Did a badminton champion lead the way in popularising the wearing of shorts by men players of racquet sports?

It’s been more than 90 years since Bunny Austin shocked Wimbledon by giving up on the white cricket flannels traditionally worn by male tennis players on the grounds their weight slowed him down and reached the 1934 finals in shorts.

But by then Bristol-born Raymond ‘Bill’ White had been playing in shorts for at least three years while winning multiple tournaments on the international badminton circuit, including when reaching the men’s singles finals of the sport’s equivalent of Wimbledon in 1932, and winning the men’s doubles with Donald Hume.

White’s well-documented adoption of shorts and championship titles give him a place of honour in the Badminton Museum, Milton Keynes, where the photo records include one from a1931 England v Ireland international match he played in shorts in London against in Frank Devlin.

There is no evidence, alas, of another alleged wardrobe first by White – that is that he is still the only racquets sports star to report to a major tournament referee dressed in a dinner jacket.

From the mid-30s onwards more and more racquet sport players switched to shorts but long pants continued to be favoured at Wimbledon by France’s Yvon Petre, including when he won the 1946 men’s title. The last Wimbledon player seen in trousers was Trey Waltke, USA, who wore a pair held up by an old school tie for fun during his 2^nd round defeat in 1983 by that year’s eventual semi-finalist, Ivan Lendl…more

Pam Beddard

The First Great All-England Champion – Muriel Lucas

Muriel Lucas was born in 1877, she was the daughter of General Sir Alfred Lucas K.C.B. and Lady Lucas, it was said that Sir Alfred introduced badminton to Devonshire in the early 1870s. Sir Alfred was a retired British Indian Army Officer and Justice of the Peace.

The family home was Dunmore House, Sheldon, Teignmouth, Devon. The house had an outside badminton court, the court was on a gravel surface, although the house was set on the headland next to the sea the court was sheltered from the wind by the house and surrounding trees.

The badminton court at Dunmore House, far side left Muriel Lucas closest left Guy Lucas her younger brother. The photograph is probably pre-1901 as they are using the hourglass/waste court, this is where the net is only 16 feet (4.9m)-wide on a 20-foot (6.1m)-wide court. Having a court at home was probably the reason why Muriel had achieved such a good standard at badminton.

Muriel played at the Teignmouth Badminton Club which was reported to be the oldest badminton club in the country, the club also had the first report of an organised badminton tournament, a ladies tournament in 1876.

Muriel Lucas

Click on images to enlarge

The First All-England Badminton Championships

At the age of 21 Muriel with her partner Mary Violet Graeme, a neighbour of Muriel and also a member of the Teignmouth Badminton Club entered the first-ever All-England Championships at the London Scottish Regiment Drill Hall, London in 1899. They would be the first ladies doubles All-England champions playing in the final against another Devonshire pair of Jean Theobald and Ethel Thomson from the Butleigh Salterton Badminton Club. Both pairs had reached the final without losing a game, Lucas and Graeme winning the final 18-17, 15-5.

In 1900 in the second All-England Championships both pairs again would reach the final this time Lucas and Graeme not winning quite so comfortable 15-9, 5-15, 15-2.

Lucas and Graeme going for their third All-England woman’s doubles title in 1901 would reach the final only to lose heavily to the Ealing B.C. pair of E. Moseley and Daisy St John 15-0, 15-5.

The next year Muriel would team up with Ethel Thomson and they would win the next 5 All-England woman’s doubles titles. The pair would be undefeated in any woman’s doubles over the period 1902 to 1906. This very successful partnership would end in 1906 when Ethel married and retired from competitive badminton and tennis. 1912 Mrs Ethel Larcombe returned to competitive badminton and tennis and would win the women’s singles tennis title at Wimbledon also the mixed doubles crown 1914.

In 1907 Muriel would pair up with G L Murray and win the next three woman’s doubles titles and in her final year of playing at the All-England in 1910 she would win with Muriel Bateman.

1908 Muriel would complete the triple, triple at the All-England, Scottish and Irish Championships by winning the singles, doubles and mixed doubles in the same year.

