Sir,—Barry Keane’s article on the cricket match between the ‘Gentlemen of Ireland versus the Military of Ireland’ (HI 21.6, Sept./Oct. 2013) was most interesting, as was the pen portrait of ‘one of Ireland’s greatest sportsmen’, Bob Lambert. Lambert’s cricketing achievements are listed but it might also be of interest to know his badminton accomplishments. He won eleven Irish caps between 1909 and 1926, and was Irish Close Men’s Singles Champion in 1911; Irish Close Mixed Doubles Champion in 1912, 1913 and 1922; and Irish Open Men’s Doubles Champion in 1920. There were no competitions between 1915 and 1919 and no doubles competitions between 1920 and 1922. Bob had two sons, whose talents were also well known: Ham, who represented Ireland at rugby and cricket, and later became a well-respected international rugby referee; and Gordon, the renowned modern art collector and director for many years of W. & R. Jacob and Co. Ltd, the biscuit manufacturers, who was also an accomplished badminton player.—Yours etc.,
DAVID EVANS