29/10/2024
It is with great sadness to hear today's news reports confirming that Ian passed away this morning (from a possible fatal stroke we think).
He was the MD of Yehlex UK having founded the shuttle, racket and clothing business many years ago.
He was an ardent supporter of Masters Badminton and supplied shuttles for our County Challenge event in January right up to six years ago. I think he started sponsoring this Masters event around 1990 but it may have well been earlier.
Over the years I spent many hours on the phone discussing badminton with him (what else) and enjoyed his thoughts about shuttlecocks. In fact, in his recent text to me, he was stressed about the shuttle crisis in China, where the populations' liking for duck and goose had declined substantially in favour of pigs. I told him that whilst pigs might fly, I did not think even the Chinese could make shuttles out of them.
Ian was a member of the Veterans Policy Group as it was called after its conception in 1998 and also on the Competitive Play Board at Badminton England. His support at meetings was invaluable but more importantly, despite being so busy, he was always present and his views respected. The supply of shuttles in the UK has been devastated and the knowledge he had on the subject was second to none. I was fortunate to spend many hours at meetings with him, and his humour, positiveness and honest speaking made that time pass quickly. The Badminton world will miss him terribly.
Our condolences and thoughts must go to his widow and family. Today's news has rocked the badminton fraternity who knew him, and all will be filled with sorrow.
Please pass this news on to anyone you know who may have known Ian.
Regards
Roy Carder
Chairman
Masters Policy Group
