21 March, 2025
Barry Wilkinson’s belief in the power of badminton is infectious and it has spread deep into his local community.
The PE teacher at Workington Academy currently leads the provision at his school, where badminton is one of the most popular sports among all 1200 students, and also runs three out-of-school sessions a week at Cockermouth Badminton Club.
The club was originally set up by Wilkinson’s grandad and provided sporting salvation when he experienced a horrific injury when he was 11 years old.
Wilkinson experienced a diagonal leg break while playing football that kept him in hospital for 10 weeks and off school for nine months, leading him to discover his grandad’s love of badminton after being advised not to play contact sport for five years.
“I just followed my grandad and shadowed him as much as possible, and developed my coaching skills,” said Wilkinson.
“We were setting up another local junior club…
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