Chairman of the English Table Tennis Association, Andy Seward, died on January 15 at his home in Corsley, aged 69.

Andrew Leonard Seward was born in Frome in 1944. After leaving school he studied maths, statistics and computing at Leicester Polytechnic and went on to work in the IT industry for 32 years.

He met his wife, Carol, when they took the train to school together in Bruton.

She attended Bruton School for Girls and Andrew attended Sexey’s School.

They married in Frome in 1967 and had two daughters; Karen, who was born in 1973, and Alison, who was born in 1981. They have two grandchildren.

They moved back to the south west and settled in Corsley 30 years ago when he became a project manager in Bristol.

He was involved with Frome Cricket Club and played table tennis in various leagues.

After retiring 13 years ago he continued his interest in sports, steam trains and classical music.

In 1989 he qualified as an ETTA national umpire, then became an international umpire in 1992 and in 2004 he achieved blue badge status (the highest status).

He officiated in the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and at a number of world championships.

He became chairman of the ETTA in March 2013, officially starting his duties in July, and set about making fundamental changes to the structure of the organisation.

Sara Sutcliffe, chief executive of the ETTA, said: “We are all deeply saddened to have lost a trusted friend and a valued colleague.

“In a short period of time as the ETTA chairman, Andy made a major contribution to the future of English table tennis. He had a vision to make the sport and the ETTA, as its governing body, fit for the 21st century.

“To that end, he worked tirelessly and laid the foundation for the future.

“The sport of table tennis and the ETTA are indebted to him.”

Malcolm Phillips, secretary of the West Wilts Table Tennis League, said: “His services to us in Wiltshire and West Wiltshire were tremendous.

“He had a great wealth of experience and knowledge of the game and its procedures, and as an international umpire, the laws of the game.

“He was always willing to help and guide us.

“He was a giant in our sport; very well respected and liked. Since he was elected as chairman, his vision for our sport and how it should go forward was fantastic.

“To a lot of people he was not just a colleague, he was a friend. Our sympathies go out to Carol and his family.”

His funeral will be held at West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington on today (January 30) at 11.30am.

Family flowers only but donations can be made to Salisbury Dialysis Unit, cheques made payable to Renal Services Ltd and sent via Wm Adlam Funeral Directors, Locks Hill, Frome.