81-year-old Mrs Rita Burrows from Katikati in New Zealand contacted the National Badminton Museum to see if the Museum would give a safe home to two silver miniature badminton trophies that Sir George Thomas had won in the early 1900s. One was a Scottish Open Men’s Singles trophy that he had won in 1914, and the other was the All-England Men’s Singles trophy that he had won in 1922. The two miniature trophies are now on display at the National Badminton Museum, Milton Keynes.
John Farmer
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Rita explained how these two trophies had come into her possession; she said that her father, John Farmer, back in 1933 when he was about 12 years old, met Sir George in London and struck up a long friendship with him. Rita said they would meet on Sundays, but the onset of the war made it difficult to meet. Sir George said to my father it would be a good idea if they kept in touch, every year her father would meet up with Sir George on the nearest Sunday to 11 September, her father’s birthday and Sir George would give her father a pound note, this continued right up to 1970. During that time, Sir George gave her father a miniature trophy when he married in 1941 and another in 1943 when Rita was born. Rita said that her father did not play badminton, chess, or tennis; he was interested in engineering and mechanics.
The Scottish Open men’s singles miniature trophy was won in 1914. The Scottish Open tournament started in 1907, and Sir George had won the singles title every year up to 1914 except 1908.
In addition to winning the miniature All-England Cup in 1922, Sir George Thomas also won the perpetual trophy outright after winning the event for three consecutive years. Sir George also won the men’s singles for the fourth time in 1923.
Sir George Thomas
Sir George Thomas served as an army officer in the First World War and contracted lung problems when serving in Mespot and was told that he would never play sport again. So, when the All-England started again after the war in 1920, Sir George, at the age of 38, won his first All-England men’s singles title. It was the first of four consecutive men’s singles titles. In 1921, he won the triple All-England, winning singles, men’s doubles and mixed, and went on to play some of his best badminton in his career; in an interview he gave to the Evening News in 1935, he said that winning the men’s singles in 1920 was his most enjoyable sporting achievement.
In 1928, at the age of 46, Sir George won his last All-England title, a men’s doubles with Frank Hodge. This made a total of 21 titles; he still holds the record of winning the most All-England titles.
Photos: – Geoff Hinder.
Click on images to enlarge.
2025 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships
Tuesday 11 March 2025 to Sunday 16 March 2025.
At the Utilita Arena, Birmingham.
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Visit the National Badminton Museum, National Badminton Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, MILTON KEYNES MK8 9LA.
Visitors are welcome to look around the Museum unescorted at any time – The National Badminton Centre is normally open 9am to 8pm every day.
Free Admission.
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Accessibility
The National Badminton Museum is on the 1st floor with a lift. Disabled toilet facilities are available on the 1st floor. There is no wheelchair accessibility to the Museum office.
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There is a restaurant on the first floor serving breakfasts every day of the week and light lunches on weekdays.
Free parking at the National Badminton Centre.
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National Badminton Centre
Lodge Hotel.
For more information and to book a room – Click Here.
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If you have any badminton memorabilia, archive material, or any other items and would like to donate them to the National Badminton Museum please contact us at: –
museum@badmintonengland.co.uk
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