Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Dave’s deserved award
Badminton
Dave Gardner took up badminton to help him exercise and is still playing four decades later, writes Andrew Gidley.
Now his involvement has now been recognised by Badminton England in the shape of a long-service award to mark his 40 years’ devotion to the sport in the county and the North Foreland League.
Gardner, who turns 75 in August, moved to Herne Bay as a boy after his family moved there from Walthamstow in north London.
He joined Kings Road Badminton Club, serving them as chairman and now secretary-treasuer, continuing to playing competitively up until four years ago. He still enjoys a game socially.
He said: “I went to university but didn’t play a lot of sport apart from a bit of tennis but wanted to keep active and joined Kings Road.
“We played on one court in a local hall – now we use four at Herne Bay High School and have 25-30 members.”
He admits the award, made by Geoff Rofe of Badminton England, during a tournament at the University of Kent, was a complete surprise.
He said: “I was administering the event and doing some paperwork, suddenly everything stopped, people started gathering around and the presentation took place.”
Gardner believes the sport is in good shape nationally but says local clubs are struggling to attract numbers.
He said: “The game is flourishing, with more people playing than never before but I worry about the future as people can now turn up and book a court at a sports centre and play.
“People apparently have more leisure time but still can’t commit, due to pressures of work.
“It’s a mixed picture but the one thing we do have is some high-quality juniors coming through.”
Gardner is doing his bit to encourage more participation with his work in the North Foreland League, involving 20 clubs in area between Faversham and Thanet and has joined forces with Giles Seaford at Canterbury City Council to set-up pay and play clubs and helped form the Canterbury Badminton Network.
He also helps organise county matches and senior and junior inter-regional competitions.
He said: “Forty years have gone quickly and I still remember when I started out. I have enjoyed it.”
Away from badminton, Gardner is also treasurer at Herne Bay Allotments and Gardens Association, a role he has served for 25 years and also runs the shop.