Cambridge & District TTL 1946-1947
Les Constable's report on the season
This season saw New Chesterton Institute head the first division of the League
despite strong challenges from the Telephones Club and Trinity College. They
had such payers as Frank Jeffrey, Les Betterman and Wally Allen leading them
and fully deserved their success. Strangely the YMCA club was at a very low ebb
and a piece in the Sports Gossip [section] of the Cambridge Daily News
bemoaned this fact bearing in mind the great previous successes of the team
before the war with the likes of Bill Humphries, Reg Edwards and Ray Barrer.
Things had certainly changed from the days before the war although teams
like Wesley and St Matthews were now struggling for their position in
Division 1. Both just escaped relegation this season.
Trinity College topped the Varsity League this season which league consisted
of several divisions. Despite this Cambridge lost to Oxford in the Inter
Varsity match and in their team was J.Kirbyshire of Trinity College (who won
the Cambs Closed this particular season) and F.S.Aldercotte who later played for
Cambs quite successfully.
Bedford and St Albans both beat Cambridge in friendly matches but table
tennis was again booming in Cambridge at this time as later events proved.
Norman Brand was a leading light for Cambridge at this time and paved the
way for players like John Cornwell, John Thurston and George Lawrence
also Fred Tilbrook who was to be a very good administrator.