The Old Timers

John Moir, working in Botswana and aged 63, played TT from age of 11 (1968+) until 1980 with a brief 3 year resurgence in Zimbabwe between 1983 and 1986, where I coached youngsters in the townships and won every title available in Zimbabwe including 3 times Open Mens Singles Champion,

I left school at 17 with o’levels an highers and initially worked in Banking for 4 years then through a bit of a TT brush of fate, got a job as a trainee programmer at Aberdeen Council. From that point forward my proverbial rolling stone nature was fired into life. London with Colemans Mustard, Zimbabwe as Head of ICT for Central Bank, back to UK working for Stanchart in London, implementing banking systems all over Africa. Secondment to Botswana in 1988 and basically have been based here since then. I am now a Motswana or a Botswana Citizen. Married three times with 4 kids, divorced then my two wives both passed away at age 40, one from a car accident and more recently, Ruth from leukeamia.

Pathway

I was fortunate that I joined a Sports Club which had been built next to where I stayed in Aberdeen and whilst being football crazy, I decided on day one to play TT. Brian Morgan, who played for years with the likes of Max Singer, having slaughtered me said that I had clearly played before, which I hadn’t and these words of encouragement was the catalyst to what happened next.

Learning Experience

TT was twice a week, plus league matches, and we used to travel to most National tournaments from a young age. TT was quite well supported in Aberdeen by enthusiastic administrators and a few coaches. My 1^st major TT tourney outside the Granite City was in Falkirk and I was beaten 1^st round by a fellow Aberdeen player (Roger Clark). Being unable to practice and National events was a pain, so the long and the short of it was that I spent 18 hours travelling and watching TT for one game of TT against a player from Aberdeen! I decided mentally that I would develop the skills to NOT beaten in Round 1 again as I think if it had happened my playing career would have been very very short indeed. I went to Inverclyde several times and 2 or 3 times to Guinness School of Sport where we mixed and occasionally fought with other U21 sportsmen and women. Women with hairy legs!! ? Scottish Team Training in Glasgow, was a fantastic learning experience, mixing from a young age with top players.

Playing Highlights

One thing I am particularly proud of is going for around 9 years in Aberdeen leagues without loosing a single match. That aside, representing Scotland Juniors in Llay circa 1973/74, English Open thereafter, playing fairly well for Scottish Schools vs England 1974 when Arthur Ash won Wimbledon, European Youth Champs, Zagreb 1975, Senior Champs, Duisberg 1978, Comonwealth Champs 197? Edinbugh (was fantastic), and the Worlds in 1979 with Archie, Richard, Keith, John Mc and Denis George are memorable occasions. Winning the Zimbabwe Open 1983/84 and 85 also great especially as the Chinese visited and played in 1982, so my name was on the tropy after the Chinese World Champion!! West of Scotland Open 1978 Mens Singles beating john Hawkins in final.

Best Wins

Beating my TT Coach in a tournament aged 15 for the 1^st time, he was no 8 in Scotland at the time, and the fact that he NEVER beat me again in a competitive match!

Favourite Player(s)

Richard Yule was a class act, but I loved watching Johannson, and Surbek and played with Richard against Surbek and Stipancic in WTTA 1979. We led 19 16 in 1^st game and they went on to win the World title again!

Friends within the Sport

Have kept in touch with Brian Morgan over the years and a lot of the friends from Zimbabwe times.

Reason for Disaffection

After the Pyongyang experience and also the strange rubbers being utilised, I decided that I would also use reverse pimples. I cause havoc in the Aberdeen leagues as I didn’t defend but used the bat to create weird and wonderful spin, but at that stage I had already lost interest in TT. The Aberdeen contingent and crowds of us travelling to all major tourneys had stopped, not sure why, but with that my interest nose dived.

What replaced TT and Why

Well I became fairly adept at DARTS, won competitions and beat the World No 3 Rab Smith in a friendly game once where I started with a 180!! I also beat the World Pool Trick shot champion at snooker, but refused a 2^nd game against him for obvious reasons. I also played golf, not competitively but more for enjoyment, and got down to a 4 handicap fairly easily and without practice. I still play and occasionally win out here in Botswana where like Zimbabwe we have 365 days of sunshine annually.

Regrets

I believe that if I was to continue playing TT it had to be at a top level, and this became difficult to achieve. The camaraderie of travelling to National and International events and the social “surroundings” was fantastic and I wish it could have continued. If I ever returned to UK, I would play again I believe. TT developed a competitive nature in me that has held me in good stead SO FAR!. I only played TT in Zimbabwe initially as the person who recruited me INSISTED as for some reason he was aware that I played at a reasonable standard in Scotland. I regret not making it to No 1 but with Tricky Dickie around that was a bridge too far it seems!!!