Margaret Beck
NationalityBritish (English)
Birth date9 January 1952
Birth placeWhitehaven, Cumbria, England
Death date21 May 2023 (aged 71)
Death placeWhitehaven, Cumbria, England

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.[1]

Early and personal life

Beck was born in Whitehaven, Cumbria. She married Ron Lockwood on 20 December 1975 in near London.[2]

Playing career

An exceptional junior talent, she represented the England team,[3] at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.[4] She competed in the badminton events, winning a gold medal in the singles,[5] while still in her teens.[6][7][8]

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.[6]

She shared the All-England women's doubles title with Gillian Gilks in 1974.[6] She won singles at the World Invitation Tournament, a forerunner of the BWF World Championships, that was held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1974.[9] 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.[10]

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.[6]

Achievements

World Championships

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1977Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, SwedenLene Køppen6–11, 1–11Bronze
Women's doubles
YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1977Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, SwedenNora PerryMarjan Ridder
Joke van Beusekom		15–4, 6–15, 8–15Bronze

Commonwealth Games

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1970Edinburgh, ScotlandGillian Perrin5–11, 11–3, 11–8Gold
1974Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New ZealandGillian Gilks8–11, 8–11Silver
Women's doubles
YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1974Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New ZealandGillian PerrinMargaret Boxall
Susan Whetnall		15–7, 15–5Gold

European Championships

Women's singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1972Karlskrona, SwedenGillian Gilks11–0, 11–1Gold
1974Vienna, AustriaLene Køppen6–11, 12–10, 7–11Bronze
1976Dublin, IrelandLene Køppen5–11, 5–11Bronze
Women's doubles
YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1970Port Talbot, WalesGillian PerrinIrmgard Latz
Marieluise Wackerow		13–15, 15–9, 3–15Bronze
1972Karlskrona, SwedenJulie RickardGillian Gilks
Judy Hashman		11–15, 7–15Silver
1974Vienna, AustriaGillian GilksNora Gardner
Susan Whetnall		15–10, 15–13Gold
1976Dublin, IrelandNora GardnerGillian Gilks
Susan Whetnall		4–15, 8–15Silver

European Junior Championships

Girls' singles
YearVenueOpponentScoreResult
1969Leidschendam-Voorburg, NetherlandsAnne Berglund11–6, 6–11, 11–12Silver
Girls' doubles
YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1969Leidschendam-Voorburg, NetherlandsCarol WhightmanMarjan Luesken
Joke van Beusekom		5–15, 9–15Silver
Mixed doubles
YearVenuePartnerOpponentScoreResult
1969Leidschendam-Voorburg, NetherlandsRay StevensGirt Perneklo
Karin Lindquist		Bronze

