Gillian Perrin was born on 20 June 1950 and first played for England against Scotland at Barnt Green, near Birmingham, on Thursday 15th December 1966 whilst still at school at Nonsuch Grammar School, Cheam, Surrey.
The early signs were there: she was considered for Surrey under 18s at the age of 11, at 12 she won the All England Junior Under 15s and she won both the All England Under 15 and Under 18 at the age of just 14.
She would go on to become one of England and the world’s greatest ever players, becoming the women's singles world number one in the first IBF world ranking release in 1978.
Perhaps the statistic that most people remember is her winning the triple crown at the All England in 1976, a feat which unlikely to ever be repeated .She won the women’s singles, beating Margaret Lockwood 11–0, 11–3 , the women’s doubles with Sue Whetnall, beating Margaret Beck & Nora Gardner 15–10, 15–10 & the mixed double’s with Derek Talbot, beating Mike Tredgett & Nora Perry 15–9, 15–9
Margaret Beck playing a wristy backhand with Nora Gardner watching on, but they still lost 15–10, 15–10 in the final to Gill and Sue Whetnall!
Perhaps the statistic that most people remember is her winning the triple crown at the All England in 1976, a feat which unlikely to ever be repeated.
She won the women’s singles, beating Margaret Lockwood 11–0, 11–3 , the women’s doubles with Sue Whetnall, beating Margaret Beck & Nora Gardner 15–10, 15–10 & the mixed double’s with Derek Talbot, beating Mike Tredgett & Nora Perry 15–9, 15–9 .
Winning the triple crown is amazing enough, but the score lines in the final tell yet another story: she won the finals without dropping a set. A testament to her supreme fitness.
Winning 12 European titles, she also won a Gold and bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics when badminton was played as a demonstration sport.
In 1999 she was inducted into the World Badminton Hall of Fame.
A true superstar.
The Badminton Museum has a large collection of photos and videos of Gillian in the collection, including the 1976 finals. Gillian has also generously donated and loaned medals and rackets to the Museum which are currently on display.
Photo Louis Ross
Photo Peter Richardson
