Margaret Beck

Margaret Beck (later Margaret Lockwood; 9 January 1952 – 21 May 2023) was a badminton player from England who ranked among the world's best during most of the 1970s.

Early and personal life Beck was born in Whitehaven, Cumbria. She married Ron Lockwood on 20 December 1975 in near London.

Playing career An exceptional junior talent, she represented the England team, at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland. She competed in the badminton events, winning a gold medal in the singles, while still in her teens.

In 1973, Beck won the women's singles at the All-England Championships, which, aside from the international team championships (Uber Cup and Thomas Cup), was then the world's most prestigious tournament. In 1974 she represented England and won a gold and silver medals in the doubles and singles, at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand.

After marrying in 1975 she competed under her married name of Margaret Lockwood and reached the singles and doubles final at the 1976 All England Open Badminton Championships.

Her other international singles titles included the European Badminton Championships (1972), and the Canadian (1975), Irish (1971), Portuguese (1973), Scottish (1972, 1974), and South African (1976) Opens. She also won five English National singles titles (against opposition that included Gillian Gilks), and a dozen or more international doubles titles.

Noted for her rigorous fitness regimen, she developed a problem with her knee which was seriously aggravated during the first World Badminton Championships in 1977. The singles and doubles bronze medals that she earned there would be her last. Despite surgeries and attempted rehabilitation she never played serious competitive badminton again.

Achievements

World Championships +Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1977 Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden Lene Køppen 6–11, 1–11 Bronze Bronze

+Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1977 Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden Nora Perry Marjan Ridder Joke van Beusekom 15–4, 6–15, 8–15 Bronze Bronze

Commonwealth Games +Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1970 Edinburgh, Scotland Gillian Perrin 5–11, 11–3, 11–8 Gold Gold 1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Gillian Gilks 8–11, 8–11 Silver Silver

+Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Gillian Perrin Margaret Boxall Susan Whetnall 15–7, 15–5 Gold Gold

European Championships +Women's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1972 Karlskrona, Sweden Gillian Gilks 11–0, 11–1 Gold Gold 1974 Vienna, Austria Lene Køppen 6–11, 12–10, 7–11 Bronze Bronze 1976 Dublin, Ireland Lene Køppen 5–11, 5–11 Bronze Bronze

+Women's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1970 Port Talbot, Wales Gillian Perrin Irmgard Latz Marieluise Wackerow 13–15, 15–9, 3–15 Bronze Bronze 1972 Karlskrona, Sweden Julie Rickard Gillian Gilks Judy Hashman 11–15, 7–15 Silver Silver 1974 Vienna, Austria Gillian Gilks Nora Gardner Susan Whetnall 15–10, 15–13 Gold Gold 1976 Dublin, Ireland Nora Gardner Gillian Gilks Susan Whetnall 4–15, 8–15 Silver Silver

European Junior Championships +Girls' singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1969 Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands Anne Berglund 11–6, 6–11, 11–12 Silver Silver

+Girls' doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1969 Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands Carol Whightman Marjan Luesken Joke van Beusekom 5–15, 9–15 Silver Silver

+Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1969 Leidschendam-Voorburg, Netherlands Ray Stevens Girt Perneklo Karin Lindquist Bronze Bronze

International tournaments +Women's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1970 Wimbledon Open Tyna Barinaga 11–8, 11–1 Winner 1971 Irish Open Gillian Gilks 12–9, 10–12, 11–6 Winner 1971 Swedish Open Eva Twedberg 7–11, 5–11 Runner-up 1971 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks 9–11, 5–11 Runner-up 1972 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks 6–11, 11–4, 11–4 Winner 1973 All England Open Gillian Gilks 11–8, 11–0 Winner 1973 Jamaica International Eva Twedberg 7–11, 11–3, 12–9 Winner 1973 Portugal International Eva Twedberg 12–10, 10–12, 11–0 Winner 1974 German Open Joke van Beusekom 11–1, 11–4 Winner 1974 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks 11–8, 12–10 Winner 1975 Canadian Open Joke van Beusekom 11–4, 11–3 Winner 1975 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks 7–11, 3–11 Runner-up 1976 All England Open Gillian Gilks 0–11, 3–11 Runner-up 1976 Canadian Open Wendy Clarkson 11–2, 5–11, 10–12 Runner-up 1976 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks 11–6, 4–11, 7–11 Runner-up 1977 German Open Brigitte Steden 11–7, 11–3 Winner

+Women's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1970 Wimbledon Open Julie Rickard Tyna Barinaga Nora Gardner 6–15, 7–15 Runner-up 1971 Irish Open Julie Rickard Gillian Gilks Nora Gardner 15–12, 15–9 Winner 1971 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks Barbara Beckett Kay Nesbit 15–6, 15–7 Winner 1972 Swedish Open Gillian Gilks Anne Flindt Pernille Kaagaard 15–8, 15–8 Winner 1972 All England Open Julie Rickard Machiko Aizawa Etsuko Takenaka 15–9, 8–15, 12–15 Runner-up 1972 Scottish Open Helen Horton Bridget Cooper Gillian Gilks 15–17, 6–15 Runner-up 1973 Swedish Open Gillian Gilks Marjan Luesken Joke van Beusekom 15–8, 15–8 Winner 1973 All England Open Gillian Gilks Machiko Aizawa Etsuko Takenaka 10–15, 15–10, 11–15 Runner-up 1973 Canadian Open Joke van Beusekom Mimi Nilsson Judi Rollick 15–12, 15–12 Winner 1973 Jamaica International Bridget Cooper Jennifer Dakin Barb O'Brien 15–8, 2–15, 15–12 Winner 1974 All England Open Gillian Gilks Margaret Boxall Susan Whetnall 15–5, 18–14 Winner 1974 German Open Gillian Gilks Brigitte Steden Marieluise Zizmann 15–12, 12–15, 15–6 Winner 1974 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks Margaret Boxall Susan Whetnall 9–15, 15–10, 10–15 Runner-up 1975 Canadian Open Joke van Beusekom Barbara Welch Jane Youngberg 12–15, 15–11, 15–4 Winner 1975 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks Nora Gardner Susan Whetnall 12–15, 17–14, 7–15 Runner-up 1976 All England Open Nora Gardner Gillian Gilks Susan Whetnall 10–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1976 Canadian Open Nora Gardner Marjan Ridder Joke van Beusekom 17–14, 15–9 Winner 1976 Scottish Open Nora Gardner Gillian Gilks Susan Whetnall 5–15, 2–15 Runner-up 1976 Swedish Open Gillian Gilks Marjan Ridder Joke van Beusekom 15–11, 15–4 Winner 1977 All England Open Nora Perry Etsuko Toganoo Emiko Ueno 15–7, 3–15, 7–15 Runner-up

+Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1972 Scottish Open Robert McCoig Derek Talbot Gillian Gilks 9–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1973 Jamaica International Mike Tredgett Sture Johnsson Eva Twedberg 3–15, 15–18 Runner-up 1973 Swedish Open Elliot Stuart Derek Talbot Gillian Gilks 11–15, 3–15 Runner-up