The Papers of Elizabeth Blaydes

Contains records reflecting Elizabeth Blaydes's involvement with lacrosse as an administrator at the national and international level with a primary focus on the establishment and organisation of the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations England Patrons' Club in the 1990s.

Elizabeth Constantine was educated at Harrogate College and Dartford College of Physical Education.

She played lacrosse for Yorkshire and the North and was a member of the England team for five years. She was appointed captain of the Great Britain and Ireland Touring Team to the USA in 1960 and tour manager for the All England Women's Lacrosse Association Tour to the USA in 1980. In 1982 she became President of the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) which was formed in 1972 to promote and develop women's lacrosse throughout the world.

Elizabeth Blaydes was elected as an Honorary Life Member of the All England Women's Lacrosse Association in 1986, awarded an OBE for services to lacrosse in 1990, and received a Life Time Achievement Award by the IFWLA in 1993.

Elizabeth married Peter H. Blaydes in 1961.

The papers were gifted to the University of Bedfordshire by Elizabeth Blaydes on 6 May 2015, under Accession No. AWL2015/008.

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from University of Bedfordshire Special Collections. Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.