Lin was born Lindsay Anne Watson, in Bognor Regis on 6th December 1956 and grew up in Cornwall.
Between 1975 and 1978 she trained as a teacher at St Luke’s College, Exeter. This is where she started training at karate at the newly affiliated college karate club (instructed by Ron Hicks and husband – to – be Rob Welsh). She gained her 1st Dan in 1980.
Lin has had many competition successes over the years, gaining first place in the Central Region Championships in Team Kata on several occasions and was a regular finalist in the individual kata, taking first place in 1986 (the same year that husband, Rob, won the Men’s Kata). She was also a finalist in the Ladies Kumite when it was first introduced into competition, gaining joint 3rd place.
She has been a member of the Central Region Squad – Kata, Kumite and now, the Kata Development squad – since it was first set up and has represented the Region in both Kata and Kumite competitions.
Lin has been involved “behind the scenes” in the KUGB since the early ’80s firstly as the Regional Secretary and now as a Championship Committee member and will be seen running the main table at the Nationals and other Championships.
She started officiating at Championships as a Timekeeper/recorder in 1977 when she was a Yellow Belt, receiving on-the-job training from Sandy Hopkins. She passed her Judges qualification in 1984, the first year that women were eligible to do so. Now she runs the official Timekeeper/recorder Course alongside the Referees and Judges Course and has trained many people “on-the-job”. She organises and oversees the table officials for all National Competitions and for International Competitions held in this country.
Lin helps to run the Tamworth Shotokan Karate Club along with husband Rob and Paul Archer.
She achieved her 5th Dan in 2008 and 6th Dan in 2016.
