TABLE tennis players and administrators thoughout East Kent have been saddened by the death of stalwart Bernard Emm who has died at the age of 85.

Mr Emm had served on the Canterbury and District Table Tennis Association's committee for nearly 50 years, at one time as chairman, and was league match secretary at the time of his death.

He played for Whitstable Natives until April, 2002, and could justly claim that he was one of the oldest ETTA registered players in the country.

In his earlier days Mr Emm would transport youngsters to Kent League matches, and he also helped at the annual tournament in which he also took part for many years.