It is with great sadness that The Badminton Museum announces the passing of Tony Jordan, one of the all-time greats in the world of badminton. Tony’s remarkable career is highlighted by his historic achievement of being the first player to reach 100 international caps in our sport. This milestone is particularly incredible when considering the context of his era, which featured far fewer international matches compared to the bustling schedule of today.

In addition to his remarkable achievement of being the first player to reach 100 international caps, Tony Jordan was also honoured as the first recipient of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) for his outstanding contributions to badminton. This prestigious award is a testament to his dedication, skill, and influence in the sport.

Tony’s dedication, skill, and sportsmanship not only set a benchmark for future generations of players but also helped elevate badminton’s status on the international stage. His contributions to the sport extended beyond the court, inspiring countless athletes to pursue their passion for badminton.

As we reflect on Tony’s legacy, we remember not just his achievements but also the spirit of perseverance and excellence he embodied. The badminton community has lost a true pioneer, and his impact will be felt for years to come. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Rest in peace, Tony Jordan. Your legacy will forever be etched in the history of badminton.

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 WOMAN’S SINGLES CHAMPION AT THE ALL-ENGLAND BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS – ETHEL THOMSON.

Only three doubles events were played at the first All-England Badminton Championships in 1899. So, it was the next year, 1900, that the tournament was expanded to two days to include the men’s and women’s singles.

In 1900, at the age of 20, Ethel Thomson from Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England, became the first All-England woman’s singles champion. Ethel had to play fellow Devon player Muriel Lucas in the semi-final – they were considered the two best women players in the tournament. At that time, there was no seeding in the Championships; seeding was not introduced to the All-England Badminton Championships until 1932. In the final, Ethel beat Miss E. Mosley from Sutton Coldfield 17-15, 15-11. She also won the women’s singles title in 1901 and 1903, winning the trophy outright in 1904. Before 1979, if an All-England Champion won a trophy for three consecutive championships or four Championships in total, they were awarded the trophy outright. At the 1906 All-England Championships, she was the first woman player to complete the triple, winning the singles, women’s and mixed doubles titles.

At the very first All-England Championships in 1899, Ethel Thomson played women’s doubles with fellow Budleigh Salterton Badminton Club partner Jean Theobald, and they reached the final, only to be beaten by another pair from Devon, Muriel Lucas and Violet Graeme from the Teignmouth Badminton Club.

From 1902, Ethel would team up with Muriel Lucas in the women’s doubles, and they would share the first 11 women’s singles titles of the All-England from 1900 to 1910, with 5 in favour of Thomson and 6 in favour of Lucas. Together, they won 4 All-England women’s doubles titles. It was reported that they never lost a doubles match in tournament play. Ethel Thomson would win 3 All-England mixed titles with George Thomas. She retired from top-class Badminton in 1906 when she married Dudley Larcombe – Secretary of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club.

Ethel returned to badminton and tennis in 1911. Like many good badminton players of that time, Ethel Thompson was also a top-class tennis player, playing 70 matches at Wimbledon from 1902 to 1921. At the age of 33, she won the Wimbledon Women’s Singles Championships in 1912, and she also added the mixed doubles championship title partnering Cyril Parker from Ireland in 1914.

​Ethel Thomson and Sidney Smith, the first-ever All-England Badminton men’s singles champion in 1900, played tennis mixed doubles together, and they were the mixed doubles Wimbledon All-Comers tournament winners in 1903 and 1904.

Wimbledon, until 1922, had a system where players played in the All-Comers tournament, and then the winner played in the Challenge Round final against the holder of the title from the previous year; the winner of this final would be the Wimbledon champions.

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 resembles 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 shuttlecock was used in the first 10 years of the All-England Championships.

For more information about 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.

—————————————————

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.

The First Ever All-England Badminton Men’s Singles Champion

At the first All-England Badminton Championships in 1899 it was only the three doubles events played. So, it was the next year 1900 that the tournament was expanded to two days to include the men’s and woman’s singles.

Sydney Howard Smith from Stroud in Gloucestershire at the age of 28 became the first ever All-England men’s singles champion. In March 1900 almost 300 spectators turned up at the London Scottish Regiment Drill Hall, London’s Buckingham Gate to watch, there were 21 players in the men’s singles event. Unlike today’s rectangular courts, then courts were hourglass-shaped, 40 feet (13.4m) long x 20 feet (6.1m) wide and 16 feet (4.88m) wide at the net.

W. Oakes and Smith had little difficulty in reaching the men’s singles final with Smith beating Oakes 15-12, 11-15, 15-10.

1901 saw Sidney Smith defending his title and was given a bye into the second round where he was dispatched by the eventual winner Capt. H. W. Davies. Smith never entered the All-England again after that.

