Angela Bairstow

Angela Bairstow (31 May 1942 – 13 February 2016) was an English international badminton player.

Early life She lived on Plough Lane, in Purley. She attended Dinorben School, a private girls school, on Woodcote Lane (A237) in Wallington.

Badminton career She first came to prominence in 1958 when she won the English National Junior singles title. Further wins followed in 1959 and 1960; in addition she won four English National Junior doubles titles. After the step up to senior competition she reached the final of the 1963 All England Badminton Championships singles losing out to Judy Hashman. In 1963 at the All England Championships she was seeded to win in the Singles, Doubles and the Mixed.

Although never winning an All England title Bairstow became a significant player for England winning a host of titles from 1964 to 1968 including the Scottish Open, German Open, Dutch Open, Asia Cup, Irish Open, English National Badminton Championships and European Badminton Championships.

In 1965 Bairstow won the Dutch open in Singles, Doubles and Mixed in the same year with another three Dutch titles afterwards. She repeated the triple at the second Asian Championships in 1965 in Lucknow. After which the organisers banned non-Asian players from entering. Bairstow brought to prominence a deceptive backhand sliced serve and flick. She is the only player in history who won medals in both Asian and European Championships.

Bairstow represented the England team and won two golds and one silver medal, at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica.

Personal life She married her coach, H. Ian Palmer, in 1970 and had three children (born 1969, 1970 and 1972) and four grandchildren.

Achievements Commonwealth Games Women's singles YearVenueOpponentScoreResult 1966 Convention Hall, Kingston, Jamaica Sharon Whittaker 11–5, 11–3Gold Gold

Women's doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult 1966 Convention Hall, Kingston, Jamaica Iris Rogers Jenny Horton Ursula Smith 7–15, 7–15Silver Silver

Mixed doubles YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult 1966 Convention Hall, Kingston, Jamaica Roger Mills Tony Jordan Jenny Horton 7–15, 15–8, 15–12Gold Gold

Asian Championships Women's singles

Women's doubles

Mixed doubles

European Championships Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1968 Ruhrlandhalle, Bochum, Germany Irmgard Latz 9–12, 2–11 Bronze Bronze

Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1968 Ruhrlandhalle, Bochum, Germany Gillian Perrin Margaret Boxall Susan Whetnall 7–15, 13–18 Silver Silver

International tournaments (12 titles, 10 runners-up) Women's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1963 All England Open Judy Hashman 5–11, 9–11 Runner-up 1964 Dutch Open Judy Hashman 2–11, 2–11 Runner-up 1964 Scottish Open Ursula Smith 4–11, 2–11 Runner-up 1965 Dutch Open Muriel Ferguson 11–6, 11–1 Winner 1965 Irish Open Ursula Smith 11–6, 12–9 Winner 1966 Dutch Open Heather Nielsen 11–7, 8–11, 11–5 Winner 1966 Scottish Open Jenny Horton 10–11, 11–3, 11–4 Winner 1967 Dutch Open Imre Rietveld 10–11, 5–11 Runner-up 1967 Irish Open Gillian Perrin 10–13, 11–8, 11–8 Winner

Women's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1963 Irish Open Iris Rogers Brenda Parr Jenny Pritchard 9–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1964 Dutch Open Jenny Pritchard Judy Hashman Sue Peard 8–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1964 Scottish Open Jenny Pritchard Margaret Barrand Ursula Smith 7–15, 17–14, 15–10 Winner 1964 German Open Jenny Pritchard Irmgard Latz Imre Rietveld 15–8, 15–8 Winner 1965 Dutch Open Anita Price Anne Flindt Bente Flindt 15–5, 15–11 Winner 1966 Scottish Open Margaret Barrand Jenny Horton Iris Rogers 15–10, 15–9 Winner 1968 Dutch Open Alison Glenie Margaret Boxall Susan Pound 15–5, 0–15, 9–15 Runner-up

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1964 Dutch Open Trevor Coates John Havers Jenny Pritchard 10–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1965 Dutch Open Tony Jordan John Havers Anita Price 15–4, 18–14 Winner 1967 German Open Tony Jordan Per Walsøe Ulla Strand 8–15, 8–15 Runner-up 1967 Dutch Open Tony Jordan Klaus Kaagaard Pernille Mølgaard Hansen 15–2, 15–11 Winner 1967 Irish Open Tony Jordan Roger Mills Iris Rogers 5–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1968 Dutch Open Paul Whetnall David Eddy Margaret Boxall 15–13, 15–11 Winner