News Article
BADMINTONscotland mourns the loss of Colin Atkinson
It is with deep regret that we have to announce that Colin Michael Atkinson, BADMINTONscotland’s Finance Committee Chair, and Past President from 1987 to 1989, died suddenly on the golf course whilst taking part in the Badminton Annual Golf day in Surrey, on Monday 13 September.
Colin was a loyal and highly valued servant to badminton for over 45 years and made an immense contribution at both local and national level.
He was an indefatigable worker, often combining his duties as a Convenor of West Strathclyde Group, Director of BADMINTONscotland’s Board and Council member (since 1980) with the role of Director at many BADMINTONscotland events. It is virtually impossible to sum up the enormous impact that Colin had on the sport over the past five decades.
Without doubt, Colin was one of our longest serving and most dedicated volunteers whose involvement was as evident and as tangible this year as it was 45 years ago. Indeed, if anything, Colin’s involvement in badminton grew over the years.
Following Colin’s retirement from the civil service, his voluntary involvement at BADMINTONscotland became nearly a full time role. His positions of responsibility were too numerous to list. They stretched from the coaching of our young national players, to training our national coaches ; and performing the role of Deputy Championship Director of all BADMINTONscotland’s major events. In addition to all this he was our Chair of Finance and worked tirelessly to ensure the financial security and stability of our Governing Body.
Colin always continued to strive to discover new ways to bring the sport of badminton to a wider spectrum of people. Within Scotland, he implemented the concept of the sports centre “Badminton Bonanza” – an initiative developed to ensure that the general public, who are not members of an affiliated badminton club, could enjoy the same competitive opportunities afforded to those playing in leagues across the country.
Since 1990, Colin acted as Deputy Championship Director of the annual Scottish International Championship; and at the 6 major European and World badminton events that BADMINTONscotland has hosted in recent years. In 1997, Colin was the Deputy Championship Director of the internationally acclaimed World Individual Championships and Sudirman Cup, as well as acting as a leading member of the bid team. He reprised his role as the Deputy Championship Director for the Sudirman Cup World Team Badminton Championships in 2007.
Colin’s sporting interests extended beyond badminton. Indeed, he was Chairman of the Sports Council for Glasgow for a period of over 3 years. A keen cricket player, he was Club Captain of Glasgow Accies CC from 1974 to 1975; and then again from 1981 to 1982. Additionally, he loved the game of golf and was a member of Eastwood Golf Club.
Colin will be missed not only for his huge contribution to the national sport, but also for the friendship, advice and support that he so willingly extended to so many of us.
We all extend our sincere condolences to his wife Moira and his daughter and son, Hilary and Michael.
