# Derek Talbot

Derek Talbot MBE (born 23 March 1947) is a former English badminton player. One of Britain's most successful "all-rounders," he won eleven English National Championships four singles, three doubles, and four mixed doubles. He also won four Commonwealth Games gold medals and in partnership with the formidable Gillian Gilks he won three mixed doubles crowns at the prestigious All-England Open (1973, 1976, and 1977).

## Early and personal life

Talbot was born and raise in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear county. He married June Kay on 18 July 1975 in Newcastle upon Tyne.

## Career
### World Championships

Talbot won a silver medal in the 1977 IBF World Championships in the mixed doubles with Gillian Gilks, losing against Steen Skovgaard and Lene Køppen in the final.

### 1972 Summer Olympics

Talbot competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where badminton was played as a demonstration sport. In the men's doubles he and Elliot Stuart, his former schoolfellow in Newcastle upon Tyne, were defeated in the semi-finals by Ade Chandra and Christian Hadinata 15–8, 15–12. In the mixed doubles, he paired with Gillian Gilks and they won the gold medal, beating Svend Pri and Ulla Strand of Denmark in the final 15–6, 18–16.

### Commonwealth Games

Talbot was also successful at the Commonwealth Games; he won four gold medals, a silver medal and two bronze medals between 1970 and 1978.

### Major achievements

| Rank | Event | Date | Venue |
| World Championships ||||
| 2 | Mixed doubles | 1977 | Malmö, SWE |
| Badminton World Cup ||||
| 3 | Men's doubles | 1979 | Tokyo, JPN |
| European Championships ||||
| 1 | Mixed doubles | 1972 | Karlskrona, SWE |
| 1 | Mixed doubles | 1974 | Vienna, AUT |
| 1 | Mixed doubles | 1976 | Dublin, IRE |
| 2 | Mixed doubles | 1970 | Port Talbot, WAL |
| 2 | Men's doubles | 1972 | Karlskrona, SWE |
| 2 | Men's doubles | 1976 | Dublin, IRE |
| 3 | Singles | 1974 | Vienna, AUT |
| 3 | Mixed doubles | 1980 | Groningen, NED |
| Commonwealth Games ||||
| 1 | Mixed doubles | 1970 | Edinburgh, SCO |
| 1 1 | Men's doubles Mixed doubles | 1974 | Christchurch, NZL |
| 1 | Team | 1978 | Edmonton, CAN |
| 2 | Singles | 1978 | Edmonton, CAN |
| 3 | Singles | 1974 | Christchurch, NZL |
| 3 | Mixed doubles | 1978 | Edmonton, CAN |
| Open Championships ||||
| 1 | Mixed doubles | 1973, 1976, 1977 | All England Open |
| 2 | Mixed doubles | 1971, 1972, 1974 | All England Open |

### International tournaments

Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
| 1973 | India Open | Elliot Stuart | Indra Gunawan Amril Nurman | 15–11, 15–8 | Champion |

## Post-Badminton

Towards the latter stages of his badminton career Derek ran a sports shop, which specialised in racket sports, with ex-South African badminton internationalist Eddie Allen, and local man Neil Woodward, in Newcastle. They sold their own Vicourt badminton rackets. When he retired from serious competition, he set up his own badminton company called Talbot Torro Badminton. In recent years Derek left his more traditional career behind and ultimately set up the Natural Patient homeopathic centre in Ibiza.
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to badminton.