History of the Hull & District Badminton League
In the mid 60's the league was large and well established with the redoubtable Rona Duffill (YPI club) as secretary. Well known figures from that era were Harry Naylor who had been denied playing for England by the Second World War and although he had joints wrapped like an Egyptian mummy was still bamboozling most players. Bill Stabler, secretary of Lambert St. Methodist club was a fixture at matches and tournaments repairing shuttles by inserting good feathers to replace damaged ones. Mike and Mary Kilvington were among the Avenue Badminton Club stars and founded a badminton dynasty still playing today.
At this time there were many more clubs, many churches had clubs based in their church halls and many of Hull's major employers ran teams (BP, Reckitts, YEB, etc).
Playing in Reckitts ballroom the night after they'd held a dance (and French chalked the floor) was not for the faint hearted - many resorted to bare feet! Lambert Street Methodists had the luxury of two courts in their not quite big enough church hall. The courts were not quite full size - the distance between the net and the short service line was reduced so serving to a tall, aggressive player was mind-focusing! The same courts had a row of coat hooks on the wall tight behind one end and a waist high stage tight at the other - tough conditions, but they did do a lovely cup of tea. Incidentally the tradition of the home team providing mid match tea and biscuits (sometimes cake) was the norm for all matches into the 1980's. In the 1970's there were multiple divisions in Mens, Ladies and Mixed leagues and the larger clubs were fielding ten or more teams. In the 1980's the league began to contract with the gradual loss of one court church hall clubs and the closing of many works clubs.
Thanks to Roger Tanner for the above.
If anyone else has any more information on the History of the league please email info@hadbl.org.uk.