An outstanding servant to the sport of table tennis, it is by her maiden name that she will always be remembered; partnering her 20 minutes younger twin sister Rosalind, who sadly passed away in 2015, they became national celebrities.

They won the women’s doubles title at the 1951 World Championships in Vienna, before in 1954 regaining the title in London, both incredible feats, both record breaking occasions that still stand today; one wonders if their achievements will ever be equalled.

In 1951, they were 17 years and 320 days old when they lifted high the prestigious W.J. Pope trophy, to this date, the youngest pair ever to secure the women’s doubles title at a World Championships.

At the time, neither possessed a World ranking; in the final they caused one of the greatest upsets of all time; cheered on by British forces, they beat the odds-on favourites, Romania’s Angelica Rozeanu and Sari Sartz.

Remarkable, even more remarkable was 1954 in London, when they regained the women’s doubles title on their 21^st birthday, has that happened in any other sport?

Furthermore, in 1960 Diane was the first-ever winner of the women’s singles title at the English National Championships; in fact, she won all three available titles, the women’s doubles partner Jill Mills, and the mixed doubles alongside Johnny Leach. She was to win the women’s singles title in the subsequent two editions as well as in 1964, forming a most successful women’s doubles partnership with Mary Wright.

The successes gained by Diane Rowe could fill an encyclopedia, but arguably more important is the effect that, alongside Rosalind and Johnny Leach, she had on the sport of table tennis.

Thousands welcomed the twins home from Vienna in 1951, incredible scenes; more than 10,000 spectators willed them to victory in the Wembley arena three years later.

Even if you knew nothing about table tennis, you knew about the Rowe twins, a fact endorsed by Sandra Deaton, Chair of Table Tennis England.

Quite simply, Diane Schöler was an inspiration; one player in particular motivated by her efforts was Jill Parker (the former Jill Hammersley), the 1976 European champion.

The sadness of the Table Tennis community is shared by Claude Bergeret, President of the Swaythling Club International:

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The ITTF Executive Board also extends condolences to Mr Schöler and his family. ITTF President, Petra Sörling, remembers Diane Schöler with these words:

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The table tennis world extends condolences to the Schöler family, Ebby, Cindy and Christian.