THE game of ping-pong was all the rage in Malvern a century ago, according to the Gazette.

The paper carried a report of the first-ever ping-pong tournament to be held in the town, at the Imperial Hotel, which is now Malvern Girls' College.

So new was the pastime that the Gazette felt obliged to explain exactly what it was: "Ping-pong is a peculiar euphemism for table tennis and is apparently a name given to the game from the sound made by the vellum racquet in driving the light celluloid balls backwards and forwards over the net, which is placed in the centre of a fairly large table.

"This new recreation has been like a gift from Heaven to hostesses with guests to entertain, while it is just as welcome to humbler folk who are not of the 'smart set', but all the same require amusing."

The Gazette's columnist Aerial also noted the game's egalitarian appeal.

He pointed out that it had become "very popular in life below stairs" and that one lady had been forced to acquire a ping-pong set to keep her servants happy.