William Roberts, Chief Executive, RSPH

Last week we held the RSPH Health & Wellbeing Awards. It was fantastic to bring together the public health community to recognise and celebrate the work being done across the sector. Our award winners have empowered communities and individuals, improved the population’s health and addressed the wider social determinants of health.

The John Snow Outstanding Contribution to Public Health Award

Alongside the six main categories and Public Health Minister’s Award, we also awarded the John Snow Outstanding Contribution to Public Health Award. This award recognises an individual that has gone above and beyond to improve the health of the public.

This year, the award went to Chris Boardman CBE for his extensive campaigning and leadership efforts to encourage movement and active travel through walking, wheeling, and cycling.

I spoke to Chris to give him his award on Blackfriars bridge, a place where cycling and walking far outnumbers driving. We spoke about the importance of building health into streets and making active travel accessible to all.

Chris's cycling career

Chris has had an extensive career in cycling, winning gold at the 1992 Olympics, breaking the world hour record three times and wearing the yellow jersey on three occasions.

I first saw Chris at the Barcelona Olympics when I was 15, where he won the 4km individual pursuit. Since then, I have loved cycling both as part of commute and in my spare time – it offers me the chance to think and spend time with friends.

It’s not often that you get the chance to meet an Olympian at work; something I could have only dreamed of when I was growing up. So, it was an honour to present Chris with RSPH’s most prestigious award 32 years after I first saw him in action.

Chris retired as a professional cyclist in 2000. As impressive as his cycling achievements are, it is his work since then that really marked him out for this award.

Since retiring, he has held several roles which promote active travel, movement and sport. He was Greater Manchester’s walking and cycling commissioner in 2017, Greater Manchester’s Transport Commissioner in 2021, and most recently, Commissioner of Active Travel England and Chair of Sport England.

Why is physical activity important for our health?

Active travel, sport and physical activity are vital for our health. Not only can they help prevent over 20 chronic conditions and diseases, including some cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but they can also benefit our mental health and wellbeing, including symptoms of depression.

Chris’s leadership has been instrumental in getting people moving. He epitomises what public health is about in its truest form – helping a wide range of people to lead healthier lives. I cannot imagine anyone more deserving of this award.