A private funeral for Lew Kelly, the well-known former local badminton official, is to take place today (Thursday).

The service will be streamed live through funeral director Corkhill and Callow’s website at 1.15pm.

A memorial service will be held at a later date to celebrate his long and interesting life.

Lewis Paul Kelly was educated at King William’s College where he had the great honour of being captain of the rugby first XV.

As well as playing hockey to a good standard, he was also a very decent sprinter.

He was the amongst last to complete compulsory National Service in 1960 and he opted to go into the Navy.

After that he attended a teacher training college, but during the summer months he was a purser on the IoM Steam Packet vessels.

Upon qualifying, he worked at a secondary school in Surrey, where he met his wife-to-be Margaret.

He taught physical education and became pastoral head of the fifth year (now known as Year 11).

Lew played golf at Hindhead Golf Club [founded in 1904 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and a group of golfing enthusiasts], regarded as amongst the best of Britain’s heathland courses. He managed to get his handicap down to nine.

After that, he and Margaret moved to the island together where Lew took up the position of Ramsey and Northern Districts housing officer.

He was greatly respected by all he dealt with, particularly the traders as he was always very prompt in paying the bills! Lew was a man regarded as being fair as he did what he was asked and completed what he said he would do.

He had initially taken up badminton when he left the island to train as a teacher and was involved with the sport for 60 years.

Lew played for two clubs in Surrey and started one for the pupils at the school where he taught, introducing them to league play. He was Surrey Schools’ Badminton chairman for many years. It was a very successful county for junior badminton.

Upon returning to the island he played golf at Ramsey GC and badminton for Walpole Road in the same town. He became Isle of Man Badminton Association chairman, an honorary position he held for 18 years, an umpire and ultimately a Badminton England referee at international level.

He was a vice-president and life member of IoM Badminton Association at the time of his death.

A thoughtful, kind and generous man, Lew Kelly died of pneumonia on April 21 at the age of 82.

John Watterson