Pauline Leadbeater with the scooter she was given by the GBA on her retirement. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0573250)

BADMINTON is to lose the services of one of its longest servants. Pauline Leadbeater has decided to take a back seat and step down from the day-to-day running of St Michael’s Juniors.

The 71-year-old, who took over the running of the club in 1956 with her late husband, Reg, said it had never felt like 52 years in charge. ‘I don’t know where the years have gone, but I have had so much enjoyment from doing it and watching the children improve.’

Leadbeater said she would miss helping and encouraging youngsters to develop through the junior ranks to become top senior players and that taking them away to compete and seeing her own children develop into such good players had been outstanding memories of her badminton career.