Olympic athlete Dame Mary Peters was reunited with another star of British athletics of almost half a century ago when she was conferred with an honorary degree by St Andrews University.
She needed no introduction to university chancellor Sir Menzies Campbell, with both having been part of the Great Britain team to compete in the Tokyo games of 1964 Sir Ming in the 100m relay and 200m, and Dame Mary in the pentathlon.
She was born in Merseyside, and her family moved when she was 11 to Ballymena, Northern Ireland, where she developed her astonishingly-versatile athletic talent.
In her laureation address, Dr Barbara Murray of the school of English spoke of Dame Mary’s stunning haul of honours, including gold and silver medals in 1966, 1970 and 1974 when representing Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games and setting 25 British records.
Having very narrowly missed a medal in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics she battled injury in Mexico in 1968 but went on to take the pentathlon gold and a world record at the Munich Olympics of 1972 a feat that saw her voted the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Dr Murray said, “These public achievements did not just occur, however. One can only dimly imagine the determination, the dedication, the effort, the endurance and, I’m sure, sometimes the suffering by which these inspirational split-seconds were created.
“To run and jump, to throw and leap with such prodigious skill, is truly remarkable but the talent is only one remarkable feature in the life of a remarkable person.
“The early 1970s was a time when Northern Ireland was suffering deeply from the troubles.
“It is said that Mary’s win brought a temporary calmness to the province.
“I myself can still remember the joy more generally with which her win was greeted and I still remember her wonderful smile.”
As an athletics administrator, Dame Mary was the women’s team manager at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics and for four years was a member of the women’s committee of the International Amateur Athletics Federation.
She has been a member of the Northern Ireland Sports Council and is patron of the Northern Ireland Amateur Athletic Association.
Her administrative work in the area also includes deputy chairmanship of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
She has served on the British Sports Council and as president of the British Athletics Federation from 1996 to 1998.
In addition, she works to foster the benefits of sport and adventure in young people and is president of the Mary Peters Trust formerly the Ulster Sports Trust, which was renamed in her honour in 2008.
It aims to help youngsters in developing their sporting talent.
Dame Mary has received honorary degrees from five universities and was honoured with the MBE in 1973, the CBE in 1994 and made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2000 and lord lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast in 2009.
Her Olympic success came while wearing the 111 vest and she was adopted as the mascot of the then members of Treble One Squadron based at RAF Leuchars.
Dr Murray added, “Beyond her public sporting prowess and administrative talent, it is clear that Mary Peters is much loved.
“Those who hear her speak find her inspirational and she is clearly remembered by those who have met her with affection as well as admiration.
“While one of the great sportswomen of the 20th century may have become a ‘raving tigress,’ as I have seen her described in the Olympic arena, Mary Peters is testimony to the virtues of dedication, humility and grace that sport can, and should, foster.”
Dame Mary received an honorary degree of doctor of laws in recognition of her major contribution to British sport and spoke of her “delight” at being honoured.
There was also a special surprise when she received a presentation of photographs taken during her visit to RAF Leuchars in 1972, which were handed over by Squadron Leader Karl Jewitt of 111 Squadron.