, because it's so important isn't it to get out?

01:12I think so.

01:13You know, it's six years, we're all very proud of what we've achieved, I mean, you can see,

01:20and the laughter.

01:21Yeah.

01:22That's very, very important.

01:23I was going to say, everybody seems to enjoy it.

01:24We started it off just as beginners, because what we didn't want to do, we didn't want

01:27people to be intimidated, because people were really good.

01:31Yes.

01:32But over the years, a lot of people have improved no end.

01:35That's brilliant.

01:36Yeah, it is.

01:37There's something for them to look forward to, is it every two days a week?

01:42Yeah, Wednesday is 1.30 to 3.30 and Thursday is 2.30 to 4.30.

01:47Fantastic.

01:48So what would you say to anybody who's thinking of joining or wanting to come along?

01:51Everybody's welcome.

01:52Yeah.

01:53We don't turn anybody away.

01:54If we can improve their quality of life in some way, so be it, you know, but it's been

02:00an exercise.

02:01And it's here at the Village Hall in Chesley May, isn't it?

02:03Yeah.

02:04We've been here nearly two years.

02:05Yeah.

02:06We was down at Chesley May, at Salem Church before that, but we've been here nearly two

02:10years and it's proven so successful.

02:13It's just really, really encouraging and rewarding for us to see them, you know.

02:19So if anybody does want to join, what should they do?

02:22Contact me.

02:23And how do they do that, John?

02:2407846496715.

02:25OK, John.

02:26So you're one of the founder members, aren't you, of the club?

02:33Along with Mr Quinn and Harry and Ray, yes.

02:36Yeah, yeah.

02:37And I believe you're the oldest now.

02:38Is that right?

02:39Do we have to go into this?

02:40Yes, I am.

02:41How old are you, mate, if you don't mind me asking?

02:42I'm 86.

02:43I'm in my 87th year.

02:44I hope I'm like you when I get to 86.

02:45Well, it's all a question of just keeping fit, you see.

02:50This is very good for anti-coordination, dementia and general well-being.

02:56Absolutely.

02:57A lot of more people should play it.

02:58Yeah.

02:59Really should.

03:00Yeah.

03:01So you say that you reckon that's a benefit then of coming along?

03:02Well, I've played now for 71 years.

03:06Have you really?

03:07Yeah.

03:08Good news, mate.

03:09Started just after I left school.

03:10Right, OK.

03:11In 1954.

03:12Wow.

03:13God.

03:15Because I was watching you just then and you've got a good technique.

03:17You know what you're doing, don't you?

03:18Well, if I don't know by now, I never will.

03:23Yeah.

03:24But, so you'd recommend, you know, people to come along then?

03:28Well, funnily enough, very quickly, last year we were on holiday.

03:33We found a table tennis table and my wife says, can I have a go?

03:36Now, we've been married 56 years.

03:38Yeah.

03:39She tells me she hasn't got anti-coordination.

03:40Now it's, when are we playing again?

03:44It's true.

03:45Good news for her.

03:46Yeah, it does.

03:47It's surprising.

03:48Well, there's the evidence.

03:49Seriously, it is.

03:50It's a sport that a lot of people can take up without putting too much effort in.

03:55But at the same time, it really does keep you mentally alert.

03:59Yeah.

04:00Because it's the social aspect as well, isn't it?

04:02It is indeed, yeah.

04:03And this place is ace.

04:04Yeah.

04:05Thanks to that gentleman there.

04:06Fantastic.

04:07Mr. Quinn.

04:08Mr. Quinn.

04:09All right then.

04:11We'll keep it going anyway.

04:12Yeah, we will.

04:13It's a fantastic place, isn't it?

04:14Yeah, it's great.

04:15Absolutely great.

04:16Yeah.

04:17Thanks.

04:18Come on, let's go tonight.

04:19Bath and Shower.

04:20Hooray!

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