Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Queen’s Birthday Honours for Leeds Beckett Alumni
Andy, who studied Human Movement Studies at Leeds Beckett University (then Leeds Polytechnic), graduated in 1987. He has been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Andy has coached in Britain for more than 30 years starting in Bradford, where he set up the UK’s first full-time professional coaching programme.
He has been an integral part of Team GB as an Olympic coach for the last three Olympic Games. He is best known as the first coach of diving superstar Tom Daley, taking him from a beginner all the way to the Olympic and World Championship medals. In addition to his success with Tom Daley, Andy has coached athletes including Sarah Barrow – also a Leeds Beckett alumna – and Tonia Couch, Robyn Birch, Victoria Vincent and Matthew Dixon.
He also appeared on the TV series ‘Splash!’, where celebrities were taught to dive, as a judge.
Andy recently took a post in Australia as a coach at Diving Australia.
Leeds Beckett honorary degree recipient, Edward Ziff, has been awarded an OBE. Edward, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive of Leeds-based Town Centre Securities PLC, was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration in 2013. Town Centre Securities is the owner of the Merrion Centre shopping and office complex.
On receiving his honorary degree, Edward said: “I was fortunate enough to learn an enormous amount from my own father as I began my career in the family business and I don’t think there are any secrets to success in business, just work hard and keep like in balance.”
He also offered advice to students: “Have dreams, make sure you live them and don’t be frightened by them. Look to the future, learn from your mistakes and above all enjoy what you do.”