Table Tennis England has announced the death of former England international Derek Burridge, who passed away on 17 September 2026 at the age of 93. Burridge, who was born in Harlesden, Brent, Middlesex on 25 February 1933, spent more than a decade competing at the highest level of English table tennis before becoming an enduring presence in the sport’s administration and trophy business.
From junior debut to senior caps
Burridge’s first appearance for England came on 16 February 1950, when he played for the junior side against Sweden in Aylesford. England won that match 5-4, with Burridge taking one win and one defeat. According to Table Tennis England, it was the beginning of what would become an impressive international career. His first senior cap arrived on 9 December 1954, when England defeated Germany 5-3 in Winchester. The following evening, England won 8-1 away to Wales in Newport, with Burridge claiming his singles match and partnering Harry Venner to win the doubles.
Senior caps followed against a broad range of nations across the late 1950s and into 1960, including appearances against Wales, Scotland, the United States, Yugoslavia, China, France and Russia, as recorded by Table Tennis England. He represented England at the 1954 World Championships at Wembley and at the 1960 European Championships, where the England team — completed by Ian Harrison and Bryan Merrett — finished third. Hungary finished first and Sweden second.
Also in 1960, Burridge took part in the inaugural Quadrangular tournament in Belfast, where a mixed England team defeated Ireland, Scotland and Wales to win the title. Table Tennis England reported that he won all six of his singles matches and both doubles in that competition, partnering Harrison and Merrett respectively.
Rankings and open circuit titles
Burridge was a regular on the English open tournament circuit from 1952 to 1962. His best results at the English Open were runners-up finishes in the Men’s Doubles in 1957 alongside Len Adams and in the Mixed Doubles in 1960 with Kathy Best. At the National Top 11 in February 1960 he finished first, and at the National Top 10 the following October he came second. Table Tennis England attributed his career-high England ranking of No. 3 in part to strong performances at the RAF Championships in March 1953, where his Bomber Command team were runners-up and he won the Men’s Doubles with Bobby Stevens.
Across his career Burridge accumulated over 40 titles at senior and junior level. Among the most notable were four victories at the Irish Open, spanning the Men’s Singles, the Men’s Doubles alongside Michael Thornhill, and the Mixed Doubles on two occasions — with Margaret Lyons and Diane Rowe respectively.
Middlesex representative and president
Burridge’s commitment to Middlesex table tennis ran throughout his playing life and well beyond it. He made 72 representative appearances for the county at junior and senior level, a significant achievement given that, as Table Tennis England noted, Middlesex were the leading county in England at the time. He won the Middlesex Closed Men’s Singles in 1958/59 and the Men’s Doubles on four separate occasions, with Ken Craigie, Len Adams (twice) and Brian Wright. His sustained service was formally recognised when he was appointed county President, a position he held from 2000 to 2016.
A business built on the sport
In 1960, while still competing, Burridge founded a trophy and awards company that Table Tennis England described as growing into a major, internationally recognised enterprise. The company’s ties to the sport remain active: it supplies Table Tennis England with the Swaythling Club Fair Play bats, as well as numerous other trophies and awards. Table Tennis England noted that Burridge himself reflected on stepping away from competitive play as something he felt keenly, particularly in the first two years after he stopped, recalling how much he had enjoyed the people and occasions of his career.
Tributes from two sports
Away from the table tennis world, Burridge was a lifelong supporter and former vice-president of Brentford Football Club, where his son Mark has served as the club’s official matchday commentator for both home and away fixtures. At half-time during Brentford’s 3-0 Premier League win over Chelsea at the GTech Stadium on the Friday following his death, a round of applause and a formal tribute were paid to him, as reported by Table Tennis England. The same weekend, two of his greyhounds — named Derek’s Champ and Derek’s Legend — also won their respective races.
A celebration of Burridge’s life is being arranged by his son Mark and is expected to take place at Brentford Football Club. Table Tennis England extended its condolences to his family and friends.
Career highlights
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Junior international debut | 16 February 1950 vs Sweden, Aylesford |
| First senior cap | 9 December 1954 vs Germany, Winchester |
| World Championships | 1954, Wembley |
| European Championships finish | Third place, 1960 |
| Career-high England ranking | No. 3 |
| Open titles | Over 40 at senior and junior level |
| Irish Open titles | Four |
| Middlesex appearances | 72 |
| Middlesex President | 2000–2016 |