March Neale-Wade Academy badminton coach Colin Bedford invited to Buckingham Palace to meet Her Majesty the Queen

Junior badminton players were given presentations at the midway point of their season at March’s Neale-Wade Academy – while coach Colin Bedford was given a Royal seal of approval.

Colin, who has racked up 50 years of badminton coaching, was a recent Living Sport community regional awards winner and as a result has now been invited to the Queen’s Garden Party.

He explained: “I’ve been asked to go to Buckingham Palace in May to the Queen’s Garden Party.

“I was more than honoured and proud to accept that.”

He runs badminton for juniors (11-15 years) every Monday afternoon from 3.30-4.30pm and has been doing so since the Neale-Wade opened in 1983. They start in September, break up for Christmas and now resume until April, whereupon the PE department picks a team for a round-robin event against schools from Wisbech, Chatteris, Witchford, Ely and Whittlesey.

At their mid-season break and post-season the youngsters hold a tournament.

Leading players from mid-season were also issued with medals (see above).

Mid-season tournament, with their medals from left: Alex Florea, Olivia Adam-Czyk. Brendan Bland, Lily Fiveash. MFCP-19MF0120126.

Photos: MICHAEL FYSH