Roger Mills (badminton) explained

Roger J Mills
Birth Date:3 March 1942
Birth Place:Battersea, Greater London, England
Death Place:Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, England
Country:England
Coach:England National Coach Senior & Junior
Handedness:Right

Roger J Mills (1942–2020)[1] was a former English international badminton player[2] and coach.

Badminton career

Mills won 9 English National titles, Singles three years running, 1965, 1966, and 1967, Men's Doubles 1967 and 1970 plus Mixed Doubles 1965, 1968, 1969 and 1971. Roger was a Winston Churchill Fellow which he gained in 1974 for his contribution to badminton. https://www.wcmt.org.uk/users/roger-jmills1974

He won the 1969 All England Badminton Championships in mixed doubles with Gillian Perrin when this tournament was considered the sport's premier event (aside from the international team world championships, Thomas Cup and Uber Cup).[3]

Mills competed in the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica winning the gold medal, in the mixed doubles with Angela Bairstow and a bronze medal, in the men's doubles with David Horton. Four years later he won a silver medal, in the mixed doubles with Perrin at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.[4] [5] [6]

He represented Surrey and spent many of his years coaching in Surrey, most notably at Guildford University and at the Wimbledon Squash and Badminton Centre.

After his playing career, Roger continued his love of the sport of Badminton by becoming one of the leading coaches in the country where he took the position of Senior English National Coach before moving his focus to the development of youth badminton. In addition, Roger was the Part-Time Scottish National Coach in 1976 until 1980 where he provided new age coaching techniques to a generation of Scottish Badminton champions.

Roger's coaching and dedication to Badminton resulted in the development of many Champions at all ages and levels.

Roger has written and published a number of books on badminton and is a Winston Churchill Fellowship.

All England Badminton Championships

YearEventEventPartnerResult
1969All England Badminton ChampionshipsMixed Doubles Gillian PerrinWinner
1970All England Badminton ChampionshipsMixed DoublesGillian PerrinSemi-Finals

Commonwealth Games

See main article: Badminton at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

YearEventPartnerResult
1966Commonwealth GamesMixed DoublesAngela BairstowGold
1966Commonwealth GamesMen's DoublesDavid HortonBronze

See main article: Badminton at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games.

English National Badminton Championships

YearTitleEventPartnerResult
1965English Nationals Men's Singles n/aWinner
1965English NationalsMixed DoublesMargaret BarrandWinner
1966English Nationals. Men's Singlesn/aWinner
1967English NationalsMen's Singlesn/aWinner
1967English Nationals. Men's DoublesDavid HortonWinner
1968English NationalsMixed DoublesGillian PerrinWinner
1969English NationalsMixed DoublesGillian PerrinWinner
1970English NationalsMen's DoublesTony JordanWinner
Juniors
YearTitleEventPartnerResult
1958English National JuniorsMen's Singlesn/aWinner
1958English National JuniorsMixed DoublesM. K. BishopWinner
1959English National JuniorsMen's Singlesn/aWinner
1959English National JuniorsMen's DoublesD. J. MintonWinner
1959English National JuniorsMixed DoublesAngela BairstowWinner
1960English National JuniorsMen's Singlesn/aWinner
1960English National JuniorsMen's DoublesD. J. MintonWinner
1960English National JuniorsMixed DoublesAngela BairstowWinner

Open Badminton Championships

YearTitleEventPartnerResult
1964Austrian Open. Mixed Doubles Michael RawlingsWinner
1965Irish OpenMen's DoublesDavid HortonWinner
1966Scottish OpenMen's DoublesDavid HortonWinner
1967Irish OpenMen's DoublesDavid HortonWinner
1967Irish OpenMixed DoublesIris RogersWinner
1967Welsh OpenMen's Singlesn/aWinner
1967Welsh OpenMen's DoublesRobert S. McCoigWinner
1967Canadian OpenMen's DoublesColin BeacomWinner
1967Canadian OpenMixed DoublesSharon WhitackerWinner
1968Welsh OpenMen's Singlesn/aWinner
1968Welsh OpenMixed SinglesJulie CharlesWinner
1968Welsh OpenMen's DoublesJ. G. PearsonWinner
1968European ChampionshipsMixed DoublesGillian PerrinRunner Up
1968Swedish OpenMixed DoublesGillian GilksWinner
1969Scottish OpenMixed DoublesSusan WhetnallWinner
1970Scottish OpenMixed DoublesGillian GilksWinner
1971Scottish OpenMixed DoublesGillian GilksWinner

Winston Churchill Fellow

The Fellowship was created by public subscription in 1965 as the living legacy of Sir Winston Churchill.  ‘We are empowering individuals to learn from the world, for the benefit of the UK. Today this idea is more valuable than ever’.

Roger was awarded the Winston Churchill Fellowship for his overseas research  on Badminton in China.

Published Books

AuthorNamePublisherYearISBN
Roger Mills & Eric ButlerModern BadmintonStanley Paul19661547628077MEP
Roger MillsTackle BadmintonStanley Paul1974
Roger MillsTackle BadmintonHutchinson1977
Roger MillsBadmintonEP Sport1977
Roger MillsBadmintonSterling1980
Roger MillsPocket Guide To Badminton TacticsBell & Hyman1985

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WATTANASIN WINS LANCASHIRE OPEN SINGLES. The Singapore Free Press 5 December 1961.
  2. Web site: History. All England Badminton.
  3. Book: Matthews/Morrison, Peter/Ian. The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records and Results. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. 0-85112-492-5. 74-78. registration.
  4. Web site: profile. Commonwealth Games Federation.
  5. Web site: 1970 Athletes. Team England.
  6. Web site: Edinburgh, 1970 Team. Team England.
  7. Web site: roger j.mills.1974 Winston Churchill Memorial Trust . www.wcmt.org.uk . 15 November 2020.