Chance encounter brings table’s story to life

They say it’s a small world – and that is never more apparent than when people with distant connections meet up unexpectedly in everyday circumstances.

That’s what happened to Aylsham businessman Russell Postle when he made a chance visit to carry out some domestic electrical work for a customer following a last-minute, early evening call out. While chatting to the customer, Russell mentioned he was playing a table tennis match that evening, so his available time would be limited.

The mention of table tennis ignited fond memories for Donald Newstead, who had been PE teacher at Aylsham High School between 1959 and the early 1980s.
Russell said: “He had also years ago run an evening club for racquet sports including coaching at the school and latterly at the Methodist Hall.
“More importantly, in his spare time Donald also occupied himself by making robust full-sized table tennis tables, producing a total of 160 between the late 1960s and early 1970s. He believes a dozen may still be in circulation.
“By remarkable coincidence, my father Richard (son of John Baden Postle who founded the electrical retail business back in1923) being a keen exponent of the game himself, had actually bought one of Donald’s sporting creations for using at home.”

Russell recalled having fierce battles but fun times with his father and other family members competing on the table. And it is now proudly located in Russell’s garage and frequently made use of when Russell invites table tennis playing friends around for social gatherings.

Russell added: “What makes this story even more intriguing is that only a couple of days before meeting Donald for the very first time, I was moving the table around. It had occurred to me just how well it had been made, but that I knew nothing about its provenance.
“It had literally crossed my mind that I would love to meet the person who was responsible for having manufactured this lovely vintage table tennis table, and astonishingly it was only a couple of days later my wish came true.”

Russell took the opportunity to ask Donald if he would kindly come round and sign the table tennis table for him. Sure enough, a day or so later Donald and his wife Mary visited Russell’s home, inspected and duly signed the treasured table.

TOP TABLE: Donald Newstead (centre) and his wife Mary with Russell Postle and the table tennis table Donald made.