Muriel Lucas in her 12 years of playing at the All-England still holds the record of 10 All-England woman’s doubles titles also the record of winning 7 consecutive titles, this was with three different partners. Muriel would also win 6 All-England woman’s singles titles but only 1 mixed doubles title. She and her doubles partner, Ethel Thomson shared the All-England singles title for 11 years and never lost a match together in tournament play. Muriel lies joint third in the most All-England titles league with 17.

She won the first three woman’s doubles titles of the Irish Open and a fourth title two years later she also won the first three Scottish woman’s doubles titles- 1908 – 1910 and in 1908 a mixed title with Frank Chesterton.

Click on images to enlarge

A type of racket used in early All-England Championships and a Jaques ‘Association First Choice’ ‘barrel’ shuttlecock, so-called because its feathers shape closely resemble a barrel. The shuttlecocks were manufactured in France, and in the early days with no specifications laid down, they suffered from a considerable variation in the length of flight, size, weight and uniform strength. This type of shuttle was used in the first 10 years of the Championships.

Photo: – Geoff Hinder

Muriel Lucas and Hazel Hogarth

Ireland and England Teams 1903 – First Ever International Badminton Match.

Standing, left to right B. Hamilton (IRE), L. U. Ransford (ENG), Miss Carroll (later Mrs T. D. Good) (IRE), A. P. Dawson (IRE), G. A. Thomas (ENG), Miss M. Lucas (ENG), J. F. Stokes (IRE), G. Lucas (ENG), Dr. T. D. Good (IRE) Seated, Miss M. Obre (IRE), C. P. R. James (IRE), A. D. Prebble, Captain (ENG), Miss M. Hardy (ENG), W. S. C. Crawley (IRE).

For more information on – First Ever International Badminton Match – Click Here.

Guy Lucas

The only international badminton matches during this period were the annual matches between England and Ireland played alternately in Dublin and London at the Irish Open and All England’s. The international matches were very male-dominated, the men could play singles, doubles and mixed while the two women in the team only played one mixed doubles each. Muriel would play a total of 7 times for England never losing a game.

          1904 England International Team

L to R – Back row – Ralph Walting, Albert Prebble, Henry Marrett.
Front row – Muriel Lucas, Stewart Massey and Ethel Thomson.

This would be the second match against Ireland and it was the first international badminton match to be played in England, it was played on 18 March 1904 on the third day of the All-England Championships at the London Rifle Brigades City Headquarters, England would again win 5 – 2.

One sad note in Muriel’s international career was in 1910, she wasn’t selected to play for England, the England selectors received a considerable amount of protest about this. Still at the top of her game in 1910 she would win the All-England woman’s singles and doubles and was runner-up in the mixed doubles.

For 12 years (1899 to 1910) Muriel dominated woman’s badminton in the United Kingdom and is credited with establishing singles as a woman’s game.

In 1911 Muriel would retire from top-class badminton and married George Frederick Kings Adams.

Photo: – Malcolm Slack

In 1957 Muriel now Mrs Muriel Adams donated the Woman’s Singles All-England trophy that she had won outright in 1909 after winning the title four times to the Devonshire County Badminton Association. The trophy was renamed ‘The Lucas Trophy’ and is presented to the women’s singles champion at the Devon County Restricted Championships each year.

For more information on the history of the All-England Badminton Championships – Click Here.

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Visitors are welcome to look around the Museum unescorted at any time – The National Badminton Centre is normally open 9am to 8pm every day.

Badminton Museum, National Badminton Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge,

MILTON KEYNES  MK8 9LA

———————————————–

National Badminton Centre 

Lodge Hotel.

For more information and to book a room – Click Here.

2026 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships

Tuesday 3 March 2026 to Sunday 8 March 2026.

At the Utilita Arena, Birmingham.

———————————————–

If you have any badminton memorabilia, archive material, or any other items and would like to donate them to the Badminton Museum please contact us at: –

 museum@badmintonengland.co.uk

Thank you to all the ‘Friends of the Museum’ and people who have made donations to the Badminton Museum, your support enables us to purchase extremely rare badminton artefacts for the National Collection as they become available.

Donald Hume – A Great Champion in the 1930s

Alexander Palace Hall.

Donald Hume

Raymond ‘Bill’ White

For more information on: –

Raymond ‘Bill’ White – Click Here. 

