By J. Brock (FINN)

Nikki Luxton receives her award from H. E. the Governor Mr. Pearce.  Rene Rowlands looks on.

Thursday night started out normally for Nikki Luxton. She went to the Leisure Centre to participate in a normal session of the Stanley Badminton Club and came away with the International Badminton Federation Meritorious Service Award.

The well-executed surprise began with an excuse from Rene Rowlands that she had to attend a meeting. It was then that she awaited H .E. the Governor, Mr. Howard Pearce and escorted him into the gym. Nikki still didn’t know of the award but when Mrs. Rowlands stopped play to make an announcement, the cat was out of the bag.

Nikki got her award for being one of the original members in a club that was founded in 1950. Mrs. Rowlands, herself, received the same certificate in 1985 from the then Governor, H. E. Gordon Jewkes.

Criteria for the award are that one must be over 35 years old and completed at least 15 years of service. Mrs. Luxton’s help with the Junior Badminton Group also helped to single her out for the award.

The International Badminton Federation’s headquarters are in Cheltenham.