Chris Belton obituary by his team-mates
In Loving Memory of Chris Belton
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Chris Belton on Sunday, March 1st, after finally losing his battle with motor neurone disease.
Chris played in the local table tennis league for more than 30 years, and throughout those decades, he became a familiar and much-valued presence in the table tennis community. Whether competing in matches, offering encouragement to teammates, or sharing a laugh after a close game, Chris embodied the true spirit of the game.
He was known not only for his attacking style at the table, but also for his easy-going nature and warm, approachable character. Chris had a way of making others feel at ease, and his love for the game and fellowship was clear to everyone who had the pleasure of playing against him or alongside him.
His absence will be deeply felt across the league - in the matches played, the conversations shared, and the friendships formed over so many years.
Chris will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.
Andy Smith and Julie Snowdon
Mike Howard adds:
Chris was one of the first people I played when I first joined the league. He played then for Stantonbury Psychos alongside Ron Carron. It was always a pleasure to chat to Chris, who was such a positive person on and off the table.
Chris was a very tough opponent for me, but it was always a pleasure to play him, even though he would wipe the floor with me if I couldn’t blunt his attack. The strangest thing was that, on one occasion at Kingston, we compared our TT bats and found that we used exactly the same blade and rubber sheets, but the disparity between our playing styles was considerable.
Chris has already been missed as a player over the last two seasons and he is a great loss to our league.
Details of Chris’s funeral will be added when known.