Dedicated Ripon volunteer honoured for sporting achievements

A national table tennis champion and valued Salvation Army volunteer in Ripon has been recognised for her sporting achievements. 

Linda Simpson first offered to help the church and charity with the Christmas Present Appeal when she donated some gifts a couple of years ago. Since then, she has been a regular volunteer at the weekly Tuesday morning drop-in which offers a warm space, food and drinks, support and advice to the Ripon community. 

Linda, 74, was named a local hero at the Your Harrogate Local Hero Awards for her Sporting Achievement.  

Linda said: “I didn’t know I had been nominated so it was a great surprise to get a phone call telling me I’d made the final three. I had an amazing evening at the awards in Rudding Park, Harrogate. It was wonderful to be among all the fantastic people who were nominated for various awards. There’s so much sorrow in the world, but these wonderful people who were recognised that evening give me continued faith in humanity.” 

Linda first started playing table tennis in the 1960s after she picked up a bat at Butlins holiday camp. She trained with Yorkshire County and still holds the record for most County Junior appearances since 1967. She was awarded Vice President of Yorkshire Table Tennis Association for that achievement. 

After a break to have her two children, Linda took it up again when she was 43, playing in the National Veterans competitions all over Europe and South America. She was ranked number 1 in England in the over 50s age group and then again in the over 60s group, and is currently, at the age of 74, ranked number 3 in the over 70s age category. She has won many competitions in the UK as well as Europe, including a bronze medal in Germany in the European championships in 2013 and has captained England veteran’s teams many times, winning several gold medals. 

Linda said: “I’m very competitive and always have been into sports, and it keeps me fit and healthy, but the thing I really love about it is the people I play with. We are all one big family. You spend weekends together travelling up and down the country, socialise together and help each other out. It’s marvellous that the people I play with now, I have known and been friends with for more than 50 years. We support each other.”

Linda is also an inspiration to her two grandchildren with her seven-year-old granddaughter showing promise as a football and tennis player. 

Having retired from her job as legal secretary in 2017, volunteering is a big part of Linda’s life including at The Salvation Army in Lead Lane. She has also coached youngsters in table tennis and supports people with Parkinson’s disease to play table tennis. 

She continued: “I started volunteering with The Salvation Army a couple of years ago. My daughter and I have always supported charities with donations or presents at Christmas time. I asked if they needed any help at the same time and it went from there. Now on Tuesdays I serve teas and coffees and chat to people. We do a quiz and I sometimes lead chair exercises. We may at some stage introduce exercises with the bat and ball as it really is good for co-ordination, and improving physical and mental wellbeing. 

“I do really love volunteering at The Salvation Army, it’s a marvellous service they host. I’ll be helping out at this year’s Christmas Present Appeal as well, helping to sort and pack parcels to deliver to local families who struggle to make ends meet at this time of year.”

Major Pam Ralph-Barratt, who leads Ripon Salvation Army, with her husband Major Graham, said: “Linda is a valued member of our Salvation Army family and we are thrilled to see her recognised for her remarkable achievements in table tennis.  

“We would not be able to keep our church and community hall going without the dedication of volunteers so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them all. Volunteering is a great way of meeting new people and giving back to your community so if you would like to get involved do get in touch.”

As well as the Tuesday drop-in, Ripon Salvation Army runs a monthly Uplift group for women, Sunday worship, and a food bank. They are also collecting donations for this year’s Christmas Present Appeal which provides gifts for children to open on Christmas Day.