Why I . . . play table tennis

Consultant surgeon Bryan Rhodes talks to Kathy Oxtoby about his lifelong love of table tennis and

why it’s the perfect sport for surgeons

Kathy Oxtoby

It was the long hot summer of 1976 when Bryan

Rhodes’ friend asked him to practise table tennis at

the renowned Hermits Table Tennis Club in Bradford.

“Up until that time I’d only played it on the kitchen

table at home—with books down the middle as a

play,” says Rhodes, a consultant trauma and

orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

His passion for the sport continued through his

medical school years at University College London,

and as a surgical trainee in Liverpool. He moved to

Lancaster as a consultant, and now plays for

Burton-in-Kendal Table Tennis Club, which is based

in his local village. Ten years ago, he became club

chair, helping with its running and “doing my bit for

the community.” And his table tennis doubles partner

League fixtures are played with three players per

team, with nine singles and one doubles game, so 10

matches in total. Matches are “fairly quick—we play

five sets that go up to eleven points per set, and ten

matches will take about two hours.”

He is drawn to the game, he says, because it is fast

and tactical, requiring speed and agility. He enjoys

the emphasis on spin and the need to judge it. “There

are many different types of spin, and it’s exciting

working out what will come from your opponent’s

beginners. “We welcome all ages and all abilities,

including people with disabilities,” says Rhodes.

“Table tennis is so inclusive—that’s why it’s such a

great sport.”

As a clinician he finds this sport to be particularly

beneficial for his mental health. “After a challenging

day at the hospital, it’s helpful to do some exercise.

It helps me relax, keeps my body healthy, and relieves

stress,” he says.

He finds his clinical skills come in handy when

playing matches. “Hand-eye coordination is very

important in table tennis and as a surgeon.

“And, as with surgery, concentration skills are

we’re increasingly working in multidisciplinary

teams, table tennis encourages team working. And,

as with any sport, you need to be able to enjoy

success and deal with failure—useful skills to have

in hospital life as well.”

Recently, his club has been enjoying success. “We

became first division champions for the first time in

our 36 years existence.”

As he prepares for the next table tennis season,

there’s one person he’s hoping to rally with.

You don’t have to be an experienced table tennis

player to join a club

•

Search the internet for local table tennis clubs, and

go along for a practice

•

Some hospitals will have table tennis facilities for

those who want to play or learn

•

You need only some basic equipment to play—a pair