Janice Eaglesham (1958-2019) had a passion and commitment to making sport more accessible for athletes with a disability that was second to none.
Her focus was on encouraging people with disabilities to become more active and, together with her husband Ian, she established Red Star Athletics Club to create opportunities for everyone to explore their potential.
In 2011 Janice and Ian were named BBC Unsung Heroes for their contribution to sport, and four years later the couple were awarded MBEs for services to disability sport. But while the honours were thoroughly well-deserved, awards were not what drove Janice’s involvement in sport. She simply understood the power of sport to change lives.
Janice, the long-standing chair of Scottish Disability Sport, was well respected throughout the sporting world as an administrator, a coach and an educator. She was renowned for her disability inclusion work and made a huge contribution to the development of sportscotland National Training Centre Inverclyde to ensure it would meet the needs of the athletes and their families. Feedback on the facilities at the centre has been hugely positive, even life-changing, and Janice played a key role in making it happen.
Janice will be a huge loss to Scottish sport but her legacy will live on in Ian’s work and through the athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials she nurtured and inspired throughout her remarkable career.
Above all, Janice was a generous, caring and supportive colleague and friend.
Our thoughts are with Ian and with her athletics and disability sport family.
Twitter tributes
Absolutely devastating news💔Janice was the most incredible person and a huge driving force in shaping disability sport in Scotland to the way it is today. She has influenced more people than she will ever realise, her legacy will live on within @SDS_sport https://t.co/dEps4OF4NZ
— Hope Gordon (@HopeGordon_) July 22, 2019
I am sadden to hear of the sudden passing of Janice Eaglesham, Chair of Scottish Disability Sport. I met with Janice in February & was inspired by her passion and commitment to Disability Sport. My thoughts and condolences are with all her family & friends at this time @SDS_sport
— Joe FitzPatrick MSP (@JoeFitzSNP) July 22, 2019
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Janice Eaglesham, MBE. As a coach, colleague, friend, founder of Red Star AC, chair of Scottish Disability Sport, she changed hundreds of lives & will be missed by so many. Our thoughts are with Ian, and all Janice’s family & friends. pic.twitter.com/h1vyhFaPvq
— scottishathletics (@scotathletics) July 22, 2019
Janice ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DxkHfenohc
— Gavin Drysdale (@Gav_DrysdaleRR) July 21, 2019
