Much of Jose’s life has been in table tennis where her enthusiasm and commitment to the sport was always infectious.  As a teenager in Birmingham, she played in the Birmingham League and worked very closely with the Birmingham Secretary and former Table Tennis England President, Maurice Goldstein, to help him with his administration, running one of the biggest leagues in the country. Jose worked closely with Jack Carrington, attending his training camps in the 1950’s and during her year in London, Jose played at Harry Venner’s Putney Club.

Jose moved to Canada and continued her love of table tennis.  She was a Canadian international player, becoming the editor of the Canadian National Table Tennis Magazine and then becoming Chief Executive of the Canadian Association at the Sport Canada headquarters in Ottawa – the first female Chief Executive in any Canadian sport. 

Jose led the Canadian team to several World and Commonwealth Championships and organised many international exchanges, including hosting the Chinese team in Canada, prior to the ground-breaking Chinese visit to America in 1971.  Jose also took the Canadian team to China, one of the first international team visits to China after the Chinese Revolution.

She came back to England in 1976 to take on the role for Table Tennis England as Assistant Director of the 1977 World Championships in Birmingham and commenced her relationship with Alan.  Jose has been heavily involved in the ETTA, Commonwealth Association, Cleveland County and the Ormesby Club. 

For England, as well as being a great help to Alan in his 16 years as ETTA Chairman and Deputy Chairman, she was appointed by John Preen as Chairman of the Women’s Committee and was responsible for the introduction of one of the main female competitions the Women’s British League, which has been running successfully ever since. 

Jose played a major role in the Commonwealth Table Tennis Association, working effectively as secretary for the 29 years that Alan was Chair. These years wouldn’t have been as successful without Jose’s contributions.

Several national honours were bestowed on Jose which included

• ETTA: Vice-President 2014
• Malcolm Scott Award 1993
• Maurice Goldstein Merit Award 1999
• Pat Archdale Women in Table Tennis Trophy 1993
• Canada TTA: Percy McLeod Memorial Award for contribution towards the promotion and development of table tennis in Canada, 1971

Jose was a lead person in the Cleveland Association, helping to run the County and stage many international and national events in Cleveland that have taken place since its formation in the 1970’s.  Jose also had a major commitment and contribution to the success of the Ormesby Club, where she was President for 30 years.

In addition to all of the voluntary work, she also made a big contribution to the development of the Tees Sport business and, in particular, was very well known as the organiser and administrator of Tees Sport Summer School, which ran every summer at Durham University for 20 years and facilitated high-level coaching courses for more than 3,000 British players. And, for those who remember the many Tees Sport tours to European and World Championships, it was Jose who organised those for us.

And finally, Jose played a major role in the development of the table tennis section at Ransome Sporting Goods, bringing her strong proofreading and editing skills, as well as her deep knowledge of the sport.

Jose leaves husband, Alan, daughters, Christine and Susan, five grandchildren, Evan, Charli, Heather, Mathew, and Laura, seven great grandchildren (with another one due this summer), her sister, Valerie, nieces, nephews, and many dear friends.