The All-England men’s doubles trophy, which Donald Hume with Raymond (Bill) White would win outright in 1934 after winning it three consecutive years. Prior to 1979 if an All-England Champion won the title for three consecutive years or four Championships in total, they were awarded the trophies outright. The pair won the men’s doubles title again the next year.

The All-England mixed doubles trophy, Donald Hume with Betty Uber won this trophy outright after three consecutive wins in 1935, they would also win the mixed doubles title again the next year.

1932 All-England Championships -Donald Hume (closest) playing against Raymond ‘Bill’ White in the 3rd round of the men’s singles. Bill was Donald’s men’s doubles partner in the All-England, Bill’s claim to fame apart from winning 7 All-England titles was that he was the first player to play in the All-England wearing shorts. Donald would lose and Bill would reach the final only to be beaten by Ralph Nichols.

1932 All-England Championships men’s doubles final. Donald Hume and Bill White (right) winning against Lesley and Ralph Nichols 14-15, 18-16, 15-4. The All-England Championships were played at the Royal Horticultural Hall, London.

Donald Hume first played for England in a match against Scotland in Glasgow in 1929, he won both his games and England won 9-0, he would go on to win another 23 international caps in his career.

Donald Hume playing with Betty Uber (right) in an international match against Ireland in 1931 on the Friday afternoon of the All-England at the Royal Horticultural Hall, London. Donald and Betty beat A. Hamilton and Miss N. Hamilton 15-7, 15-7. England won the match 7-2. 

Betty Uber and Donald Hume (left) playing for England in an international match against Scotland in 1932, they beat James Barr and Miss C. T. Duncan 15-7, 15-12. England would go on to win 9-0. The match was played at the Royal Horticultural Hall in London during the All-England Championships.

Donald Hume would win a total of 14 titles at the Irish, Scottish and Welsh Championships during his career also playing for the Middlesex County team, he was a member of the international team that toured Canada in 1930.

Middlesex County Team which won the first Inter-County Championship in 1931.

                                         The Middlesex County Team.

Back row L to R: –  R.F.W.Hickson, Ralph Nichols, K.G.Livingstone, Donald Hume, G.R.Sherwell, D.L.M.Mercer Middlesex Secretary.

Front row L to R: –  Miss R.J.Stewart, Miss Violet Elton, Miss Daphne Colpoys, Mrs. W.T.Sainsbury.

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For more information on the history of the All-England Badminton Championships – Click Here.

———————————————-

Visitors are welcome to look around the Museum unescorted at any time – The National Badminton Centre is normally open 9am to 8pm every day.

National Badminton Museum, National Badminton Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge,

MILTON KEYNES  MK8 9LA

Free Admission.

————————————————–

Accessibility

The National Badminton Museum is on the 1st floor with a lift. Disabled toilet facilities are available on the 1st floor. There is no wheelchair accessibility to the Museum office.

——————————————-

There is a restaurant on the first floor serving breakfasts every day of the week and light lunches on weekdays.

Free parking at the National Badminton Centre.

—————————————-

National Badminton Centre 

Lodge Hotel.

For more information and to book a room – Click Here.

———————————————–

2026 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships

Tuesday 3 March 2026 to Sunday 8 March 2026.

————————————————–

If you have any badminton memorabilia, archive material, or any other items and would like to donate them to the National Badminton Museum please contact us at: –

 museum@badmintonengland.co.uk

Thank you to all the ‘Friends of the Museum’ and people who have made donations to the National Badminton Museum, your support enables us to purchase extremely rare badminton artefacts for the National Collection as they become available.

                                  SIR GEORGE THOMAS

The measure of the extraordinary qualities of this man goes far beyond the number of badminton championships and tournaments that he had won during one of the longest playing careers of any badminton player. He was a gentleman, writer, administrator, benefactor, a doughty soldier, International Master at chess, international tennis player and an athlete of note in several other sports.

George Alan Thomas was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on 14 June 1881, to parents who were both wealthy and members of the British Empire aristocracy that graced that period of time. He never denied his background yet never flaunted it. His shyness hid a great intellect and, in spite of his confidence in almost everything that he undertook, he was a person of wonderful modesty and humility.

