A TABLE tennis club has recorded a music video to help keep members’ spirits up during the coronavirus crisis.

Brighton Table Tennis Club (BTTC) founder Tim Holtam said the club is doing all it can to prevent people feeling too socially isolated during the lockdown.

Members of the club have worked together to remotely record Ping Pong Wonderland to the tune of The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, with new lyrics.

Tim said: “It’s a bit of fun but it also brings people together.

“We’re doing daily shows online using Zoom with fitness classes and music sessions as it’s really important for everyone to come other.

“Some people have said it’s a lifeline to see each other.”

The club, which is also a registered charity, normally hosts ping pong sessions at its base in Kemp Town for more than 1,500 people per week.

BTTC also does outreach work with table tennis sessions in schools, sheltered housing schemes, a psychiatric hospital and two prisons.

Tim said: “We’ve got members who are 70 plus.

“It’s a very difficult time for everyone, but what I think people don’t want right now is a phone call about how hard it is.

“So for organising the music video with our members, the first question we’d be asking would be something like: ‘Where are your vocals?’ or ‘We need that video of you drumming’.

“There’s a lot of people out there doing things like vocal choirs and I think it’s about cheering people up but also providing a sense of purpose.”

Tim said that making the music video together, as well as the daily shows where members can join in using the video conferencing application Zoom, has also been an education in technology.

He said: “It’s been really great for upskilling everyone’s IT skills.

“I’d never even heard of Zoom before.

“To begin with people had their screens the wrong way up but it’s become a really slick operation now.

“Everyone wants the BTTC daily shows to continue after the lockdown is over and we’re back at the club.

“You’ve got to take some positives.”

BTTC has a daily show at 5pm with different activities including cooking classes and learning a language, as well as table tennis skills.

Coaches also run other sessions throughout the week like yoga and fitness training.

Tim said Ping Pong Wonderland is “just a warm up”.

He said: “It’s fancy-dress Friday and we’re going to record a cover of YMCA.

“It’s really important for us to support each other.”

Watch the video for Ping Pong Wonderland here.

The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund.