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