Oldest badminton player dies
Author: Associated Press
Tuesday 5 April 2005

Henry Paynter Sr., listed in the Guinness Book of World Record as the oldest competitive badminton player in the world, is dead at 98. 
Paynter, an orchardist, farmer and beekeeper in this southern British Columbia interior town, died recently after his health declined following a mild stroke three weeks ago, relatives said.

He was born in 1907 in England, moving with his family to Kelowna at age 2 and then to Westbank 10 years later.

He became a beekeeper at age 12, bought his first orchard in 1927 and farmed his entire life, also studying at Herbert Business College and serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.

In his later years he competed in badminton tournaments across British Columbia and in major cities throughout Canada.

Two years ago, when Paynter was 96, he was listed in Guinness as the oldest competitive badminton player in the world. That same year he planted, watered and weeded a corn patch, then picked 1,900 ears of corn by himself.

After his stroke he insisted on attending one last badminton tournament, socializing with friends over the Easter weekend in Nelson.