International tournaments

Women's singles
YearTournamentOpponentScoreResult
1970Wimbledon OpenTyna Barinaga11–8, 11–1Winner
1971Irish OpenGillian Gilks12–9, 10–12, 11–6Winner
1971Swedish OpenEva Twedberg7–11, 5–11Runner-up
1971Scottish OpenGillian Gilks9–11, 5–11Runner-up
1972Scottish OpenGillian Gilks6–11, 11–4, 11–4Winner
1973All England OpenGillian Gilks11–8, 11–0Winner
1973Jamaica InternationalEva Twedberg7–11, 11–3, 12–9Winner
1973Portugal InternationalEva Twedberg12–10, 10–12, 11–0Winner
1974German OpenJoke van Beusekom11–1, 11–4Winner
1974Scottish OpenGillian Gilks11–8, 12–10Winner
1975Canadian OpenJoke van Beusekom11–4, 11–3Winner
1975Dutch OpenGillian Gilks7–11, 3–11Runner-up
1976All England OpenGillian Gilks0–11, 3–11Runner-up
1976Canadian OpenWendy Clarkson11–2, 5–11, 10–12Runner-up
1976Scottish OpenGillian Gilks11–6, 4–11, 7–11Runner-up
1977German OpenBrigitte Steden11–7, 11–3Winner
Women's doubles
YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1970Wimbledon OpenJulie RickardTyna Barinaga
Nora Gardner		6–15, 7–15Runner-up
1971Irish OpenJulie RickardGillian Gilks
Nora Gardner		15–12, 15–9Winner
1971Scottish OpenGillian GilksBarbara Beckett
Kay Nesbit		15–6, 15–7Winner
1972Swedish OpenGillian GilksAnne Flindt
Pernille Kaagaard		15–8, 15–8Winner
1972All England OpenJulie RickardMachiko Aizawa
Etsuko Takenaka		15–9, 8–15, 12–15Runner-up
1972Scottish OpenHelen HortonBridget Cooper
Gillian Gilks		15–17, 6–15Runner-up
1973Swedish OpenGillian GilksMarjan Luesken
Joke van Beusekom		15–8, 15–8Winner
1973All England OpenGillian GilksMachiko Aizawa
Etsuko Takenaka		10–15, 15–10, 11–15Runner-up
1973Canadian OpenJoke van BeusekomMimi Nilsson
Judi Rollick		15–12, 15–12Winner
1973Jamaica InternationalBridget CooperJennifer Dakin
Barb O'Brien		15–8, 2–15, 15–12Winner
1974All England OpenGillian GilksMargaret Boxall
Susan Whetnall		15–5, 18–14Winner
1974German OpenGillian GilksBrigitte Steden
Marieluise Zizmann		15–12, 12–15, 15–6Winner
1974Scottish OpenGillian GilksMargaret Boxall
Susan Whetnall		9–15, 15–10, 10–15Runner-up
1975Canadian OpenJoke van BeusekomBarbara Welch
Jane Youngberg		12–15, 15–11, 15–4Winner
1975Dutch OpenGillian GilksNora Gardner
Susan Whetnall		12–15, 17–14, 7–15Runner-up
1976All England OpenNora GardnerGillian Gilks
Susan Whetnall		10–15, 10–15Runner-up
1976Canadian OpenNora GardnerMarjan Ridder
Joke van Beusekom		17–14, 15–9Winner
1976Scottish OpenNora GardnerGillian Gilks
Susan Whetnall		5–15, 2–15Runner-up
1976Swedish OpenGillian GilksMarjan Ridder
Joke van Beusekom		15–11, 15–4Winner
1977All England OpenNora PerryEtsuko Toganoo
Emiko Ueno		15–7, 3–15, 7–15Runner-up
Mixed doubles
YearTournamentPartnerOpponentScoreResult
1972Scottish OpenRobert McCoigDerek Talbot
Gillian Gilks		9–15, 11–15Runner-up
1973Jamaica InternationalMike TredgettSture Johnsson
Eva Twedberg		3–15, 15–18Runner-up
1973Swedish OpenElliot StuartDerek Talbot
Gillian Gilks		11–15, 3–15Runner-up

References

  1. ^ Jenkinson, Lucy (26 May 2023). "Tributes to world champion badminton player from Kells, Margaret Beck". The Cumberland News. Archived 4 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  2. ^ Scheele, H. A. E. (ed.) (December 1975). "On the side lines: Some notes and news from all parts". World Badminton. 23 ed. p. 7. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  3. ^ "England Edinburgh 1970". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived 2021-11-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Eddy named for the Games". Wolverhampton Express and Star. 7 April 1970. p. 48. Retrieved 25 January 2026. – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Commonwealth Games Medallists". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  6. ^ Davis, Pat (1983). 'Guinness Book of Badminton'. Enfield, Middlesex, England: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 106–109, 143.
  7. ^ "1970 Athletes". Team England. Archived 10 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Edinburgh, 1970 Team". Team England. Archived 19 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  9. ^ "World Invitation Tournament is Huge Success," World Badminton, October 1974, 2, 3.
  10. ^ "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2019.