Ethel Thomson Larcombe 1879 – 1965

Biography

Born in Victorian London, Ethel Thomson Larcombe emerged as a formidable force in women’s racquet sports during an era when female athletes were still fighting for legitimacy on the court. A skilled tennis and badminton player, she competed with fierce determination through the late 1800s and early 1900s—a pivotal moment when organized sport for women was barely taking shape in Britain. Her athletic pursuits weren’t just personal victories; they were small acts of defiance against the rigid social constraints of her time.

Larcombe embodied the pioneering spirit of early twentieth-century female athletes, proving that women belonged in competitive sport. She lived nearly nine decades, passing away in 1965 in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, having witnessed the transformation of women’s athletics from radical novelty to established institution. Her legacy endures as part of that fearless generation who cracked open doors for countless athletes to follow.