Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
MBE who shaped Leeds's sporting landscape set to receive honorary degree
Originally from Derby, Peter relocated to Leeds in 1971 to attend Leeds Beckett’s predecessor institution, the Carnegie School of Physical Education.
Graduating in 1975 with a BEd (Hons) in Physical Education, Peter spent several years working as a PE Teacher in Leeds and the Middle East before joining LCC as a sports facilitator, and later becoming Manager of the Leeds Sports Development Team.
In this role Peter has led on a number of major facility development projects in Leeds, including establishing The Aquatics Centre at the John Charles Centre for Sport.
He has also been responsible for organising several stand-out city events, including: overseeing the Leeds element of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games; the annual Leeds Marathon and its successor the half-marathon; the Leeds city Sky Ride; the Rugby Union World Cup in 2015; and the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ which laid the foundations for The Tour de Yorkshire cycle race. Now in its second year, the event is fast becoming one of the biggest cycle races in the UK, attracting some of the world’s elite cycle teams.
Now retired, Peter remains Chair of the West Yorkshire Sport Management Board and is a Board member of the Yorkshire Sport Foundation and Sport Leeds.
Peter will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Sport at 2pm on Tuesday 26 July.
Speaking ahead of the event, Peter said: “It is a great honour to receive the honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University. Having started my professional career at Carnegie College, I have been fortunate to have been able to maintain my links with the University throughout most of my working life. I hope I have helped encourage and support some of the wider sporting initiatives and partnerships that are now in place.”
Leeds Beckett University Chancellor, Sir Bob Murray CBE, said: “Peter’s career has seen him lead on the hugely successful work for the city at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the 2014 Tour de France Grand Départ in Yorkshire and a number of other major sporting events.
“He has also served at regional and national level on sports boards and governing bodies and has played a key role in shaping sports and sports development in the city which has afforded staff, students and alumni of Leeds Beckett the opportunity to support and work in varying roles, gaining invaluable experience and life skills.”
The full list of honorary degrees to be awarded by Leeds Beckett University can be found here.