TRIBUTES have been paid to a “gifted” world champion badminton player from Whitehaven who has died aged 71.

Margaret Beck ranked among the world's best players during the 1970s – and her career took off thanks to the generosity of people from Kells.

An exceptional junior talent, she represented England and won the women's singles gold medal at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh while still in her teens.

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.

Born in 1952, Margaret grew up at North Row, Kells. She attended Monkwray Junior School and then White School, Kells, where she began playing badminton.

She was coached by P.E. teacher, Len Wright and at 13, won her first All England Open Badminton Championships. Her sister, Nora Quayle said she was a “natural” player.

The daughter of a miner, Margaret would never have made it to her first championship had it not been for the support of Kells Royal British Legion.

Mrs Quayle said: “All the miners used to go to the legion and they collected for her. We didn’t have a lot of money and if it hadn’t been for the people of Kells and Kells Royal British Legion, she wouldn’t have had the finances to do these championships.

“We’ve got a lot to thank the people of Kells for. Everybody was really proud of her. It was amazing what they did for her. She never lost her roots.”

Margaret moved to London when she was 16. She competed in tournaments all over the world, winning gold medals in England, Jamaica, Portugal, Germany, Scotland and Canada, between 1973 and 1975.

After marrying her coach, Ron Lockwood, in 1975 she competed under her married name and reached the singles and doubles final at the 1976 All England Open Badminton Championships.

Margaret developed a problem with her knee which was seriously aggravated during the first World Badminton Championships in 1977 and this was the last time she played in competitive badminton.  

Later in life, she played golf alongside her husband and was captain for Surrey County. She moved back to Kells two years ago.

Paying tribute to her sister, Mrs Quayle said: “She was very funny. She had a dry sense of humour. She was very kind to people. She was just gifted.”