Donation of signed programme gives an insight into historic China tour

September 30, 2025 | Paul Stimpson

Sometimes, ordinary people can find themselves in historic situations simply because of the job they do – and that is certainly Barry Wilsonâ€s story.

Barryâ€s daughter Lisa Vincent contacted Table Tennis England to make a remarkable donation – a copy of the programme of the tour of the UK by the Chinese table tennis team in December 1971, signed by the entire Chinese contingent.

Barry was able to get the autographs because he was the mechanical engineer on the aircraft which flew the Chinese party around the UK, working alongside an electrical engineer and two flight attendants and spending time with the players and officials while on board.

The Hawker Siddeley HS748 twin turbo-prop flew the team from Sweden to England and then around the British Isles, with stops in Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Dublin and Birmingham.

The 15 autographs include the entire playing squad, including several world champions, plus the coaches, interpreter and team leaders from the Department of Sports of Peking Physical Culture Institute.

The tour is widely considered the most significant to visit these shores, coming as it did on the heels of the Ping Pong Diplomacy tour of China by players from England, the USA, Canada and Nigeria in April of the same year.

English players Jill Parker, Pauline Piddock, Alan Hydes, Trevor Taylor and Tony Clayton were among those invited on what was the first sporting visit to China in a generation. The Chinese tour of England was a reciprocal invitation.

The Chinese Team by the Hawker Siddeley plane (from the Derek Tremayne Collection)

As an illustration of its importance, the plane was met on landing by British sporting icon Roger Bannister (the Chairman of the Sports Council) and the cultural programme included a meeting with Princess Anne and a trip to 10 Downing Street to meet Prime Minister Edward Heath.

There was an array of sponsors, many featured in the programme, including ‘headline†sponsor Mothercare, plus Ford, Barclays Bank and Lloyds Bank.

On the table, China took on teams representing England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

The programme can be read in full below.

Lisa said: “Reading up on the tour gave me a real insight into the importance of it. The programme has been in a cupboard for many years and itâ€s great to think it will now be seen by others.â€

Table Tennis England is very grateful for the donation. If you have any historic artefacts you would like to donate, please contact us via [email protected].

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