In mid-1990, Peter Palmer was asked by one of his Metropolitan Police colleagues if he could cover for him at a tug of war coaching session with the local Special Olympics Enfield club in North London.
Given his long career in grassroots sport and experience of supporting people with intellectual disabilities, Peter was happy to oblige. However, he had no idea what the first session would lead to.
“It’s genuinely very hard to put into words what Peter’s commitment has meant to us as families,” say parents of the athletes at Special Olympics North London.
“He has changed all our lives - athletes and parents. Come rain or shine, he was there every Sunday morning.”
Now 34 years later, Peter has retired to move back to his native Whitby Bay after an amazing career in the Special Olympics GB movement, supporting more than 200 athletes.
“In addition to my work in the Met, I was a Duke of Edinburgh instructor at a special needs residential school,” said Peter. “We helped several pupils achieve their Bronze award, so I had a bit of experience of working with people with intellectual disabilities.
“The local police sports club raised money for Special Olympics Enfield and my great friend Bill Moir-Porteous presented the cheque. He also agreed to coach them for a national tug of war competition and asked me to stand in for a couple of weeks.
“That’s how it started and I’m sure that Bill would be covering a similar length of service as a volunteer if he was still with us.
“Within such a short time, I was coaching throughout my weekends.
“It was Tenpin Bowling on Saturday mornings, athletics on Sunday morning and then swimming Sunday afternoons. During the winter we trained indoors and I coached basketball as well.
“I had no formal coaching qualifications when I started, apart from my life-saving qualification to support the swimmers. However, I soon did, and I retire as an England Athletics Level 3 Performance Coach.
I loved supporting the athletes and watching their progress at every session. We participated in competitions all around the country and I organised regional athletics competitions. It’s grown over time to what was staged at Lee Valley Athletics Club last month.
“The competition opportunities were not just domestic though. I was given the opportunity to be the national athletics coach for Team Special Olympics GB at the Mediterranean Games in 1997.
“Walking into the Olympics Stadium in Athens was such a special moment for all of us. The athletes just relished the opportunity of performing on such a big stage.
“Two years later, in 1999, our Enfield club was also invited to a competition in Maryland, USA.
“In 2000 there were a few changes in the club set-up and the decision was made to focus on athletics.
“It was the start of the Special Olympics North London Athletics club that we know today. I was the club secretary and principal contact from its formation until my recent retirement. I was also the regional secretary for more than 20 years and the treasurer for two years.
“Whilst our focus was on athletics, we had athletes involved in golf and swimming as well, and I helped us host three track cycling events.
“It’s been such a journey. We’ve got just under 25 athletes in the club now who all come along to our Sunday morning sessions.
“So many of them start with such little confidence or ability to engage with each other, yet now they’re taking part in relays and always cheering on their teammates from the sidelines.
“The sessions are so transformational and I’m very proud of what the athletes have achieved. Five of them were able to complete their Level One coach qualification, which is a fantastic achievement.
“Looking back, sport has been so good to me. I’ve been able to compete in events on four different continents and so I’m proud to have given back, by helping our local Special Olympics North London athletes have similar opportunities.”