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The origin of Ruskin Badminton Club goes back to the late
1940s when a group of people associated with Crewe Railway Engineering Works
played badminton in the works canteen in Goddard Street, Crewe and was
known as the LMR. Amazingly as it seems now, the tables and chairs had to be
stacked away before games and set up again afterwards. Who would want to do
all that these days !
  
Goddard Street 2003. Original cobbled road with what was the LMR Canteen, now empty and semi-derelict with boarded up windows.
The building at some point was converted into seven workshop units, and the
remaining business boards of two can be seen attached to the outside walls:
Ideal Double Ltd., Glass Processor & Joinery Manufacturer, and
Carfax Gowns.
When the works management decided to
modernise the canteen LMR moved out temporarily to the now demolished Astoria
Ballroom where they played for one season, expecting to go back to Goddard
Street the following year. Unfortunately the new low false ceiling proved too
impractical for a return to their old home.
The next season
was played at Ludford Street School, and even though most members were
"railway" people the club changed its name to West End to reflect the new
location within the town. After one year the club moved on to
Coppenhall School Sports Hall where more courts were available.
 
Ludford Street School 2003 - probably much as it has always been !
Around about this time Ruskin School Sports Hall was being
built, and after two years at Coppenhall the club moved into the new hall
renaming itself Ruskin Badminton Club, and this is where it has remained to
the present day. Nowadays members come from many and varied backgrounds and
the club's historic links with the railways have disappeared.
 
Coppenhall School Sports Hall Ruskin School Sports Hall
Potted history by courtesy of Joan Lindop - honorary member
Some photos from the past.
Ruskin winners at Crewe League's Presentation - 1986/1987 season
Back Row, L to R - Mark Gudmunsen, John Duncan*, Bill Kynaston*, Nigel Downes, Tim Kynaston, Mike Hitchen
Front Row, L to R - Kath Whittingham, Olwyn Woolley*, Michele Spragg, Carole Kynaston*, Sylvia Porter, Joan Lindop*, Peter Barber#
L to R - Peter Barber#, Nigel Downes, Kath Whittingham, Marie Whittingham, Mike Hitchen, Sylvia Porter, Tim Kynaston, Joan Lindop*
L to R - Bill Kynaston*, Nigel Downes, John Duncan*, Mike Hitchen, Mark Gudmunsen
# = current playing member
* = non-playing honorary member
[ Honorary membership awarded for life, for outstanding services to the club ]
Of the 14 players in the photos:-
2 now play at other clubs in the area
3 have left the area, and it's unknown whether they still play
3 are forced early retired through badminton injuries
5 more have fully retired from badminton
1 is still an active playing Ruskin Club member
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