ANNOUNCEMENT - DONS FUNERAL TO BE HELD AT 10.30 ON 11TH FEBRUARY AT GLYNTAFF CREMATORIUM
It is with great sadness and regret that we would like to inform you that William Donald Griifths, known more commonly as Don Griffiths passed away in what appears to be a tragic accident on Christmas Day.
To me Don Griffiths was a mentor, a colleage and a friend of 27 years. I am sure there are many of you who knew Don for a far greater amount of time as he gave himself completley to the sport.
Like all of us Don was not without faults, he would on occasion offend someone with his forthrightness as he had a habit of speaking his mind whether you wanted to hear what he was going to say or not. But it was this that made him unique and without doubt contributed to the many successes he had as a coach.
Richard Vaughan left a tribute to Don on his website, we will borrow some for the use below.
Don coached many people including Welsh national and many High profile international players including
- Richard Vaughan (Double Olympian, Highest World Rank No7)
- Mark Richards (Former Welsh No2)
- Geraint Lewis (Former Welsh No1)
- Simon Richards (Former Welsh No1)
- Alan Thomas (Welsh International)
- Richard Burton (Welsh International)
- Andrew Carlotti (Welsh International)
- Gail Davies (Former Welsh No1)
- Rachel Phipps (Welsh International)
- Nia Jones (Welsh International)
- Rachel MacIntosh (Former Welsh No1)
Previously Don worked as Welsh National Junior badminton coach Representing Wales at:
- World badminton Championships Denmark 1985
- World badminton Championships England 1993
- European badminton Championships Germany 1986
In addition to the players Don worked with on an individual basis above, he also helped many in the Welsh squad system.
In recent years he has worked with Richard Vaughan helping nurture young Welsh badminton talent at the Richard Vaughan Badminton Academy.
Don was also a great believer in 5/60 and took an active part in the Sports Council for Wales funded Caerphilly Borough Community Coach programme for Badminton which again has been a real success.
Many people have helped to make this county team work, but it should be noted that it was Don Griffiths who originally sent the forms off to Badminton England to get the ball rolling, without which we would not be here today.
A very sad day, the sport, the team and many individuals will miss him greatly and remember him always.
Simon Rowe BSc MBCS CITP - Secretary of Mid Glamorgan
