TABLE tennis stalwart Ken Buckley, who introduced hundreds of Wyre Forest children into the sport he loved, has died aged 81.

He was a dedicated coach and player with Kidderminster and District Table Tennis League for about 30 years,

Lancastrian-born Ken, who lived in Areley Kings, gave up coaching several years ago but still played until a couple of years ago - despite having major heart surgery.

League chairman Iain Perks said: "He was very much a stalwart of the league and a smashing bloke.

"He looked younger than his age and was very fit, despite his heart trouble. Ken was very enthusiastic about table tennis and will be greatly missed."

The father of three, who started his working life as an apprentice newspaper printer and spent 12 years in printing in South Africa, was featured in the Shuttle/Times & News in 1996 for his amazing wartime exploits when he was in the RAF.

His plane was shot down in October 1944 and he parachuted into Holland under the noses of the Nazis, from where he eventually escaped back to England.

His funeral was held yesterday and he leaves a wife Joan.