Obituary: Sue Collins
June 15, 2026
Sue’s involvement with Judo started when her children took up Judo with Pershore Judo Club in the early 1980’s.
She started Timekeeping and Recording a short while later. A little while after that, Sue left Pershore to join Samurai, looking for increased opportunities for her children. The first competition that Sue ran was the Wychavon Open in 1985 and she ran this event for at least another five years, continuing to run it for Pershore after she left the club. Although Sue had a problem with her back, which was eventually diagnosed as bone cancer resulting in having her leg amputated, she continued her involvement with Judo.
Sue’s application to the National Competitions Commission to be assessed for her Competition Controller award, the highest British level in competition organisation, was supported by Andrew Haffner and Malcolm Limrick. There had been some concern that being in a wheelchair may have made things difficult for her but she soon proved otherwise.
Sue was promoted to CC by the late great Jean McNaughton, becoming one of the almost legendary band of Competition Controllers of that era, of whom sadly only a few now remain active. She also ran the Judo Section of The New Town Games and many Midland Area events. She was continuously active in Judo until the last few years when her mobility and other health issues resulted in her being less involved.
In the 1990’s Sue was asked to get involved with the British Schools Judo Association by Dermot Heslop who was a BJA Board Member at the time. Sue became heavily involved with British Schools Judo/Education Commission/Adaptive Judo. During this time she was a fervent supporter of encouraging the participation of young people in both refereeing and as table officials, insisting they should be invited to officiate at the British Schools Judo Championships and teaming up with Carol Leverton who was working towards the same end. Sue also implemented the merging of the mainstream and Adaptive/VI championships to make the British Schools Judo Championships a very successful annual event.
She was also active with other sports until the last few years, when her mobility and other health issues forced her to scale back that involvement.
In November 2025, Sue was presented with the President’s Award by Rowena Birch, BJA President to acknowledge and thank Sue for her huge contribution to British Judo. The presentation was made at Samurai Judo Club, where two young players had also baked her a cake in recognition both of her services to the club and the sport but also the role model that she was, showing that disabilities are there to be overcome.
Sadly, in May this year she suffered a massive stroke and passed away two weeks later. Her legacy continues through next generation who developed and grew through the opportunities she created and through her demonstration of just how inclusive judo can be. She will be remembered as valued member of the judo family whose quiet strength, determination, professionalism and positive spirit lead the way over many decades.
