Honorary
Doctorates |
Dame Mary Peters DBE DL receives an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Leeds Met
Leeds
Met was pleased to award Dame Mary Peters, former world-class
athlete, with an Honorary Doctorate during the University’s
Graduation 2004.
She has built on the high public profile that this gave her to become an equally successful and respected charity campaigner, professional motivator and public figure in her community.
Born in Liverpool, she moved at an early age to Northern Ireland, which she regards as her roots. Through a strong work ethic which remains her hallmark, she converted raw talent as an athlete into an international career spanning nearly two decades. In the pentathlon and the shot she turned in performances of a consistently high standing in international competition: fourth in the Olympics in 1964; second in the shot at the Commonwealth Games in 1966; and first in the Commonwealth pentathlon in 1970 and 1974. Her career was crowned with a gold medal and world record in the pentathlon at the Munich Olympics in 1972. The public excitement generated by her epic struggle for that title with the German athlete, Heidi Rosendhal still resonates down the years.
On
receiving her Honorary Doctorate Dame Mary Peters commented on
how everyone should have a dream. “My father bought me
a tonne of sand for my 15th birthday and a load of cement for
my 16th birthday to help me fulfil my dream! I was given opportunities
and also took them, you need to make everyday important.”
Since retiring from track and field, Mary has continued to serve Northern Irish and British athletics, including as manager of the UK women’s team (1979-84); as a member of the Women’s Committee of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (1995-99); as President of the British Athletics Federation (1996-98); and as Patron of the Northern Ireland Amateur Athletic Federation.
Outside athletics, she has served many and various organisations
engaged with: national and community sport more widely; charitable
and community causes; and broadcasting and the press. She also
remains an important ambassador for Northern Ireland. Her dedication
to improving the lives of others and her inspirational qualities
have won her a host of honours and awards, including the Freedom
of Lisburn and entry into the Belfast Telegraph and Irish Post
Halls of Fame. Mary Peters was awarded the DBE in 2000 and became
Deputy Lieutenant of Belfast earlier this year.
