A MAN who has inspired hundreds of people to play table tennis in the Bridgwater area ran his final session this week.

Many of the current players in the adult league can trace their roots in the sport back to sessions Paul Bovett ran in various local schools over 35 years.

Paul, now 80, ran his last 'Finals Night' at Enmore Primary School this week, having run the table tennis club at the school for many years.

In that time Paul has come up with a number of different events to encourage youngsters and adults alike to enjoy the sport.

He introduced 'Silly Prizes' which saw the kids compete in various tweaked versions of table tennis, as well as 'Parents Night' where family members were encourage to come along and take part in a big competition.

Finals Night is the culmination of all the hard work the kids have invested over the year.

Youngsters in various categories compete in a series of knockout rounds before Finals Night where the semi-finals and finals of the Junior Girls, Junior Boys, Senior Girls and Senior Boys take place.

Despite only being a small school tucked away high on the Quantocks, the Enmore School table tennis club has produced national championship winning teams, English Primary Schools international players and national champions.

In 2015, Paul was recognised at a national level for what he achieved when he was presented with the Torch Trust Trophy by the Countess of Wessex.

This final Finals Night was a fitting send off for Paul with matches of a very high standard being played, many going to deciders. The evening concluded with Enmore Old Boy Paul's friend Jos Kelly, father of Enmore's latest table tennis prodigy Bertie Kelly said: "This last Finals Night was a fitting send off for Paul with matches of a very high standard being played, many going to deciders.

"The evening concluded with Enmore old boy playing an entertaining exhibition match with Charlie Drabble, the senior boys champion on the night.

"Hearty congratulations must go to Paul for another superb finals night but also for the amount of hard work he has put in over the years.

"School headteacher Duncan MacRae thanked Paul and paid tribute for everything he had done and said he calculated Paul had devoted the equivalent of 75 solid days to the school club. Amazing dedication from an amazing man."