Tribute to Len Almond, AIESEP Board Member

Len Almond, a longtime Board member of AIESEP lost his battle with Cancer in May 2017.  Len trained as a PE teacher at St. Marys, Twickenham in 1964 and went on to become a lecturer at Madeley College. He then became a senior research fellow at Loughborough College, before joining the lecturing staff at Loughborough University in 1979. During his time at the University, Len held the post of Director of Physical Education and Senior Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health. 

Len had an enormous impact on the physical education profession over many decades through his work for the Physical Education Association of the UK (PEA UK), the British Association of Advisers and Lecturers in Physical Education and via his work with AIESEP.  In more recent years, his support for and enthusiasm for a focus on Physical Education in the Early years led to the establishment of the Early Years Special Interest group of AIESEP. My first meetings with Len were in the 1980s when he visited the Ohio State University and Daryl Siedentop.  Sinec that time Len has been a wonderful colleague and a supporter of my work. He actively encoruaged me to sit on the AIESEP Board and was a great source of support over many years.  Another member of the AIESEP Board who has been a student of Lens, noted the major role he played in the lives of young people and in early career academics as he advocated for time and resources to support young people and their teachers to gain better access to physical activity opportunities by well qualified professional.  My he rest in peace.

Compiled by Mary O’Sullivan (AIESEP General Secretary)