He began his badminton career at the Southsea Club and within three months was in the semi-finals of the All-England in 1900. He was to compete every year for the next 28 years except for the five-year period of the First World War. During his playing career, he won 78 national titles in the United Kingdom and a further 12 French titles; he also competed in 29 out of 30 English internationals matches, winning 50 in the process, Sir George retired from international duties at the age of 47.

George Thomas’s successes at the All-England did not begin until 1903 when he won the mixed doubles, partnered by the early ladies ‘great’, Ethel Thomson. He really started to make his name in 1906 when he again won the mixed doubles with Ethel Thomson and achieved the first of nine men’s doubles titles; this was also the first of four he won with Dr. Henry Norman Marrett. He was to dominate the championship scene in Ireland, Scotland and France until the outbreak of the First World War.

During the early part of his career, he edited the Badminton Gazette from 1907-12 and was the joint editor with Lavinia Radeglia from 1913-15. Later he was to write several additions of his book The Art of Badminton.

In the First World War, he served as an army officer and in a daunting fashion marched with his troops across more than 240 miles (385 km) of Mesopotamian Desert. It was also said that he rejected the opportunity to ride his horse, choosing rather to footslog with his troops.

It was in 1918 on his father’s death he inherited the baronetcy and became Sir George Thomas Bart, the 7th Baronet of Yapton. A baronet is above a knight, but below a baron. It is a hereditary title and is passed down to the eldest son.

On the resumption of the All-England after the First World War in 1920, it must have appeared to all that at nearly 39 years of age Sir George Thomas’s life as a top badminton player was over. However, the redoubtable Sir George astonished everybody by winning the first of four successive All-England singles titles and three successive mixed doubles titles with Hazel Hogarth (he had previously won with Hogarth in 1914). He was to win three more men’s doubles with Frank Hodge in 1921, 1924 and 1928, the last at the age of 47. Sir George holds the record of the most All-England titles with 21 in total, 4 men’s singles, 9 men’s doubles and 8 mixed doubles.

For more information on the history of the All-England Badminton Championships – Click Here.

George Thomas played in the very first international badminton match, Ireland versus England in January 1903 in Dublin. For the next 26 years, he would represent England achieving a total of 29 international caps.

For more information about the first-ever international badminton match – Click Here.

Sir Georges’s sporting life was not restricted to badminton. He had achieved a very high distinction in at least two other sports, he was one of the very few who could claim to have been a triple international. At chess, his reputation was nearly as great as at badminton,

George at the age of 15 defeated Dr. Lasker, a world champion and two years later, when he joined the Portsmouth Chess Club, he won their championship at his first attempt.

He first represented his country in 1910 in an international match against America, and thereafter continued to be one of the first choices to represent Britain, whose international teams he had captained continually until 1930. Twice, in 1923 and 1934, he won the British Chess Championships, and played all over the world and was Vice President of the British Chess Federation.

His greatest chess success was in 1935 at Hastings when he defeated former world champion Capablanca and future world champion Botvinnik in successive rounds. He is the only English player ever to have beaten Capablanca, who is still regarded by many as the greatest chess player of all time.

Sir George was a stickler for punctuality, but there was an occasion in Scotland when he was challenged to chess by 29 inmates of the local prison. After easily vanquishing 28 of them, he was delayed by the 29th, a convicted ‘con-man’. This breach of punctuality was overlooked by the Badminton Championship organisers.

Sir George Thomas International and Wimbledon tennis player. 

Lawn Tennis was his other great sport, in four successive matches, between 1912 and 1920 he represented England against Ireland. Sir George played at Wimbledon Tennis Championships from 1906 to 1926. In 1911 he reached the quarter-finals of the men’s singles and in 1912 he reached the semi-finals in the men’s doubles with the All-England Badminton Champion Albert Prebble, he also played mixed doubles tennis with his badminton partner Hazel Hogarth. Sir George also played inter-county hockey and was an accomplished equestrian.

