History

A Brief History

In 2004, a team from Loughborough University negotiated a grant from the Peter Harrison Foundation to establish a Centre for Disability Sport. The Foundation, at that time, had been sponsoring athletes with a disability at Loughborough, including Daniel Greaves, a Sport & Exercise Science student who went on to win the discus, with a world record, at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. 

Interested in making a significant difference in research and practice, and led by Professor Stuart Biddle and sport fundraiser Lisa Farmer, and supported by the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Wallace, a comprehensive proposal was negotiated for about 18 months. Professors Clyde Williams and Barrie Houlihan also had significant inputs.

The Centre was formally established in 2005 and titled The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport. Ken Black served as the first Director in March 2005, with Dr Vicky Tolfrey, the current Director, taking over in late 2007. Initial work centred on the appointment of two PhD scholars – Marie Dannhaeuser (Sociology of Sport) and Katherine Black (Exercise Physiology) – as well as a part-time secretary, Julia Kenning.

Dr David Howe joined the academic staff of the School of Sport & Exercise Sciences in 2006 as a Lecturer in the Sociology of Sport. Both David and Marie are Canadian Paralympians. Also in 2007, the Centre appointed Charlotte Greasley as its first Information Officer, and Nadine Geddes as a temporary part-time Research Associate who completed projects on TOP Sportsability and Elements.