John Glen (1956 - 2011)
The event that had the most effect on our League this 2011-2012 year, or indeed for many
years, was the sudden death on 1st November 2011 at the still-prime age of only 55, of our
very own vastly experienced League Match Secretary John Glen.
Of course, quite apart from the void left to our table-tennis league much the major
loss was to his children, to his wife and his parents. John had been the League
Match Secretary for 31 years, since 1980 when he was with Craigmillar Boys’ Club.
Among the more questionable of John’s very many deeds for the League is that he
is responsible for my being President, when he reminded me at the AGM of 2009
that I had mentioned that I might be prepared to take on the Presidency, in delayed
succession to Ken Cadogan, and before I knew what was happening I found myself
sitting on the top table! John was always polite but diplomatically forceful when
handling potential awkward situations, whether in person or by email. Indeed, I
quite often found myself on the receiving end of his considerations! Two of the last
three emails that John sent to me were moderate rebukes, the first concerning when I
attempted to help in discussing a suggested cancellation of a match that had relegation
implications, and the second about whether a proposed strong new signing could be
registered for a lower team and still play up. John had a well-deserved reputation for
fairness in adjudicating matters between individuals and clubs. More than six months
after his shocking death, he continues to be grievously missed. His funeral on 11th
November was deservedly very well attended.
Alan Nisbet is a very long-standing teammate of John’s going back to Boys’
Brigade, EFM Musselburgh and Online Edinburgh days, and highlights two of his
many memories of John, one from the early days and one from this 2011-12 season.
Alan recalls John being involved in a great match – a BB final – against Geoff
Hunter (now of North Merchiston, of course) in about 1974, when Geoff was a
leading player. (I had better quickly say that Geoff is still highly regarded not only
as a player but also as a training partner for established and up-and-coming players!
) Anyway this particular final drew lots of applause from the spectators. Apparently
Geoff and John played each other in the League early this season. It is fitting that
Alan’s most recent memory of John was the contribution that John, with one singles
win, had made in Edinburgh Sport Club II’s unexpected 6-4 victory over Murrayfield
IV, only a week before his untimely death.
Brian Bailey of Penicuik observes that he had become aware only at the 2011
League AGM and the subsequent Extraordinary General Meeting just how great was
the contribution that John made to the smooth running of the League.
To further paraphrase a famous misquotation from William Shakespeare’s
Hamlet: “Alas, poor John! We knew him well.”
Ken Benjamin
ELTTL President
years, was the sudden death on 1st November 2011 at the still-prime age of only 55, of our
very own vastly experienced League Match Secretary John Glen.
Of course, quite apart from the void left to our table-tennis league much the major
loss was to his children, to his wife and his parents. John had been the League
Match Secretary for 31 years, since 1980 when he was with Craigmillar Boys’ Club.
Among the more questionable of John’s very many deeds for the League is that he
is responsible for my being President, when he reminded me at the AGM of 2009
that I had mentioned that I might be prepared to take on the Presidency, in delayed
succession to Ken Cadogan, and before I knew what was happening I found myself
sitting on the top table! John was always polite but diplomatically forceful when
handling potential awkward situations, whether in person or by email. Indeed, I
quite often found myself on the receiving end of his considerations! Two of the last
three emails that John sent to me were moderate rebukes, the first concerning when I
attempted to help in discussing a suggested cancellation of a match that had relegation
implications, and the second about whether a proposed strong new signing could be
registered for a lower team and still play up. John had a well-deserved reputation for
fairness in adjudicating matters between individuals and clubs. More than six months
after his shocking death, he continues to be grievously missed. His funeral on 11th
November was deservedly very well attended.
Alan Nisbet is a very long-standing teammate of John’s going back to Boys’
Brigade, EFM Musselburgh and Online Edinburgh days, and highlights two of his
many memories of John, one from the early days and one from this 2011-12 season.
Alan recalls John being involved in a great match – a BB final – against Geoff
Hunter (now of North Merchiston, of course) in about 1974, when Geoff was a
leading player. (I had better quickly say that Geoff is still highly regarded not only
as a player but also as a training partner for established and up-and-coming players!
) Anyway this particular final drew lots of applause from the spectators. Apparently
Geoff and John played each other in the League early this season. It is fitting that
Alan’s most recent memory of John was the contribution that John, with one singles
win, had made in Edinburgh Sport Club II’s unexpected 6-4 victory over Murrayfield
IV, only a week before his untimely death.
Brian Bailey of Penicuik observes that he had become aware only at the 2011
League AGM and the subsequent Extraordinary General Meeting just how great was
the contribution that John made to the smooth running of the League.
To further paraphrase a famous misquotation from William Shakespeare’s
Hamlet: “Alas, poor John! We knew him well.”
Ken Benjamin
ELTTL President