He took badminton teams to Canada and Europe and this increased his desire for badminton to be an international sport. To this end, he encouraged the Badminton Association (England) to help establish the International Badminton Federation in 1934. The Badminton Association (England) had organised world badminton since it was formed in 1893. Sir George was the first President of the International Badminton Federation (now called Badminton World Federation – BWF) which he held for 21 years, he never missed a meeting, rewrote the badminton laws and was a frequent umpire at major events. He was Vice President of The Badminton Association of England from 1930-50 and its President from 1950-52.

Sir George Thomas with the Thomas Cup

The draw for the inaugural Thomas Cup competition made by Sir George Thomas on June 30th 1948 from the trophy he had presented to the International Badminton Federation. The draw was made at the Charing Cross Hotel with representatives of many of the competing nations.

Sir George Thomas, President of the International Badminton Federation and donor of the Cup, hands the Thomas Cup to Mr Lim Chuan Geok, captain of the Malayan winning team in 1949.

For more information about ‘The First Thomas Cup Final’ – Click Here.

Sir George Thomas was a truly remarkable man with an impeccable record on and off the court, he was never known to quibble over an umpire’s decision and even stood down from the Badminton Association Selection Committee chairmanship when his position in the England team was under challenge.

Sir George Alan Thomas died on 23 July 1972 at the age of 91- a legend as a player, administrator and gentlemen.

———————————————-

Visitors are welcome to look around the Museum unescorted at any time – The National Badminton Centre is normally open 9am to 8pm every day.

National Badminton Museum, National Badminton Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge,

MILTON KEYNES  MK8 9LA

————————————————–

National Badminton Centre 

Lodge Hotel.

For more information and to book a room – Click Here.

————————————————–

2026 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships

Tuesday 3 March 2026 to Sunday 8 March 2026.

———————————————-

If you have any badminton memorabilia, archive material, or any other items and would like to donate them to the National Badminton Museum please contact us at: –

 museum@badmintonengland.co.uk

Thank you to all the ‘Friends of the Museum’ and people who have made donations to the National Badminton Museum, your support enables us to purchase extremely rare badminton artefacts for the National Collection as they become available.

Marjorie Henderson nee Bell with her doubles partner Thelma Kingsbury dominated woman’s badminton in the 1930s. They won the All-England woman’s doubles four times in a row 1933 to 1936, a record which was not beaten for almost 70 years. After winning the Championship for three consecutive years they were awarded the trophies outright.

Marjorie and Thelma in 1937 after winning the Scottish Badminton Open Championships woman’s doubles for three consecutive years were also awarded the trophies outright. Marjorie also represented England six times during which period the Badminton Gazette described her as a ‘player without equal’. She made a significant contribution towards the general development of badminton in Portsmouth over her lifetime.

The All-England women’s doubles trophy awarded to Marjorie Henderson after winning the championship title for three consecutive years in 1935.

Prior to 1979 if an All-England Champion won a trophy for three consecutive years or four Championships in total, they were awarded the trophies outright.

Marjorie Henderson represented England 6 times between 1933 and 1936. The photograph above is when she played for England against Scotland in 1935, England won 9-0. Marjorie is fourth from the left in the middle row.

The blue plaque celebrating Marjorie Henderson’s badminton achievements which is on her family home at the High Street, Old Portsmouth, Hampshire.

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For more information on the history of the All-England Badminton Championships – Click Here.

————————————————————

Visitors are welcome to look around the Museum unescorted at any time – The National Badminton Centre is normally open 9am to 8pm every day.

National Badminton Museum, National Badminton Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge,

MILTON KEYNES  MK8 9LA

Free Admission.

————————————————–

Accessibility

The National Badminton Museum is on the 1st floor with a lift. Disabled toilet facilities are available on the 1st floor. There is no wheelchair accessibility to the Museum office.

————————————————–

There is a restaurant on the first floor serving breakfasts every day of the week and light lunches on weekdays.

Free parking at the National Badminton Centre.

—————————————————

National Badminton Centre 

Lodge Hotel.

For more information and to book a room – Click Here.

————————————————–

2026 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships

Tuesday 3 March 2026 to Sunday 8 March 2026.

————————————————-

If you have any badminton memorabilia, archive material, or any other items and would like to donate them to the National Badminton Museum please contact us at: –

 museum@badmintonengland.co.uk

Thank you to all the ‘Friends of the Museum’ and people who have made donations to the National Badminton Museum, your support enables us to purchase extremely rare badminton artefacts for the National Collection as they become available.

