THE SPORT of badminton lost one of its greatest champions this week. Not that Tom Marrs enjoyed success on court much beyond representing Cumbria from 1957-1974. But as a tournament director he was world class, second to none, and a pioneer of how major tournaments are presented today.

When the game turned professional in the late 1970s he was the trail-blazer in attracting TV coverage for events – even if watching a match involving Gillian Gilks on Grandstand was interrupted by the 3.30pm at Lingfield races.

Tom had the persuasive talent of an impresario in being the first man to stage badminton at such a prestigious venue as the Royal Albert Hall, which hosted the first Friends Provident Masters in 1979. He had quickly grasped the importance of sponsorship if badminton was to be a commercial success. Which is why subsequent sponsors of the Masters were household names like British Airways and The Famous Grouse, the whisky brand which appropriately sponsored annual England v Scotland fixtures.

 He also had as good a contacts’ book as any journalist, which is perhaps why three years after the Masters was launched, the Thomas Cup Finals (men’s world team championships) were staged at the Albert Hall with Her Majesty The Queen attending the finals – the only time she has visited a badminton event.

Tom (he hated Tommy despite many people calling him that) went to school at Carlisle Grammar and his first job was as a youth employment officer. But in 1978 Tom’s career path took a change of direction and he became promotions manager at the Badminton Association of England, now Badminton England. 

He was to become the tournament mastermind behind Masters events, European Championships and his absolute passion, the All England Open Championships, overseeing the tournament’s perhaps controversial albeit successful move from Wembley to its current home in Birmingham.

He was an opportunist too, using his contacts to take the annual National championships to different venues, backed by local authorities. Coventry, Paignton, Norwich and Haywards Heath were among the venues showcasing badminton to a wider audience.

Just as the renowned Grandstand producer Brian Venner was a key TV contact so Cedric Spiller was a British Rail link. The Railcards Challenge was launched with a special train from Bristol to London Paddington. The station master was there to greet the ‘badminton train’ dressed up in his morning suit and bowler hat. However, the grand finale was an anti-climax because the giant shuttlecock mounted on the front of the engine blew off, apparently somewhere near Reading!

Needless to say, Tom’s persuasive powers and endearing personality led to lasting friendships with both Venner and Spiller and many others. His reputation was such that overseas tournament organisers sought his advice and guidance.

The International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation) were quick to harness Tom’s abilities and chief executive Neil Cameron invited him to be technical consultant to the World Championships in both Seville in 2001 and Birmingham in 2003.

Tom simply revelled in events, particularly the annual and popular England v China tours – a hectic and exhausting week-long trip around England (and Jersey the odd time) when our best players would take on China’s rising stars (and usually lose!). The teams travelled on board one of the fleet of coaches from Titterington’s of Penrith. Gordon Titterington was a pal and he guaranteed that the driver would always help with the loading and unloading of the rolled-up courts and other equipment which travelled with the players and organising team.

No-one will deny that Tom’s lasting legacy is the Yonex All England Open Championships as we know it today, introducing innovations across the board as the oldest Open tournament in the world game was shaken out of its amateur era time warp and transformed into a dynamic and precisely organised major televised event. No wonder it today sits proudly among the top three annual tournaments on the BWF’s international circuit.

Tom had been mentored for many a year by WPG Birtwistle, a larger-than-life character with fixed ideas. It was left to Tom to tweak this approach before finally taking over the reins and Tom was energised even further with the move to Birmingham.

Among the changes and improvements a trusted team of key workers like Sue Ashton, Tony Winslow, Jack Stalker and transport manager Roger Huggins were issued with walkie-talkies so that any mini-crisis was quickly dealt with. Obviously this bit of kit had been tested rigorously and Tom was delighted to find that its range was so good that he could remain in contact with his new deputy Darren Parks while lunching at the pub across the road. Not that these heavy responsibilities did Darren any harm. He succeeded Tom as Championship Director of the All England and is now BWF Events Director, a success story that made Tom proud.

Tom’s ‘work hard, play hard’ approach may not have sat well in today’s workplace but he was a man of his time and a loyal and dedicated team responded well to the responsibilities and trust that he placed in them.

Darren paid tribute today, saying: “Tom was the first Championships Director of the All England. Previously it had been run by a committee.

“Tom was probably also the best commercial director Badminton England ever had doing sponsorship deals large and small over the years with companies such as Yonex, British Airways, Friends Provident, Liverpool Victoria, The Famous Grouse, Bulgarian Vintners, Ricoh, Quality Hotels, NTT, Proton and many others.

 “He was always an innovator and looking to find ways to improve tournaments, he also set up the organisational and commercial model for hundreds of England international matches played the length and breadth of the country from Newcastle and Carlisle to St Austell and Liskeard in Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Jersey against countries such as China, Korea, Malaysia, India, Denmark and Russia.

“He loved Badminton and worked incredibly hard for the sport he loved.”

Away from badminton, Tom was a lifelong Carlisle United fan and latterly also a Swindon Town and Milton Keynes Dons supporter. He had a spell in retirement helping to promote a Harlem Globetrotters tour of the UK but his lifelong passion was jazz. 

He loved to visit the Spice of Life or 100 Club in London and spend his Sunday lunchtimes at his pal Tad Newton’s pub The Walnut Tree in Blisworth, close to Tom’s village of Nether Heyford in Northamptonshire, for Sunday Jazz before going to Tad’s home for dinner. 

John Bird, Tom’s closest friend (and best man at his wedding), has been inundated with messages from friends in the jazz community.

Tom, who died on Tuesday in Northampton General Hospital aged 83, is survived by his wife, Margaret, daughter Sandra and grandson Lee.

They are in our thoughts while Tom will always live long in our memories. His many friends are keen to arrange a fitting tribute whenever it will be possible but in the meantime we can raise a glass in recognition of his pioneering spirit (probably Grouse!).

Thomas (Tom) Ernest Marrs - February 14,1937- April 14, 2020