14.08.1927–01.12.2025

The Hockey Museum is saddened to report the death of Biddy Burgum, who at 98 was England’s oldest living international hockey player. Biddy had an outstanding playing career; she played for England from 1950 through to 1961 and then went on to be a dedicated educator. Biddy was an active person for most of her life but in recent years had lived with dementia and declining health. She died peacefully in a care home in Hailsham, East Sussex.

Born in Birmingham during the Great Depression, Biddy’s early years were marked by resilience. Her mother died when she was seven and she and her siblings were brought up by her Aunt Lillian. In the early years of the Second World War, she spent a short time as an evacuee but returned to Birmingham in 1941. In later life she recalled seeing the countless barrage balloons from her attic window and the terrible incendiary raids which set much of the city alight during the worst of the Blitz. Yet through all of this, her love for sport blossomed. With the encouragement of her school Physical Education (PE) teacher, Rena Lewis, she joined a local hockey club as a teenager – a decision that would shape the course of her life.

Biddy Burgum in her England kit.

On leaving school Biddy went to Bedford College of Physical Education. She later admitted that at that time she didn’t have a desire to teach; she just wanted to play sport – she was talented at cricket and tennis as well as hockey. At the end of her studies, she remembers the Bedford College Principal calling her into her office and telling her that there was a teaching job for her at Sutton High School and she should take it. In those days you did as you were told, so she went to Sutton and immediately loved it – her career in teaching was now set.

Biddy’s hockey career was also blossoming. Joining Wallington Ladies’ Hockey Club before playing for Surrey and then the South of England, she soon came to the notice of the England selectors. Biddy gained her first international cap in 1950. Her debut came at The Oval with a 6–2 victory over Scotland in March of that year where she scored one of the goals. She played in front of 15,000 spectators and remembered being nervous. It helped that she was already familiar with the venue as she had played there for Surrey Ladies’ cricket team the previous year. Biddy went on to earn 51 England caps between 1950 and 1961, thrilling crowds with her speed and skill on the right wing. She later graced Wembley Stadium in front of 50,000 spectators during England’s historic 11–0 win over Belgium. She represented her country across the globe, touring South Africa twice and helping England secure an unofficial World Championship title at the 1959 International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations (IFWHA) Conference in Amsterdam. Teammate Brenda Coleshill remembers her as “a classic right wing – speedy, hugging that touchline, and delivering fabulous hard crosses that so often led to goals.”

The England team from the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations (IFWHA) Tournament held at Folkestone, Kent in 1953. Biddy is seated front row, second from the right.

Beyond her playing career, Biddy devoted herself to teaching and coaching. After training at Bedford PE College, she taught at Sutton High School and Nottingham High School before joining Chelsea College of Physical Education in Eastbourne, now part of the University of Brighton, in 1969. Biddy lectured and coached there until she retired in 1983. During this time, she nurtured generations of athletes across many sports, many of whom would go on to earn representative honours for England and Great Britain. England stars and former Chelsea students Ruth Hine and Pru Carter remember her enthusiasm for the sport and for coaching. Ruth remembers Biddy always driving the college minibus to matches and keeping everybody plied with flapjacks (provided they won – which they always did) and in keeping lessons fun. Pru recalls her introducing something called ‘walking hockey’ in an era well before it was officially recognised by the national governing body. Biddy was very proud that the Chelsea hockey First XI won the All England Women’s Hockey Association (AEWHA) National Clubs Championships in 1977 and went on to play in Europe the following season. She also wrote extensively on hockey, primarily through her coaching columns in the Women’s Hockey Field magazines, where she encouraged countless teachers and schoolgirls to develop their skills in the sport she loved.

Biddy’s generosity and sense of history were evident when she donated her personal scrapbooks, kit and memorabilia to The Hockey Museum, preserving a treasure trove of stories for future generations. The makeup of Biddy’s collection reflects her interest in photography – she was an active member of the Eastbourne Photographic Society. The collection evidences use of photography in her teaching: hundreds of photographic prints capture moments from hockey matches and training sessions, annotated with her thoughts, corrections and tactical instructions. She also kept her hockey sticks, often donated free by Grays, which illustrate the evolution she lived and played through.
Even in her later years, Biddy delighted in reminiscing about her adventures – from international tours to holiday cruises with dear friends like Brenda Coleshill. She often spoke fondly of the camaraderie and laughter shared on and off the hockey field. To hear more of Biddy’s life stories in her own words, listen to her oral history interview from 2014:

Biddy Burgum Oral History – The Hockey Museum

Biddy Burgum’s collection of hockey sticks which range from 1930s to 1985.

Biddy played and coached hockey for over 50 years. Those who knew her will remember her as a gifted athlete and dedicated teacher, and as a warm, spirited woman who believed in helping others find their path. She had a knack for spotting potential and a heart for encouraging young people to chase their dreams. Biddy was certainly a ‘one off’. Some might say an eccentric, but she always put others first. Her lasting legacy can be seen by the number of people who have responded to the news of her death – the messages all talk of her enthusiasm, generosity of spirit, positivity and love of the game.

She will be missed by her friends, former students, and the hockey community alike.

Biddy Burgum featured in The Hockey Museum’s Women’s History Month content in 2023. Read that here: Women’s History Month 2023: Biddy Burgum’s Fascinating Life in Hockey – The Hockey Museum

A montage of photographs from Biddy’s archive which she used as a teaching aide.

Photographs from Biddy’s archive with accompanying coaching notes.