Avril Lennox MBE announces retirement

Avril Lennox MBE, Head of Community & Wellbeing at Oadby & Wigston Borough Council has announced her retirement.

Avril joined Oadby & Wigston Borough Council in December 2003. Her achievements include setting up the borough's first ever sports club for young people with a disability; organising the Borough's first Sports Awards Evening in 2009, and through her commitment to re-energising the Health and Wellbeing Board Avril has made a difference to the health status of our local residents. This particular work was acknowledged and referenced in the 2017 LGA Peer Review feedback report, which stated that Avril and her team were passionate and proactive, aligning both the Health and Wellbeing agenda and leisure services in order to improve the Council's reach into different communities. More recently, through collaborative working with the Health and Wellbeing Board, a significant improvement has been achieved in the 'life expectancy' between the most deprived areas and the most affluent communities in Oadby and Wigston (Males moving from 13.7 years difference to 8.2 years, and Females moving from 10.7 years to 7.7years).

Avril organised a range of events over the years, including the Council's first ever Sport Relief mile at Leicester Racecourse, which was a joint venture with Blaby DC. This attracted over 1,200 participants who walked, ran and even skipped 1, 3 or 6 miles, resulting in nearly £27,500 being raised for Charity.

Background: Avril's gymnastics career began at her local High School aged eleven. Over the subsequent ten years Avril went on to represent her country, competing and training around the world.

The Scottish link: Avril's Scottish background (her parents were Scots) enabled her to compete in the Scottish Championships, which she won over consecutive years from 1970 to 1972.

Ambitions: One of Avril's key ambitions was to compete in the Olympic Games, an ambition which was realised when she became the youngest British gymnast to qualify for the 1972 Munich Olympics in Germany. Avril gained valuable experience at those Games, whilst also witnessing the extraordinary performances of the tiny Russian gymnast Olga Korbut and her team-mate Ludmilla Tourischeva.

Tragedy: However, her first Olympic experience will always be remembered for something other than sport. In the early hours of 5^th September 1972 eight Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic Village, killed two members of the Israeli team and took nine more hostage. Like many Olympians, Avril witnessed the terrorist activities unfold from her apartment overlooking the tragedy. After hours of tense negotiations the terrorists and hostages were flown to a military airport in Munich. A horrifying gun battle ensued claiming the lives of all nine hostages. Avril found it extremely difficult to fully comprehend the events of that day, but the realisation hit home when she attended the memorial service in the Olympic stadium where the Olympic flag was flying at half-mast.

Scholarship winner: Avril was delighted to become the first British gymnast to be awarded the Winston Churchill Travelling Scholarship in 1973, made extra special as it was presented to her by Prince Charles in the Royal Festival Hall, London. She travelled to the United States of America in April 1973 for four months in pursuit of excellence in Gymnastics. After returning from America Avril continued to compete internationally, including three European Championships and the World Championships. Avril became British Gymnastics Champion for four consecutive years from 1974 to 1977.

Romania: In 1974 Avril spent three months in Romania, learning new techniques and taking her gymnastics to the next level. It was here she first witnessed the dazzling acrobatic skills of the then unknown Nadia Comaneci. Avril went on to represent Great Britain at the prestigious International 'Champions All' event in 1975, finishing 3^rd to winner Nadia Comaneci. A year later in 1976 she finished 2^nd equal with top Russian gymnast Lidia Gorbik.

Biggest achievement: Avril's biggest achievement was at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. It was here she became the first British gymnast to qualify for the Olympic all-around finals. She competed against Russian gymnasts Ludmilla Tourischeva and Olga Korbut, as well as Romania's Nadia Comaneci, all of whom were credited with popularising the sport around the world. In celebration of Avril's achievements she received a personal invitation to join the Queen and Prince Philip for cocktails on board the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was docked in Montreal for the duration of the Olympics.

MBE: After her competitive career Avril was awarded the MBE by the Queen for her contribution to sport. She then began coaching in her home town of Leicester where she established her own gymnastics club. Here she coached girls to National and International standard, with one gymnast going on to represent the country in the 1986 World Championships, and another competing in the 1989 European Championships.

British Coach: British Gymnastics also recognised Avril's coaching achievements; as a result she was selected as British Team Coach for International competitions both home and abroad during the 80's. In addition Avril was selected to accompany the Daily Mirror Scholarship winner to Russia for a month of intensive coaching at the renowned Vladimir School of Gymnastics.

National Committees: During this time Avril served on a number of high profile committees, including the Central Council for Physical Recreation Committee chaired by the Minister for Sport, and the Sports Aid Foundation Committee working alongside other elite athletes including Seb Coe. The aim of these committees was to help shape elite pathways for our most talented sports people.

Golf: When Avril retired from competitive gymnastics she took up golf. Playing off a single-figure handicap Avril was selected to represent the Leicestershire County team.

London 2012: Sport and leisure activities remain Avril's key passions, having represented Great Britain in two Olympic Games. Through negotiations, she was able to work with the London 2012 Olympic Committee to re-route the 'Olympic Torch Relay' through Oadby Town Centre, so more local residents could view this once-in-a-lifetime event. She also acted as an Ambassador during the London Games working for both the British Olympic Association and the London 2012 Olympic Committee. One of her responsibilities during these Games was looking after International gymnastic representatives such as her fellow competitor Nellie Kim.

Leisure Services: Avril was the driving force in the delivery of the Council's new Leisure Contract including the procurement process and new builds. This was a £9.5 million project which she led from start to finish. The new facilities were formally opened by Colin Jackson and Rebecca Adlington. In addition, Avril oversaw a further £1.2million investment to further improve leisure and recreation for the area, for the benefit of local residents. She was also able to negotiate free leisure facility membership for all OWBC staff; demonstrating proactive encouragement of healthy lifestyles is not only for residents but also for the Council's own workforce. In 2018, working in partnership with the leisure provider, she transferred the operational aspects of the Brocks Hill service to the contractor, which realised huge annual savings for the Council.

Financial investment: Over the last 15 years, working in partnership with Leicestershire & Rutland Sport and other external partners, Avril and the council's leisure team were able to draw down nearly £2million of external funding to support targeted physical activity and health interventions to benefit the borough's most disadvantaged residents.

Everyone at Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport and across the sport and physical activity sector wishes Avril a very happy retirement!