As part of her role as a trustee of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation the famous paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, DL visited Woodham Academy.
Last year, the school joined forces with the foundation to launch a two year sports leaders’ programme in Boccia, Tennis, Basketball, Cricket and Athletics for Year 10 and 11 pupils at Woodham.
Tanni was born with spina bifida. She is considered to be one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK. She graduated from Loughborough University in 1991 with a BA (Hons) degree in Politics and Social Administration.
She was Christened Carys Davina Grey, but her sister referred to her as “tiny” when she first saw her, pronouncing it “tanni” and the name stuck.
Tanni gave an inspirational talk to students at a special assembly where she related details of her highly successful journey through sport to coaching and elevation to the House of Lords as a Baroness.
Students asked questions and were impressed with this remarkable woman’s modesty and simple approach to life, which more or less says “If I can do it so can you!”
