05th December 2025
Special Recognition Award winner Tim Holtam, Brighton Table Tennis Club with some of his club members as well as award presenter Guy Butters, former pro footballer and Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation
Brighton’s Tim Holtam wins special recognition award
The founder of Brighton Table Tennis Club has been recognised for his inspirational leadership.
Tim Holtam was presented with a Special Recognition Award at the Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards for his work using table tennis to connect communities and support young people.
The award was presented by Guy Butters, former pro footballer and Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation Ambassador.
After the award win, Tim said: “It is an honour to be awarded this tonight, and we are very grateful.
“It is a team effort, and there are so many good people involved in the Brighton Table Tennis Club, and this is for everyone involved.”
The club started in 2007, when TIm and some friends started a table tennis club in the youth centre with two broken tables.
“We kept building it and building it, and now 1,500 people are playing across 70 sessions a week,” explained Tim.
The club in particular focuses on engaging children on free school meals, those in foster care, people with disabilities, females, and people from various ethnic backgrounds.
However, Tim added: “It is for everyone, table tennis is for everyone, and we have got some real champions as well.”
One such champion is teenager Bly Twomey, who won medals at the ITTF European Para Table Tennis Championships in November in Sweden.
The 15-year-old won her first major title in the women’s class seven singles, followed by gold in the mixed doubles class 14 alongside Will Bayley – another Brighton Table Tennis Club member.
She then won bronze in the women’s doubles class 14 with partner Fliss Pickard.
Despite a jam-packed week, Bly, who was named Sports Personality of the Year at the awards last year, was there to support Tim as he received his award along with a large cohort of other Brighton table tennis players.
The hope now is that the club can raise funds and sponsorship to support their players at the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.
You can read about the other winners here:
Former boxing champion is praised for his impactful work in Sussex
‘Unsung hero’ celebrated for her work in women’s football in Sussex
