John Mapletoft

I would like to nominate John Mapletoft for torch bearer because he is responsible in Grantham and surrounding area for more potential olympians than anyone I can think of. He started playing table tennis when he was 15 years of age which is 60 years ago. He has been involved running town and county table tennis teams and running various committees. at the tender age of 75 he is still coaching in primary schools running breakfast clubs, lunch time clubs and after school clubs in addition to evenings as well. he coaches in excess of 30 hours per week. John has recieved this year the highest award posible for coaching that the etta (english table tennis association) can give which was coach of the year. This year he has completed the ukcc coaching certificate which is the latest version of the 2 levels john already posses. not only has john been an active coach he is still an active player in the town league and has mentored many perspective coaches and players. This would be a fitting accolade to a career that is far from over. I am sure there will come a time that John will have to put his bat away but this will happen as he asks St Peter where the table is, and by the way his mother lived to 105 years of age. this really doesn't do John justice but I am a simple man that a long with many hundreds of others have benefited from John.