He is an Olympic champion, and she is the coach who got him to gold.
Allan Wells MBE and his wife Margot Wells received honorary degrees from Edinburgh Napier University today in recognition of their services to sport.
As Scotland’s most successful sprinter, Allan took 100m gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, becoming the first Scot to win on track since 1924. He was coached by Margot, a successful sprinter and Scottish 100/100 hurdles champion herself, who continues to train some of the country’s top athletes from the couple’s base in Surrey.
Today, the husband and wife team have joined around 1750 students at a ceremony at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall to receive Honorary Doctorates of Science.
Margot said: “I am exceedingly delighted and grateful to Edinburgh Napier University for this extremely prestigious award. To be recognised for your efforts is always a great honour especially when most of the work is done behind the scenes.”
Allan Wells MBE said: “I am honoured and delighted to be recognised by Edinburgh Napier University. This award will rank highly among my achievements and it gives me great pleasure to receive it.”
The other Edinburgh Napier University honorary degree recipients are:
- Ms. Tanya Ewing, Inventor and Entrepreneur, received a Doctorate of Technology on Wednesday 2nd July.
- Mr. Alan Clements MBE, director of content for STV Productions, who received the award of Doctor of Arts on Thursday 3rd July
- Mr. Duncan Wardle, Vice President, Creative Inc. Disney Parks, who will receive a Master of Business Administration on Friday 4th July
Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “It’s a great honour to have such accomplished figures – people who have made significant contributions to the worlds of sport, media and public relations – joining our celebrations today. Their ambition, drive and success is a great inspiration to our students.”
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