Tribute to Joe Wilson
The West of Scotland Table Tennis community was shocked and deeply saddened by the news that Joe Wilson passed away at Wishaw General Hospital in the early hours of 20th December, only a week after his 17th birthday.He is survived by parents Alan and Veronica, and younger sister Angela.
Joe took up table tennis in 2008, playing at Holyrood and Wishaw Sports Centres. I met Joe soon after this and from my first coaching session with him recognised his determination to succeed, a character trait he demonstrated in all walks of life. Joe worked hard at his game over the weeks and months and by the start of the 2010-11 season was ready to test his skills in competition in both the WOS Junior and Senior League. Playing for Holyrood in the 3rd Division of the Junior League Joe remained undefeated for the season and won the top player award. I remember Joe telling me after the presentation he would rather the team had won the division than he had won the individual award so that his teammates could also have received a trophy. This typifies Joe who always considered others before himself.
In the Senior League playing for Glasgow South the going was considerably tougher and Joe couldn’t manage to record a win, demonstrating the gap between junior and senior competition. However in season 2011-12 in Division 3 of the Senior League Joe did win several matches and was successfully bridging that gap. He was also part of a successful Glasgow South Junior League team, currently sitting 2nd in Division 1 with Joe sitting 3rd in the averages.
Away from table tennis Joe’s accomplishments were considerable. He was a reader at St Francis Xavier Church in Carfin and a helper with the children’s liturgy. Joe was also undertaking a Caritas Award for recognition to commitment to faith and work in the parish and school. He volunteered at Wishaw General Hospital and gave his time to help out at St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie.
Joe was in sixth year at Taylor High School in Lanarkshire being vice captain while in fifth year. He attained 5 A band 1 grades in his Highers resulting in him being included in theselect band of students in North Lanarkshire who received the Convenor’s Award for outstanding academic achievement. Joe intended to pursue a career in medicine. He was also running a table tennis club for the younger students at school.
He was a young man of outstanding personal qualities who was a friend to everyone he met.Joe will be greatly missed by all his friends at Glasgow South Table Tennis Club and the wider table tennis community.
Iain Rhind (Glasgow South TTC)