Suffolk Sport Board Members

Professor Bill Tancred MBE - Chairman

I am from Felixstowe and although I have been resident in Sheffield these past 25 years, I intend to move back to the town later this year.

I have served in the Army,firstly with the 1st East Anglian Regiment and then with the Army Physical Training Corps. After military service, I attended Loughborough College for Teacher Training, Loughborough University for a Masters degree in Human biology and then another masters degree by research, in Physical Education. Later on, with a N.A.T.O. Fellowship, I studied for a doctorate in Sports Management in the United States.

I have taught and lectured in schools, colleges, polytechnics and universities, to include being Director of Physical Education and Sport at Sheffield University and Professor of Sports Studies at Buckinghamshire Chiltern University College. Furthermore, I have written several books, published numerous articles and presented papers at conferences in subjects relating to human sports performance, health related fitness and coaching.

In sport and in particular athletics, I have served on several committees to include being Chairman of the International Athletes`Club and President of Sheffield University`s World Student Games Directorate.

As a performer, I have represented Great Britain at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games in athletics [discus event], 1966, 1970 [bronze] and 1974 [silver] Commonwealth Games, 1966, 1969 and 1971 European Championships. I represented Great Britain 55 times and held the British discus record for 25 years. After competitive athletics, I became an National event coach to the British Amatuer Athletics Board [BAAB] and presently, coach and lecture on behalf of UKAthletics and the International Association of Athletics Federations[IAAF].

I was awarded an MBE in 1992 for services to athletics.

Elspeth Gibson

Elspeth lives in Saxmundham and works as a Senior Strategy Manager with Healthy Ambitions, helping to make Suffolk the healthiest county in the UK. With a 30 year career in NHS, Local Authority and voluntary sector, Elspeth has led county services for adults with disabilities; developed new social enterprises and more recently become a significant contributor to the Public Health agenda in Suffolk.

She is committed to reducing health and social inequalities in the county and joins the Suffolk Sport Board with a wide range of experience and enthusiasm to contribute to the objectives.

As a regular runner, swimmer and cyclist, Elspeth finds the time to keep fit as well as being a mother and full time employee of Suffolk County Council. In a volunteer capacity, Elspeth is liaison ranger with Sustrans, the UK’s largest sustainable transport charity.

Tony Bass

Vice-Chairman

Originally from the northwest, I have worked in leisure management within local government & the voluntary/charity sector for over 30 years, the last 18 being in West Suffolk as the Chief Executive of Anglia Community Leisure (Leisure Trust) & previously as Head of Leisure Services for Forest Heath District Council. In May 2013 I started my own sport, leisure and cultural consultancy (ABass Leisure Ltd), which I am hoping will, with partners, build on good practice in Suffolk, East Anglia & the East.

I have been involved with Suffolk Sport since its original inception in the 90’s and through its establishment as one of Sport England’s 49 CSP’s nationally. I am looking forward to its continued development as a major partner in promoting sport, physical activity and active healthy lifestyles.

A keen sportsman, most frequently playing hockey and tennis for my local teams, some dodgy golf & with ski-ing as an annual family event.

Married with 2 children, the family sees Suffolk as their long term home

Peter Jones

I am a Londoner and spent my entire career in the City working in a variety of financial roles. We first came to Suffolk for holidays and weekends and fell in love with Bury St Edmunds, where we now live.

I was very fortunate to go to a school with excellent sporting facilities. In those days, we were at school six full days a week of which over a day (believe it, or not!) was devoted to sport. So, I played cricket, rugby, some tennis and occasional athletics whenever possible. The love of sporting activity has never left me. I now swim and go to the gym on a regular basis.

My day job with pension schemes continues to give me a close involvement with mortality statistics, with longevity and the factors that go to support longevity and (perhaps more to the point) health and happiness in advancing years. I feel very strongly that exercise has a key role to play in this and in relieving pressure on the NHS and other similar agencies.

I have a number of advisory roles in Suffolk, including Suffolk Scouts, Age UK Suffolk and the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds. The skills that I bring to those organisations, and to Suffolk Sport, are financial, governance and wide ranging business experience.

Richard Hunt

I am Head of Service Development for Culture Sport and Communities with Suffolk County Council. I have a broad strategic remit covering culture, sport, tourism and Suffolk’s 2012 Olympic and Paralympic programme, and broader responsibilities including the partnership for older people, and community development programmes.

My local government career spans some 18 years, working operationally and strategically at both district and county council level, and nationally with the Local Government Association (LGA) with a focus on education, cultural and social policy.

Outside of the day job, I am currently the Vice Chair of CLOA, Chair of the National Culture Forum, and a member of the DCMS Cultural Improvement Project Management Board.

I have recently taken on the additional role of Director for Culture First, a culture and sport improvement network for local government.

Roland Bee

I was born in Lincolnshire and moved to Suffolk for the first time in 1969. Then, via Norfolk, London and Hertfordshire I finally moved back to settle in Suffolk in 1996.

My first career was as a chemist, my second as regular aircrew in the RAF and my third was as a local government officer (six years as a Chief Officer). Then, armed with a Masters degree in Management, professional qualifications in HR and Administration I set up an HR and Learning Consultancy in 1985. I now contribute to this business on a part-time basis.

Early sports enthusiasm was fostered in the RAF and while there I acted as Secretary to the Cadastrian League (East Anglia’s RAF regional football league) and gained my FA Preliminary Coaches badge. My other sporting ‘passion’ was for squash – I played competitively from 1960 to 2000 (as a ‘vintage’ competitor) and gained my SRA Elementary Coaches badge in the late 1970’s. I am a supporter of Ipswich Town FC.

I am the Co-author (with my wife) of a number of books in the management/HR/learning and development field.

Neil Anthony

I spent my schooldays in South London, where I enjoyed participating in sport and competing for the County in Athletics and Hockey. I completed a Sports Degree at Nonington College of Physical Education.

My career started with Arun District Council, Leisure Services Department, where I completed a Diploma in Management Studies. I moved to undertake a Sports Centres Manager’s role with Ipswich Borough Council. After a period abroad I was appointed as General Manager of Lynnsport and Leisure Park in Kings Lynn, and completed a Masters Degree. In 1997 I joined St Edmundsbury Council as Assistant Director of Leisure, being appointed Head of Leisure Services in 2004.

I am still a keen marathon runner, and spend much of my time as a taxi driver for my 3 children as they participate in a range of sporting activities across the county.

Other board members are Terry Clements, Kieron Blackburn, Nicki Mayhew and a sport england representative.

If you would be interested in joining the board when a position becomes available please contact John Clough, Director of Suffolk Sport at john.clough@suffolksport.com