Roger Nicholls

Roger Nicholls is retired head teacher of Lidgett Grove Special School, York, where I used to work. During his 16 years there, he led the school to national awards and set up a specialist unit for children with autism. He was loved and respected by staff, parents and children. He has spent his entire working life in special education, volunteering much of his personal time to fundraising for the various schools where he worked and pioneering new ways of working with children with special needs. In 1995 he founded Easingwold Running Club and built it to its current membership of 130. He was Licence Officer for UK Athletics North Yorkshire for five years. He is a registered UK Athletics coach and official and has volunteered time to help other clubs and organisations to set up races in the region. He wrote the Race Organiser's Guide for UKA Yorkshire & Humberside. Despite a quadruple bypass earlier this year, he was back at the Club within ten weeks of surgery, coaching beginners and helping with the annual Road Race League. He is now back in training and aims to run his first race in September. He has inspired everyone with his courage and determination in overcoming serious illess and continuing to support others in their fitness. Roger is a very kind man who has spent his life helping other people. Running is his life-long passion and he would be so proud to be a Torchbearer. It would recognise the enormous contribution he continues to make to his community.