Laurie and Jeanette are both teachers and are the parents of George ,23, and the twins, Kate and William, 17. Laurie trained as a PE teacher and Jeanette played a reasonable game of table tennis, so always gave their three children the opportunity to play sport. None of them needed any encouragement! They all had excellent hand eye co-ordination and ball skills and naturally gravitated towards any sports. All three played county hockey, with Kate making it into the East Squad. As Kate and George widened their sporting horizons and interests both playing in every school and air cadets sports team available, William focused totally on table tennis. It wasn't that he couldn't play other sports well, but that he chose not to.
Life seemed to be a constant series of 'taxi' journeys, juggling to try and meet the needs of each one. Every evening and weekend and least two of the children would be involved in some kind sporting activity. Kate and George were sometimes at the same place, but usually at different times, and Will spent most of his weekday evenings at Barnet. Weekends were even harder, with the children often being at different ends of the country..
It's hard to pinpoint the exact time when Will took table tennis seriously, but from an early age he demonstrated a great deal of talent, determination and 'staying power' in connection with any bat and ball activities. An early recollection of Will's natural talent was with his aunt Lindsey (an ex England tennis player who competed at Wimbledon) playing in the garden with plastic bats and balls. Will was coming up to three years old. He managed to keep the 'rallies' going for a long time.Lindsey, in all seriousness, asked if William had been taught how to read topspin!! She was assured he hadn't, but it was clear he was naturally responding appropriately to the spin which she was randomly applying.
Laurie and Jeanette commented ' Team 'Willmeon' is the most fantastic opportunity for Will. We've always supported Will's table tennis, but he's now at the stage where our support alone is just not enough, and having 'Team WillMeOn' giving their time and expertise to help Will follow his dream is more than we could have ever hoped for. We've had very mixed reactions from other parents about Will's full time training.At our age now, when we are not even sure what our dream is, we feel it's the right decision to allow Will to follow and live his dream NOW. Whatever the outcome he won't regret being given the opportunity to try, and apart from the table tennis is now learning amazing transferable life skills, which can only hold him in good stead for the future, whatever it brings.'
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