Betty Uber, who dominated Women’s badminton in the 1930s and won a total of 13 All England Championship titles.

Click on images to enlarge.

Betty Uber playing woman’s singles at the All-England Badminton Championships held at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Vincent Square, London. The Championships were held at this venue from 1910 to 1939 a total of 25 years.

For more information on the history of the All-England Badminton Championships – Click Here.

Betty started her All England success in 1930 with the first of three consecutive mixed titles with her husband Herbert. They would be the first married couple to win an All-England Mixed Doubles title.

The image is of the 1930 All-England Mixed Doubles final. Herbert and Betty Uber (right) playing against B Cook and Miss C. Patten. Sir George Thomas is umpiring the match.

Donald Hume and Betty Uber.

In 1933 she changed her mixed partner to Donald Hume; they would win the next four consecutive titles. Then with Bill White in 1938 she won her eighth and final Mixed Doubles title.

Click on the images to enlarge

1933 All-England Mixed Doubles Final, Donald Hume and Betty Uber (Left) v Willoughby Hamilton (Ireland) and Marion Horsley (England). Hume and Uber won 18-15, 15-8.

Betty Uber and Alice Teague before the 1935 All-England Woman’s Singles final.

Out of the 13 All-England titles Betty Uber won in her career, she only managed to win one woman’s singles title, that was in 1935 against Alice Teague.

Tonny Ahm, Queenie Allen, Betty Uber and Kirsten Thorndahl.

In 1949, at the age of 44, Betty did something quite remarkable. Playing with Queenie Allen, she won her 13th and final All England title. No mean feat as their opponents that day were Tonny Ahm and Kirsten Thorndahl from Denmark, themselves multiple winners of the All-England Championships.

 It wasn’t just at the All England she enjoyed success. She dominated international badminton, winning 14 Scottish Open titles, 12 Irish Open, 8 Welsh titles, 3 South African and 2 French Open titles.

Betty Uber’s incredible England International badminton record.

She represented England in official international fixtures on 37 occasions over a period of 25 years, from 1926 to 1951. During that period, she achieved the seemingly impossible record of winning every one of her first 51 international matches in which she played. Even more incredible is that in one of those matches, a Mixed Doubles fixture against Denmark, she actually served and won 30 consecutive points to emerge victorious – neither her opponent nor her partner served at all! In fairness, it must be stressed that the Danes were not then nearly such good players as they subsequently became. But the record stands.

The Badminton Association of England presented her with a trophy for her England international achievements.

In 1956, Betty presented the Uber Cup (World Women’s Team Championship) to the International Badminton Federation, now the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The trophy was made to her own design and specifications and is played for every two years.

Presentation of the Uber Cup

Presentation in 1956 by Mrs Betty Uber of the Uber Cup for International Competition for Ladies’ Teams.

Left to right – Mr J. Plunkettt-Dillon (Ireland), President of the International Badminton Federation, Brig. R. Bruce Hay, DSO, (England), President Elect of IBF, Mrs H. S. Uber (England).

The first Uber Cup Final was played at Lytham St Anne’s, Lancashire, England on 18th March 1957. The United States of America beat Denmark 6-1.

Betty Uber presents the Uber Cup to Margaret Varner, the American captain.

American winning team, standing: Miss E. Marshall, Mrs C. Davidson, Miss B. Massmann, Mrs J.C. Alston, Seated: Miss S. Devlin, Miss M. Varner (captain) and Miss J. Devlin.

Visit the  Badminton Museum, National Badminton Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, MILTON KEYNES MK8 9LA.

Visitors are welcome to look around the Museum unescorted at any time – The National Badminton Centre is normally open 9am to 8pm every day.

Free Admission.

————————————————–

Accessibility

The Badminton Museum is on the 1st floor with a lift. Disabled toilet facilities are available on the 1st floor. There is no wheelchair accessibility to the Museum office.

——————————————-

There is a restaurant on the first floor serving breakfasts every day of the week and light lunches on weekdays.

Free parking at the National Badminton Centre.

———————————————–

National Badminton Centre 

Lodge Hotel.

