THE Mayor of Immingham, Councillor Malcolm Cullum has gone batty for the town's Table Tennis club.
On a visit to the club's Christmas fun evening, where members and volunteers dressed up, the Mayor said: "It is a very active club."
It meets each Wednesday evening from 5pm to train and have fun playing table tennis.
There are 38 young members and 12 adults – two of whom play in the area's league.
Immingham Table Tennis Club also boasts an under 11s team, as well as under 13s and under 15s sides.
The group first met at Oasis Academy in Immingham, but moved to the Christian Centre in Pelham Road earlier this year.
It is run by two coaches, Tim Smith and Stuart Pollard.
Tim, a level one coach, said he was grateful for the support the group has had from Immingham Town Council and from Immingham's One Voice community group.
They have given grants to enable the club to buy six table tennis tables.
BOC of Immingham and TopMarks have also both sponsored banners for the club.
Royal Mail worker Tim said:
"We are trying to get as many young people turning up each week as possible and do all we can to support them.
"There are many clubs which offer football or rugby or other team sports, but not all kids fit in with a team sport.
"Here you don't have to be brilliant at it. We want everyone to have fun playing table tennis and if they take it up as a hobby we will train and encourage them.
"Immingham Table Tennis Club was formed in November 2011 as a result of my young daughter taking an interest in the sport.
"I decided to take her and a few friends to coaching sessions held at Clee Sports Hall.
"However, it soon became apparent that there were a number of local children interested in the sport and, consequently, with support from Stuart Pollard – a Royal Mail work colleague – we decided to try to form a table tennis club for the benefit of the local children."
After successfully contacting the Immingham Oasis Academy for a venue, Immingham Table Tennis Club was formed.
He added: "We started with only about six to eight young people, with sessions lasting an hour, but it quickly became apparent that there was more of a demand to play the game and membership soon grew.
"Within a year, through hard work and dedication, the club had 16 junior members and six intermediate members. An evening session for adults was also made possible with the support from Oasis Academy Immingham.
"The formation of the club has provided an opportunity for local children, not only to play a sport, but to promote social development, enhance general skills and ensure there is progression in their development but, most of all, to enjoy themselves."
A dedicated team of around a dozen adults organise events.
Tim said: "Some of them are parents but everyone is a volunteer.
"Without them we would not be here. They all do a fantastic job and some double up as club secretary or coaches. With planning and fundraising throughout the year, the club is a labour of love and it would not be possible without these people, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who do a such fantastic job."
Councillor Cullum said: "The amount of work volunteers do here is marvellous. It is one of the things I have been trying to highlight during my year as Mayor. There are so many groups which are run by volunteers who put in hours and hours of their free time. They are Immingham's unsung heroes.
"Considering this group started out just a short time ago, it is doing very well and is very active."
At the club's Christmas fun evening, prizes were sponsored by Sainburys, Tesco, The Co-op and Farmfoods.
There were prizes for the best fancy dress costume on a boy and a girl.
Millie Smith, 10, who is in the under 11s team said: "The club brings people together. It keeps you fit and it is good fun."
Dan Fishwick, 15, said: "It is all good fun. I have met some good friends. They are all nice people. There are lots of things for people to do."
Tim added: "Immingham Table Tennis Club has been very lucky and through the success of the young people and hard work of everyone, we've been able to secure funding every year since its formation enabling the continued success of the club. We now have 38 young members and 16 adult members and we're growing every week."
