The Isle of Man lost one of the greatest all-rounders of the 1950s and 60s last week with the death of Donald Jones.

A formidable sportsman, Donald scored a clean sweep of the all-England Junior Badminton Championships in 1954, including the mixed with fellow local Joan Courtie (nee Quilliam).

Donald won numerous Isle of Man senior and junior badminton titles, plus the junior island table tennis championship and the senior island tennis championship in 1960.

He captained the Manx schoolboys’ cricket team and represented the island as a junior footballer.

Junior Isle of Man Golf Champion three times between 1950 and 1954, Donald claimed the senior Isle of Man Open Golf title twice, 13 years apart.

In 1954 - in addition to his clean sweep in the All-England Junior Badminton Championships - he also won the Senior Golf Championship at Castletown aged 17, defeating multiple champion Will Kirkpatrick 5-4. He was also the top qualifier with a score of 160.

In 1967, again at Castletown, he defeated Bill Stead 1 up in the final, having seen off Sam Boyd 5-4 in the semi-final. Interestingly, the qualifying rounds were played at Ramsey.

Donald Jones’s funeral will take place next Wednesday, September 23 at Douglas Crematorium, 11.30am

VAL GARRETT

Long-time badminton and tennis player, Valerie Garrett, will be laid to rest the same day.

One of the triplet sisters of Peel (alongside Jane and Karen), Val played for the original Peel Methodist Club winning a couple of Green Final handicap competitions and Division Two in the mixed leagues.

She was a key member of Peel Tennis Club when it was in existence during the 1980-90s, winning a number of the popular American tournaments, also a netball player for Laxey.

Aged 67, a service to celebrate Val’s life will take place at Cathedral Isle of Man at midday.

Donations in lieu of flowers (for both Donald and Valerie) can be made to Hospice Isle of Man.