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The Stoke Mandeville Hall of Fame The Stoke Mandeville Hall of Fame was introduced in April 2003 at the Re-Opening Ceremony for the new Stoke Mandeville Stadium with the aim of honouring great men and women within Paralympic Sport. The following were inducted to WheelPower's Hall of Fame in 2003:
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Sir Ludwig Guttmann KBE, MD, FRCP, FRCS Sir Ludwig "Poppa" Guttmann (3 July 1899 - 18 March 1980) was a German-born neurologist who founded the Paralympics and is considered one of the founding fathers of organised physical activities for the disabled. One of the leading pre-World War II neurologists in Germany, Guttmann worked at the Jewish Hospital in Breslau until 1939, when he was forced to flee to England. In 1944, Guttmann was asked by the British Government to found the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville. He was appointed the position of director at the Centre, a position he held until 1966.
As director, he believed sport was a method of therapy, using it to help build physical strength and self-respect. By 1952, Guttmann's Stoke Mandeville Games for the disabled had grown to over 130 international competitors, and it continued to grow, impressing Olympics officials and the international community. I n 1956, Guttmann was awarded the Fearnley Cup, an award for outstanding contribution to the Olympic ideal.
Starting in 1960 in Rome and continuing to today, the Paralympic Games are held after the Olympic Games, often in the same city. In 1960 Guttmann also founded the British Sports Association of the Disabled. Guttmann received Great Britain's OBE and CBE and was honored worldwide.
Sir Ludwig Guttmann passed away in 1980 having worked tirelessly to improve the day-to-day lives of those with disabilities and seeing the influence of his games touch thousands of people worldwide. His vision continues to inspire all those who strive for his dream: the full integration of those with disabilities into mainstream society.
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Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson Spina bifida meant that Tanni has been in a wheelchair since the age of seven, but she has become one of the world’s most admired and respected sportswomen and is regarded as Britain’s greatest ever Paralympian having won a total of 11 gold medals.
Born in Cardiff on 26 July 1969, Tanni made her debut for Wales at the Junior National Championships aged just 15. Her first Paralympic success was in 1988 when she won bronze in the 400m at the Seoul Games.
Four years later in Barcelona Tanni claimed four gold medals, including world records in the 100m and 400m. In 1996 in Atlanta she settled for silver in thee of her four disciplines with gold in the 800m whilst in Sydney 2000 she achieved victory in the 800m which was followed by success in the 100m, 200m and 400m. Tanni has rounded off her gold medal tally by triumphing in the 100m and 400m in the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
Over her career to date, she has won a total of 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 golds, held over 30 world records, and won the London Marathon six times between 1997 and 2002. Tanni has also been recognised by sporting organisations worldwide for her sporting achievements. She was one of only four female athletes to appear in the top 50 British Sporting Greats poll undertaken by publishers Cassell Illustrated. She is also a member of The Laureus World Sports Academy alongside sporting legends such as Pele, Jack Nicklaus, Michael Jordan and Ed Moses. Tanni, who also won the BBC Wales Sports Personality of 2004, has decided to end her Paralympic career, but is not yet ready to retire; she will maintain a close interest in the sport by nurturing the next generation of British Paralympians. Already a holder of the OBE and MBE, Tanni, a double Paralympic champion was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 New Years Honours List.
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Sir Philip Craven
Sir Phillip Craven has been President of the International Paralympic Committee since 2001 and is also a member of the International Olympic Committee.
Sir Philip is a five-time Paralympian in Wheelchair Basketball and Swimming and won a gold medal at the 1973 Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.
He was president of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation from 1988-2002 and received the Juan Antonio Samaranch Disabled Athlete Award in recognition of his significant contribution to the world of sport. He also sat on the Board of London 2012 Bid and received a knighthood in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours.
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Carol Walton MBE 'Caz' has won international medals in five disciplines, including swimming and track, in a sporting career which saw her win ten Paralympic Gold Medals and win numerous other medals at European, Commonwealth and World Championships. Since retiring from international competition in 1994, Caz has dedicated her time to helping other disabled athletes. She also sits on various disabled sports committees including WheelPower's Executive Council and was fencing team manager in both Atlanta and Sydney.
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Roll of Honour
Presented by the Bell family in loving memory of Dora Bell Superintendant Physiotherapist
Stoke Mandeville Hospital 1940 – 1966
The Roll of Honour of Spinal Paralysed Men and Women who have made an outstanding contribution to the ideals and development of the Stoke Mandeville Games
Daniel M. Angel
Gwen Buck B.E.M.
John Buck
Charlie Groves
Sally Haynes M.B.E.
Baroness Masham of Ilton
Margaret Maughan M.B.E.
George Swindlehurst
Tommy Taylor M.B.E.
Dick Thompson M.B.E.
Carol Walton M.B.E.
Alan West
Dave Winters M.B.E.
Terry Willett
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