Jeffrey Ellis Robson MBE (30 September 1926 – 5 September 2022) was a New Zealand badminton and tennis player.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jeffrey Ellis Robson |
| Born | 30 September 1926 Palmerston, New Zealand |
| Died | 5 September 2022 (aged 95) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Spouse | |
| Sport | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sport | Tennis, badminton |
Early life and family
editBorn in Palmerston on 30 September 1926, Robson was the son of Maurice Alexander Robson, who later served as president of the New Zealand Badminton Federation between 1965 and 1967.[1][2] He was educated at King's High School, Dunedin, where he represented the school in association football.[3]
In 1951, Robson graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery.[4]
In 1953, he married Heather Redwood, who also played international badminton for New Zealand. The couple had one child.[5]
Sporting career
editBadminton
editAs a badminton player, Robson won nine New Zealand singles championships, seven national men's doubles and four mixed doubles titles.[6]
Tennis
editIn tennis, Robson won the New Zealand men's singles title three times, in 1949, 1952 and 1956.[6] He also won five national men's doubles titles, and twice won the national mixed doubles championship.[6] He represented New Zealand in the Davis Cup for three years, and was later the team captain.[6]
Honours and awards
editIn the 1976 New Year Honours, Robson was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to tennis and badminton.[7] In 1990, he was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.[6] That same year, Robson was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[8]
Later life and death
editRobson's wife Heather died in Auckland on 11 October 2019.[9] Robson died in Auckland on 5 September 2022, at the age of 95.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Kings, William (6 September 2022). "Badminton community mourns passing of Jeff Robson". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "Births". Evening Star. No. 19376. 9 October 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ "School football". Otago Daily Times. No. 24993. 13 August 1942. p. 6. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Q–R". Shadows of Time. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ Taylor, Alister, ed. (2001). New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001. Auckland: Alister Taylor Publishers. ISSN 1172-9813.
- ^ a b c d e "Jeff Robson". New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ "No. 46778". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 1 January 1976. p. 37.
- ^ Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 319. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "Heather Robson death notice". The New Zealand Herald. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
