The President’s Committee of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education is deeply saddened to announce that its President, Professor Margaret Talbot OBE, passed away on Tuesday 2 December 2014, following a long illness.
Margaret Talbot was a life-long advocate and activist for equity in sport and physical education, and fought continually to defend the statutory entitlement to quality physical education around the world. She was the author of numerous books, research reports and international policy documents, all of which expressed her strong sympathy for communities in need, for women, persons with disabilities and children.
Margaret Talbot was elected as succeeding President of ICSSPE following Gudrun Doll-Tepper, and has led the Council from 2009 until now. Prior to this, she was Vice President for Education from 1999 until 2008. Gudrun Doll-Tepper commented:
“I was so grateful to Margaret for all the energy, ideas and commitment she put into the work of ICSSPE, and for making so many of our visions become reality. During the years of my presidency Margaret was a driving force to help changing the ‘Face of ICSSPE’. I was so glad that she took over this extremely responsible and challenging position and was convinced she would lead the organisation with a clear strategy and with her heart, and so it happened. She was a leader, a researcher, a teacher – and a good friend.”
Margaret Talbot had also been President of the International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women from 1997 to 2005. In addition to her voluntary positions, she had been Chief Executive of the Central Council of Physical Recreation, and the Association for Physical Education, both based in the United Kingdom. She was also Chair of the Education Committee of the International Paralympic Committee.
Earlier in her outstanding career, Margaret Talbot had been Carnegie Research Professor at Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, where she was also the Head of Sport. Before that, she had worked at Trinity and All Saints College in Leeds. For her extra-ordinary services to physical education and sport, Margaret Talbot was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1993.
Speaking on behalf of ICSSPE’s President’s Committee and Executive Board, Acting President Uri Schaefer said:
“Margaret will be deeply missed, among others for her visionary leadership and for her determination. She never stopped advocating for an ethically healthy sport and for providing opportunities for all members of society to be physically active and for children to grow and to learn in a healthy way by enjoying participation in physical education.”
The President’s Committee, the Executive Board, staff at the Executive Office, and the whole ICSSPE family offer their heart-felt condolences to Margaret Talbot’s husband,