Times Sport editor John Hutchins offers his personal opinion on the events, topics and personalities in the world of sport.

SADLY, local table tennis  — as well as his friends and family — is mourning the recent loss of Roger Bowkett, who  gave so much to the game he loved over many years and did so much to encourage young people to take up the sport.

In recognition for his services of more than 60 years in the game, last year Roger won a much deserved award for   ‘Unsung Heroes’ by Table Tennis England for his voluntary work within the sport.

His efforts set me thinking about all those extraordinary people out there who play such an important part in local sport here in West Devon and East Cornwall.

Behind every organised club and league there are people who sacrifice their time, their energy, and, in many cases, dig deep into their own pocket, to keep their club or league going.

For every team, club or individual that enjoys playing the sport of their choice there are those who volunteer to manage or coach; wash dirty kits; find sponsorship and money for kit and equipment;  tend and mark out the pitches or courts; act as umpires, referees, scoreboard or time keepers;  clean the dressing rooms; make teas and lunches (and wash up after), ferry players from match and tournament, sometimes covering hundreds of miles.   There are others (or the same people) – who do their bit by writing a press release or match report, a task which Times Sport, especially, is so grateful for –  to help promote and publicise sporting activity. Then, of course, there are the marvellous hard-working club and league secretaries, who have the difficult task of organising teams, fixtures and venues as well as dealing with the increasing, but essential ‘red tape’ appertaining to insurance, health and safety etc and make sure all the relevant boxes are ticked.

Each sport and club have one or more ‘Roger’ working behind the scenes for the love of their sport so that so many can enjoy , at whatever level, their chosen sport.

God bless the many

‘Rogers’ out there – you know who they are, and maybe, perhaps, sometimes take their efforts for granted, but local sport and the community  will be so much poorer without these ‘Unsung Heroes.’