Hi Cathedralites,
This week I thought I would share with you the craze we had for table tennis and other racket sports in the school in the fifties.
Back Row: Noel Ezekiel, Percy Mistri, Kai Lam, Vijay Nayar,
Ramesh Mirchandani, Armeane Choksi, ?, ?
Seated: ?, David, the late Brian Abraham, Nalin Dharia,
Ashok Ruia, Ashok Kapur
Seated on the ground: Sudhir Anand, Roger Clay, ?
We used to have to set up the table in the school hall during the lunch hour and after school if we wanted to play. There were two tables, the better one being reserved for the 8 top seeds, the other wobbly one being the one on which us lesser mortals were allowed to play.
There was usually a mad rush once the school lunch bell rang to be the first one to get to the table. We used to charge down to the hall and the order was stricly on a first come, first serve basis.
Everyone got a game and there was a quick turnaround over the lunch hour. We were allowed 10 warm-up shots before being asked to play a game. The last ones playing before the lunch break ended had to put up the tables and prop them against the wall before returning to class.
The evenings were better as those who stayed were few and we used to get a fairly clear run on most days, even playing best of three, in many instances. We could occasionally even steal a couple of games on the better table.
We were all extremely possessive about our rackets and I was lucky to be given a Barna one year as a birthday present. It lasted me for as many as 10 years. The sponge rackets had not yet made their mark in those days, the best ones being just plain pimpled rubber.
Every Monday morning there was a seed list put up on the notice board just by the tuck shop. Anyone could challenge any of the seeds by paying 4 annas, later raised to 50 paisa, at the tuck shop and putting a mark on the notice. The challenge had to be played on the Friday afternoon, unless another time was agreed, the choice being dictated by the seed.
The most unusual people were the best players. During our years, the John Saxon of the school, 59er Ramesh Mirchandani, who is married and settled in Canada, was undoubtedly the most stylish and best player.
I used to take great pleasure in challenging Ramesh as that way I got two games in a row on the better table and also I got to play against a really good player.
Ramesh always whipped me, but it was great fun as I would promptly practice harder to try and beat him the next time. I never did, although in one of my final attempts I did get a single game of him. I still remember that happy day!!
I do not recall Ramesh, however, taking part in any other of the blood sports in school as cricket, hockey or football.
59ers Sudhir Anand, Armeane Choksi, Neelam Lakhani, Ramesh Mirchandani, Jangoo Moos, Percy Mistry and Vijay Nayar were all good table tennis players. I was lucky that I got a chance to play against all of them as it stood me in good stead when I went to study in London where, without much effort, I got into the college league team and also did well in the London University Open Championships. (Never won anything!!)
Also, when I sailed home from Venice round the Cape if Good Hope (the Suez was closed) with my family in 1969 I was runner-up playing the game on a lilting and listing ss. VICTORIA somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.
I wonder whether this mad tradition of table tennis still exists in the school. Is there still the rush to get in just a couple of games during the lunch hour?
More reminisences in a fortnight, probably about the quad football traditions of the fifties!
Regards
Jacob Matthan
Savage House Captain 1959
Oulu, Finland
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