HARLOW-based Table Tennis club BATTS have paid tribute to former sports minister, Dame Tessa Jowell, who passed away last month.

A spokesperson said: “The recent news of the sad and untimely death of Dame Tessa Jowell prompted us to recall that this much- admired MP visited us ten years ago.

“The visit was during the time when, as Sports Minister, she was involved in planning for the London Olympics.

Tessa Jowell’s 2008 visit was arranged by Harlow Council to mark the start of the first major refurbishment of our centre, after BATTS had moved from Burnt Mill School the previous year.

Dame Tessa is shown here playing against BATTS’ youngest member at the time. Ethan’s forehand has improved a bit since he was five, but he still sees scope for improvement. “I was rubbish,” he said to me after his magnificent win against the Scottish international in the Fusion match.