It is with great sadness that Bill McLoughlin, former lecturer and head of Physical Education at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, died suddenly on Saturday 21st December, at the age of 72.
Bill's funeral will be held on Friday 17th January from 1.30pm in the University College Chapel, with a reception afterwards in the Waldegrave Drawing room.
The family has asked that no flowers be sent. Donations can be made to The British Heart Foundation.
You can read more about Bill’s life and work in this tribute.
Bill McLoughlin
Bill devoted his life to his three greatest passions; his family, gymnastics and education. His unique combination of gymnastics and educational skills have inspired generations of people in many different sporting and academic fields.
Bill started on the higher education pathway when he attended St Luke’s College in Exeter, from where he graduated with a Diploma in Physical Education. His thirst for scientific knowledge in the sporting field took him to Eugene Oregon where he embarked on a Masters programme. Proudly, Bill became one of the first people to gain an MSc in Physical Education in Great Britain.
In 1966 Bill took up the post of lecturer in Physical Education at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, this was to be the start of a long association with the University College, he was a true Simmarian. In 1968 St Mary’s began the one year extension to the teaching qualification resulting in students being able to gain a B.Ed degree in physical education. It was here that Bill’s specialist areas of Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, research methods and statistics came to the fore.
As a lecturer and later as head of Physical Education at St Mary’s, Bill mentored thousands of students into the teaching profession and many others into various national and international sporting arenas. He had a very special place in his heart for the Irish students that came to St Mary’s and he was instrumental in developing the relationship with the Irish college in Limerick, a feeder college for future Simmarians. He was a passionate advocate of lifelong learning and directed many students into furthering their academic qualifications both in Great Britain and in the United States.
Bill was always searching to bring innovation to the University College, and was also instrumental in the development of the now very successful Sports Rehabilitation course. He never really retired from St Mary’s even after his official retirement in 1995. He continued to teach as a visiting lecturer with the School of Education and was looking forward to working in 2014 from January through to Easter.
In his chosen sport of gymnastics it became apparent from an early age that Bill was dedicated and determined to be involved in gymnastics at the highest levels. Coached by Stan Booth at Milnsbridge Gymnastics Club in Huddersfield, Bill was captain of the five man team that won the Adam Shield (Men’s British Team Champions) in 1967. He was also a valued member of the Dortmund World Championships team in 1966.
Pursuing his devotion to gymnastics as a coach is where Bill left a lasting impression. His knowledge of physiology and biomechanics combined with his gymnastics background and unique innovative teaching techniques made him one of the country’s leading gymnastics international performance coaches.
For Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Bill was Honorary National Coach from 1973 to 1980, taking GBR teams to Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth Championships. He produced his own five times British Team Champions, individual British Champions, Olympians and contributed to numerous other international gymnasts’ careers.
For Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, he was a High Performance Coach and International Brevet Judge representing GBR at the Olympic Games and on the World Championships stage.
Bill’s achievements and long service to British gymnastics earned him, Master Gymnast, Master Coach and Honorary Life Membership to the British Gymnastics Association. In 2008 he was also inducted into the Nik Stuart Hall of Fame and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, honours which he was very proud of.
Bill’s tireless commitment to coaching gymnastics and trampolining continued. He went back to the grassroots of teaching by running courses on behalf of the BGA both in the UK and abroad to further expand the awareness and development of his much loved sports. To Bill this was a true vocation in life.
Those fortunate enough to have been coached or taught by Bill will remember his particular fondness for using great philosophers quotes to support his own teaching methods. He would utter things such as, “Those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those who are doing it” or “Everything is difficult until it becomes easy.”
Bill will be very much missed by all his family and friends; his inspirational legacy will live on in those he leaves behind.
Bill is survived by his wife, Maria and their five children: Sean, Claire, Liam, Siobhan and Kerry.
Bill devoted his life to his three greatest passions; his family, gymnastics and education. His unique combination of gymnastics and educational skills have inspired generations of people in many different sporting and academic fields.
Bill started on the higher education pathway when he attended St Luke’s College in Exeter, from where he graduated with a Diploma in Physical Education. His thirst for scientific knowledge in the sporting field took him to Eugene Oregon where he embarked on a Masters programme. Proudly, Bill became one of the first people to gain an MSc in Physical Education in Great Britain.
In 1966 Bill took up the post of lecturer in Physical Education at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, this was to be the start of a long association with the University College, he was a true Simmarian. In 1968 St Mary’s began the one year extension to the teaching qualification resulting in students being able to gain a B.Ed degree in physical education. It was here that Bill’s specialist areas of Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, research methods and statistics came to the fore.
As a lecturer and later as head of Physical Education at St Mary’s, Bill mentored thousands of students into the teaching profession and many others into various national and international sporting arenas. He had a very special place in his heart for the Irish students that came to St Mary’s and he was instrumental in developing the relationship with the Irish college in Limerick, a feeder college for future Simmarians. He was a passionate advocate of lifelong learning and directed many students into furthering their academic qualifications both in Great Britain and in the United States.
Bill was always searching to bring innovation to the University College, and was also instrumental in the development of the now very successful Sports Rehabilitation course. He never really retired from St Mary’s even after his official retirement in 1995. He continued to teach as a visiting lecturer with the School of Education and was looking forward to working in 2014 from January through to Easter.
In his chosen sport of gymnastics it became apparent from an early age that Bill was dedicated and determined to be involved in gymnastics at the highest levels. Coached by Stan Booth at Milnsbridge Gymnastics Club in Huddersfield, Bill was captain of the five man team that won the Adam Shield (Men’s British Team Champions) in 1967. He was also a valued member of the Dortmund World Championships team in 1966.
Pursuing his devotion to gymnastics as a coach is where Bill left a lasting impression. His knowledge of physiology and biomechanics combined with his gymnastics background and unique innovative teaching techniques made him one of the country’s leading gymnastics international performance coaches.
For Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Bill was Honorary National Coach from 1973 to 1980, taking GBR teams to Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth Championships. He produced his own five times British Team Champions, individual British Champions, Olympians and contributed to numerous other international gymnasts’ careers.
For Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, he was a High Performance Coach and International Brevet Judge representing GBR at the Olympic Games and on the World Championships stage.
Bill’s achievements and long service to British gymnastics earned him, Master Gymnast, Master Coach and Honorary Life Membership to the British Gymnastics Association. In 2008 he was also inducted into the Nik Stuart Hall of Fame and was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award, honours which he was very proud of.
Bill’s tireless commitment to coaching gymnastics and trampolining continued. He went back to the grassroots of teaching by running courses on behalf of the BGA both in the UK and abroad to further expand the awareness and development of his much loved sports. To Bill this was a true vocation in life.
Those fortunate enough to have been coached or taught by Bill will remember his particular fondness for using great philosophers quotes to support his own teaching methods. He would utter things such as, “Those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those who are doing it” or “Everything is difficult until it becomes easy.”
Bill will be very much missed by all his family and friends; his inspirational legacy will live on in those he leaves behind.
Bill is survived by his wife, Maria and their five children: Sean, Claire, Liam, Siobhan and Kerry.
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