IT’S an end of an era at Budehaven Table Tennis Club who are shutting their doors after 13 years due to a lack of volunteers.

Based out of the sports hall at Budehaven School, the club grew to become the second largest club in Cornwall with more than 100 local people having played the game at the club, either competitively or casually. More than a third of them were juniors, four of whom progressed to county honours.

Any club of that size, whatever the sport, needs a sufficient number of volunteers to run it, and the Budehaven club quite simply failed to attract enough to make it sustainable. The doors closed in July, but the records show they were North Cornwall League winners three times – as recently as the just completed 2025/26 season – and cup winners four times, with numerous other team and individual achievements.

Secretary Dave Salisbury said: “I am proud to have played a leading role in the resurgence of the sport in Bude over the last 13 years. Whereas we will never return to the glory days of 45 years ago, there is now an increased awareness of the physical and mental benefits of the sport. It is an activity that can be enjoyed by all regardless of age, sex, and ability. As such, I truly hope that other clubs spring up to satisfy that demand.”

Other clubs in the local area relatively close to Bude that hold table tennis sessions are Stratton, Bridgerule, Marhamchurch, Otterham and Boscastle. Anyone interested should contact Dave at [email protected]

The North Cornwall League is preparing for the start of the new season which gets underway in early October with all team entries needing to be registered with newly-appointed league secretary Chris Baverstock by Sunday, August 30. To register an interest or find out more, email [email protected]