Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is one of the UK’s most successful athletes. Born with spina bifida, the Welsh sportswoman has won 16 Paralympic medals including 11 golds, holds over 30 world records and has won the London Marathon six times. A wheelchair user, Tanni was awarded an OBE in 2000 for her services to sport and in 2006 was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Tanni retired from international competitions earlier this year, but is likely to develop her motivational-speaking and television-presenting career which has seen her present shows on BBC Wales, S4C and BBC1.
Sport
Guiding provides a space for girls to take part in sports away from boys, enabling many girls to develop their self-confidence and sporting skills to the full.
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Winner of 16 Paralympic medals
‘Being a Brownie and Guide was an important and character-forming time of my life. The experience has stayed with me and today I apply many of the rules and principles learned in my youth.
Even in my 60s I’m still in close touch with a handful of fellow Brownies and Guides who shared happy times with me. Many close friends regard me as “an overgrown, enthusiastic Girl Guide”.’
Diana Moran
Exercise Association of England, Special Achievement Award
Diana Moran
Exercise Association of England, Special Achievement Award
Diana Moran is a fitness expert and journalist. In the 1960s and 70s she was a successful catwalk model and also appeared as a TV announcer and newsreader. Diana hosted an exercise segment of BBC TV’s Breakfast Time programme. Because of her trademark green leotard she became known as ‘The Green Goddess’. Today she regularly appears on television speaking on women’s issues, health and fitness. She is heavily involved in the charity field, playing a leading role in various charities concerned with cancer, cerebral palsy and older people.
Other award-winning women previously involved in Girlguiding UK include:
Liz McColgan MBE (athlete)
Yvonne Murray MBE (athlete)