Terry Russell started playing in the Winchester League in 1961 for Owslebury Sports. 

He joined Winnall in 1969 (playing at Winnall Community Centre) in one of six teams.

In 1984, Terry as part of two Winnall teams moved to Winchester City Council’s Depot, playing as King Georges T.T. club. The club name was changed to Serco in 1997. 

In 2004, Terry’s team (comprising of the four mentioned above) moved to Owslebury, as Owslebury T.T. Club, where the team continues to play to this day. Terry’s last league match was on March 9 2020 at the age of 88, when the league finished for the season, cut short due to Covid.  

Terry was made vice president of the Winchester and District Table Tennis League in 2007.

In March 2022, Terry unfortunately fell and broke his hip. Due to his age he took a long time to recover and had never recovered to the fitness level he enjoyed prior to his fall. Terry died on July 25.

Hampshire Chronicle: Terry Russell

There are only a handful of players still involved in the Winchester and District Table Tennis League who will no doubt recall Terry from the early 1960’s. These include, but not necessarily limited to, Roy Bright, Chris Westbrook, Peter Whitmarsh, Cliff Chevis and Martin Woolf.

In his youth Terry was a keen sportsman, playing football, cricket and no doubt table tennis. He was also very involved in dancing and became heavily involved in the Health and Fun Club for over 50’s, playing table tennis and short tennis, based at the old Recreation Centre at the Park Winchester. 

Hampshire Chronicle: From left: Martin Woolf, Peter Budd, Ian McLeonards and Terry Russell

He worked for many years for the civil service involving census records, which now comes under the Office for National Statistics. 

Terry was connected with Owslebury Parish Council and was a warden for the parish hall for many years. 

Owslebury villagers will miss him greatly for his tireless work connected to the parish hall and for his knowledge he was able to pass on to parish councillors.