Professor Peter Thomas MBE Honoured with Prestigious Long Service Award by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at St James’s Palace

Professor Peter Thomas MBE,  President of Leap,has been recognised with one of the UK’s most prestigious awards for his outstanding contribution to sport. The award was presented by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh during a ceremony at St James’s Palace, marking the 90th anniversary of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

This Award, for 50 years of service is exceptionally rare – only seven individuals have received it in the organisation’s 90-year history. Previous recipients include HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, and Sir Stanley Rous, former President of FIFA. Professor Thomas is the first Welsh person to receive this honour, celebrating his remarkable 50 years of voluntary service to sport.

A Legacy of Leadership and Service

Professor Thomas, originally from Morriston, Swansea and now a resident of Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes, has dedicated his life to advancing sport and physical activity both nationally and internationally. His achievements include:

• Serving on the corporate governance of the Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) since 1975, later stepping down as Director in 2004 to chair the British Sports Trust under the presidency of HRH Prince Philip.
• Acting as Life Vice President of CCPR/Sport and Recreation Alliance since 2004, supporting both HRH Prince Philip and now HRH Prince Edward.
• Representing the UK globally, delivering keynote lectures from Melbourne to Moscow and Oman to Tokyo.
• Holding senior roles across multiple National Governing Bodies of Sport, including Executive Chair, Executive Director, and Interim CEO.
• Leading the Manchester National Velodrome for 12 years as Executive Chair, where a suite now bears his name.
• Serving as Senior Education Officer for Buckinghamshire County Council, Vice Chairman and Interim CEO of WheelPower at Stoke Mandeville, and acting as a Buckinghamshire Ambassador.

Celebrating an Inspirational Career

Mark Ormerod, CEO of Leap, who attended the ceremony, said:

“Peter’s achievements are extraordinary. His dedication over five decades has shaped sport nationally and internationally. At 87, he continues to inspire us all. Having known Peter throughout my professional career since 1992, I can say his counsel and support have been invaluable – especially during our shared time at Leap since 2012.”