Sylvia Coombs-obituary
Published 05/02/2024 at 15:44:35 by Michael Howard; edited 2 times, last on 09/02/2024 at 17:00:07 by Michael Howard.
Bill Clark has learned of the death on 31 January of Sylvia Coombs, a life Member of the League since 1996. Sylvia had been the League’s General Secretary for some years in the early 1980s and received the League’s President’s Trophy for 1984/5. She was the league’s representative to Bucks County TTA for some time and was a county player. Sylvia is in the League Committee photograph on the first floor at the Kingston TTC.Sylvia played for the County Arms and Woburn Sands Clubs, moving to play from the Kingston Table Tennis Centre when it opened. Sylvia mainly played for the Choppers in Division 1, dropping to play for the Emperors in Division 3 for her last couple of seasons here, before moving to live in Southern Ireland. Members of her teams at times included Dave Murphy, Andy Smith and Keith Carrington. Many long-standing League players will remember Sylvia.
Bill understands that Sylvia passed away after a short illness in Cork University Hospital in her sleep and without pain. She would have been 90 on 10th February. Funeral arrangements are on Tuesday morning next in Cork. You may care to look up the www.rip.ie website where, if you select Bantry as the Town you will see the announcement and condolences from many who loved her.
Among her league achievements, Sylvia regularly participated in the League’s Closed Championships and won the Ladies Singles in 1983/4 and the Ladies’ Vets in 1988/9 and 1990/1. Sylvia won the Ladies’ Doubles in 1983/4 with Esther Baggaley (now Carter), in 1984/5 with Dawn Campbell, in 1988/9 with Lisa Robbins and in 1990/1 with Janet Dixon (Pullan) and the Mixed Doubles in 1980/81 and 1983/4 with Geoff Giles and in 1984/5 with Ken Muhr. Sylvia also enjoyed success over several seasons at the Bucks County Closed Championships, winning Ladies’ Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles events. Sylvia was ranked either No.1 or No.2 in the County Ladies’ Vets rankings for several years and also featured in the County Ladies rankings.
Update: in recognition of her services to the League, the Committee agreed to make a donation in her memory to the Woodland Trust, a charity which Sylvia had supported for many years. Through this donation, 3 trees will be planted (and hopefully maintained) by the Trust.