Vale James (Jim) Leggatt

PROVIDED ON BEHALF OF THE NSW VETERANS SECRETARY

Vale James (Jim) Leggatt, born the 15th of January 1939. Jim passed away at the weekend after a serious stroke. He was surrounded by his wife Noelene and their family. 

Jim was a tough competitor and mighty team player. A great tennis player, he astounded the table tennis community when he rose from C grade to A grade within 18 months. Jim played for the Education Department in the Public Service competition. He and Des Fitzpatrick and Kevin Cope combined to win the A grade teams in the 1970s. He also won many Mixed Doubles matches with Beryl Davies. Jim was a long-time friend and doubles partner of Ken Cole. Together they set a benchmark for left handed players by winning the 1985 and 1986  0/40 Men’s Doubles. Jim represented NSW many times at the Australian Veterans Championships where Jim always gave his best.

In recent times Jim gave away formal competition but was a regular at the Vets Table Tennis Monday morning doubles at Wenty Leagues Club.  Jim enjoyed the social aspect of these gatherings and was delighted when he and Kevin lined up to play together last Monday as a re-run of the “old Public Service days.”

Jim also excelled at tennis, playing his first Badge Competition for the Western Suburbs Lawn Tennis Association (WSLTA) in 1958.  If you Google Jim’s name you will find a fine tribute to him from WSLTA written about 2014.

Jim passed away on the 13th of February 2021, he was 82 years old. To his wife Noelene and family, from the Table Tennis players of Australia, we send you our sincere condolences of your Champion James.

With many thanks to Ken Cole and Kevin Cope.