Town makes a racket for 88-year-old badminton coach

Quite a racket has been made for a 88-year-old badminton coach to celebrate his teaching of the sport for 65 years.

Colin Bedford, from March, Cambridgeshire, took up the game when he was 11 and is believed to be one of its oldest coaches in the country.

Current and former players gathered at Neale-Wade Academy to mark the landmark achievement, in the hall that was named after him.

Mr Bedford said he had no plans to stop and over the years had taught "thousands and thousands to play".

At the special party that was held to mark the momentous anniversary, Mr Bedford told the BBC he started coaching at 23.

"I'm the oldest badminton coach in the country," he said.

"It's a great honour to have everyone here for my special day - I hope I'm going to go for many years yet.

"I'm really very excited and I'm very proud, what I've done for the local community."

He said at his peak he coached every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, but now he just coaches once a week.

"Over the years I've taught thousands, thousands, to play badminton," he said.

"It helps you to keep fit and also I like the company of people."

Dianne Pierre, 41, who attended the event on behalf of the Badminton World Federation, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said she was "inspired" by Mr Bedford.

"It's a wonderful turn out, so many people have come to see him and honour him," she said.

"My typical job is interviewing Olympic and World Champions, but what really interests me is human interest stories like Colin, someone who's stayed in badminton for so long."

Mr Bedford said since losing his "dear wife" Margaret a few years ago, he had felt lonely "but being up here, with the badminton people, it gives me something to look forward to."

"I love badminton, I love coaching," he said, adding: "I will soon be 89. I would love to go until I'm 90 at least - any more will be a bonus."

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