A FORMER Olympic swimmer is set to inspire guests at this year’s Worcestershire Education Awards ceremony.

Duncan Goodhew MBE, author and motivational speaker, will be helping to celebrate Worcestershire’s most inspiring childminders, teachers or training providers, volunteers and community groups at a black tie gala ball this summer.

The Olympian, who won Gold in the 100m Breaststroke and Bronze on the Medley Relay, lost all his hair as a result of falling from a tree, aged 10.

Goodhew, who is also dyslexic, was motivated to to change his life for the better.

His lifeline was swimming and by the age of 15 he was dreaming of representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games.

The 60-year-old, from Marylebone in London, said: “It is really exciting to be invited to come along and hear about what is going on in Worcestershire, to find out about all the good practices, achievements and good things in Education.

“It is important to recognise these people because it is the children that will benefit and children are our future.”

He is the chairman of Premier Education Group PLC, which is the UK’s largest sports coaching company delivering into 15 per cent of primary schools and is a director of Limelight Sports, a leading agency of the active world.

Goodhew has been a contributor to the Financial Times, Sunday Telegraph and regularly appears on Newsnight and The Today Show. He has also authored Sink or Swim and Fix Your Life Now!

The awards, which are organised by the Worcester News in partnership with the University of Worcester, showcase those people who inspire our children.

This year’s awards were officially launched in front of an audience of county leaders, dignitaries and business heads, at the University of Worcester Arena last Wednesday.

The deadline is Friday, April 20. To nominate, visit worcesternews.co.uk/weawards2018