History Notes (4) ... The boom years

Writing in TTR, in Sept. 1948, Bill Vint records that the World Championships that were held in England in 1935 (and for which he had been the hon. treasurer) had made a loss of 515. But, he goes on to say, ...

'It turned out to be money well lost. New leagues came into existence and in the following four years we recruited 45,000 additional players into our clubs. The press took us seriously and we achieved our rightful status in the sporting world'

In TTR, in September 1947, whilst arguing the case for central venues, L Woollard recalled those boom years during which Hungary had dominated world table tennis ...

'Why not [have] a "County Table Tennis Hall" the facilities of which would be common to all leagues (if more than one) in the county? As an inspiring reminder of the time of the Hungarian world supremacy, there were in Budapest alone four or five halls each having between 30 and 40 tables, and this apart from many club halls'.

Exhibition table tennis was also popular in those days, and no doubt played its part in the growth of the sport. One such exhibition partnership used to be advertised as ... "Alec Brooke and Victor Barna are partners in what is probably the most thrilling table tennis stage act in the world".

In TTR in January 1948, Alec Brooke reflects on those years ... mentioning that he and Victor were entertaining the public for the summer season at the Tower Circus in Blackpool when a Mr George Black, who just happened to be in the audience, booked them up for a run at The London Palladium.

But this run at the Palladium must have continued into the war years because at times, he writes, their exhibitions were interrupted by "Doodle-Bugs".