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 resembles 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 length of flight, size, weight and uniform strength. This type of shuttlecock was used for the first 10 years of the All-England Championships.

Like many good badminton players of that time, Sidney Smith was a top-class tennis player, playing a total of 87 matches at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in the men’s singles and doubles from 1893 to 1907. The year that he won the first All-England badminton men’s singles title in 1900 he also won the Wimbledon All-Comers men’s singles final but lost in the Challenge Rounds final.

Wimbledon until 1922 had a system where players would play in the All-Comers tournament, and then the winner would play in the Challenge Rounds final the holder of the title from the previous year, the winner of that final would be the Wimbledon champion.

In the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, Smith with Frank Riseley won the All-Comers final 1902, 1904, 1905 & 1906 and in 1902 & 1906 they won the Challenge Rounds final to be the Wimbledon’s Men’s Doubles Champion.

It tells us in Wimbledon: The Official History of the Championships “Sidney Smith- who, despite or perhaps because of a leg brace covered the court remarkably fast and wielded a forehand that was regarded as the fiercest in the game.”

​Sidney Smith with Ethel Thomson, the first ever All-England Badminton women’s singles champion in 1900, played tennis mixed doubles together and they were the mixed doubles Wimbledon All-Comers tournament winners in 1903 and 1904.

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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.

———————————————

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.

The First Player to Wear Shorts at the All-England

Frank Devlin (far end) playing against Bill White in a England v Ireland international match during the 1931 All-England Badminton Championships at the Horticultural Hall, London.

1932 All-England Championships Bill White far end playing in the 3rd round of the men’s singles playing against his doubles partner Donald Hume. Bill would win 15-8, 14-15, 15-9. and go on to reach the final, only to be beaten by Ralph Nichols.

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

Leading players of the 1920s and 1930s. Standing-L. to R. Raymond ‘Bill’ White, Gordon ‘Curly’ Mack, Marion Horsley, Ralph Nichols, Donald Hume. Sitting-L. to R. Frank Devlin, Marjorie Barrett, Betty Uber.

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

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.

—————————————-

2026 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships

Tuesday 3 March 2026 to Sunday 8 March 2026.

————————————————-

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.

Morten Frost

Badminton England has announced that Morten Frost from Denmark, the four times Yonex All-England men’s singles champion will become their Performance Director starting in April 2022.

For those who were not lucky enough to see him play at his best playing standard, the Badminton Museum has chosen a film from their film library of Morten Frost winning his last Yonex All-England men’s singles title in 1987.

In the final Morten is playing against Icuk Sugiarto from Indonesia. Morten wins 15-10, 15-0. in a 40 minute final.

Photos: – Peter Richardson and Louis Ross                                                                                           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.

——————————————-

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

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.

Sondico BX4000 Twinshaft Racket

Photo: – Geoff Hinder                                                                                                                                           Click on images to enlarge

At the 1978 All-England Championships Gillian Gilks MBE (England) would win the woman’s singles title with a Sondico BX4000 twinshaft racket. Gillian had previously won the All-England woman’s singles title in 1976 when she completed the triple, also winning the woman’s doubles and the mixed doubles. Her All-England winning career started in 1969 at the age of 18 when she won the mixed doubles with Roger Mills (England). Gillian Gilks would win a total of 11 All-England titles, 2 x singles, 3 x woman’s doubles and 6 mixed doubles over a 15-year period.

The 1978 victory would make her the last Englishwoman to win the All-England singles title.

The Sondico BX4000 racket weighs 127.5 grams, a modern graphite racket weighs approximately 92 grams.

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

This racket and many more can be seen at 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.

————————————————————

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.

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.

Svend Pri – The All-England Champion who was Overcome with Joy

From 1967 Svend had struck up a formidable mixed doubles partnership with Ulla Strand taking the mixed doubles title that year and they would repeat the win again in 1971 and 1972.

1972 All-England Mixed Doubles Final.

Far end, Svend Pri and Ulla Strand (Denmark) beating Derek Talbot and Gillian Gilks (England) 12-15, 18-14, 15-2.

Photo: – Graham Habbin

1975 All-England Championships Men’s Singles Final

Svend Pri ( Denmark)       v       Rudy Hartono (Indonesia)

 Svend Pri

Photo: – Louis Ross

 Rudy Hartono 

 Photo: – Louis Ross

Photo: – Louis Ross

In the final, Svend had won the first game 15-11. In the second game Svend accumulated a 12-8 lead, only for Rudy to race forward to 14-12 lead with a game point.

We join the film in the second game at 14-12 to Rudy.

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

——————————————–

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.

—————————————-

2026 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships

Tuesday 3 March 2026 to Sunday 8 March 2026.

—————————————————

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.

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.

——————————————— 

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.

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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.