For more information and to book a room – Click Here.

———————————————-

If you have any badminton memorabilia, archive material, or any other items and would like to donate them to the Badminton Museum please contact us at: –

 museum@badmintonengland.co.uk

Thank you to all the ‘Friends of the Museum’ and people who have made donations to the Badminton Museum, your support enables us to purchase extremely rare badminton artefacts for the National Collection as they become available.

————————————————

2026 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships

Tuesday 3 March 2026 to Sunday 8 March 2026.

————————————————-

           Kitty Godfree nee McKane a remarkable All-England Champion and sportswoman.

                             L to R- Kathleen “Kitty” Godfree with her sister Margaret Stocks.

 Click on images to enlarge

We take a look at one of the most remarkable All-England Champions and sportswoman of the past. Kitty McKane (later Godfree) not only won eight All-England titles in the 1920s but she also won an Olympic gold medal, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals for tennis, she was also a Wimbledon tennis champion.

She was born on 7 May 1896. Nine years later she cycled from London to Berlin, a short distance of 600 miles with Margaret, her sister and parents!

In Kitty Godfree’s autobiography by Geoffrey Green: Kitty records: “The only advice-not coaching-I got from uncles and cousins when I first picked up a racket at the age, I suppose of ten. ’Use your right-hand’ they use to urge. ’Tennis is played with the right-hand’.

So right it became. Yet basically I am left-handed. I used to play cricket left-handed, as batsmen, bowler, fielder and thrower; I was left-handed at lacrosse; I serve cards and write left-handed. I now wonder if I would have better on my natural, port side. Because of my tennis I played badminton with my right hand. This cannot now be answered, but sometimes I wonder.”

Kitty Godfree with Suzanne Lenglen at the 1925 Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

From 1920 to 1922 Kitty won three consecutive All-England badminton woman’s singles titles and the woman’s doubles title with her sister Margaret in 1921. At the 1924 Championships Kitty achieved a hat-trick of titles by winning the singles, doubles again with her sister and mixed doubles with Frank Devlin. To make it eight All-England titles in 1925 she won the mixed again with Frank Devlin.

In the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games she came away with a set of medals for tennis, winning the woman’s doubles gold, mixed doubles silver and the woman’s singles bronze. At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris she won the women’s doubles silver and woman’s singles bronze.

Kitty won the Wimbledon singles titles twice. In the 1924 final, Kitty recovered from a set and 4-1 (40-15) down against Helen Wills Moody to win the title. In the 1926 final, Kitty recovered from a 3-1 and game-point-against deficit in the third set to defeat Lili de Alvarez.

Kitty and her husband Leslie Godfree are the only married couple ever to win the mixed doubles championships at Wimbledon. They won the title in 1926.

This remarkable sportswoman was also selected to play lacrosse for England.

Kitty Godfrey presenting the women’s singles trophy to Martina Navratilova at the 1986 Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

Click on images to enlarge

For more information on the history of the All-England Badminton Championships – Click Here.

————————————————————-

2026 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships

Tuesday 3 March 2026 to Sunday 8 March 2026.

At the Utilita Arena, Birmingham.

————————————————————-

Visit the Badminton Museum, National Badminton Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, MILTON KEYNES MK8 9LA.

Visitors are welcome to look around the Museum unescorted at any time – The National Badminton Centre is normally open 9am to 8pm every day.

Free Admission.

————————————————————-

Accessibility

The Badminton Museum is on the 1st floor with a lift. Disabled toilet facilities are available on the 1st floor. There is no wheelchair accessibility to the Museum office.

————————————————————-

There is a restaurant on the first floor serving breakfasts every day of the week and light lunches on weekdays.

Free parking at the National Badminton Centre.

————————————————————-

National Badminton Centre 

Lodge Hotel.

For more information and to book a room – Click Here.

————————————————————-

If you have any badminton memorabilia, archive material, or any other items and would like to donate them to the Badminton Museum please contact us at: –

 museum@badmintonengland.co.uk

Thank you to all the ‘Friends of the Museum’ and people who have made donations to the Badminton Museum, your support enables us to purchase extremely rare badminton artefacts for the National Collection as they become available.