In Memoriam | Alan Sommerville OBE
Scottish Gymnastics is saddened to hear of the death of Alan Sommerville OBE on 17 September 2024.
Alan was chief executive officer of British Gymnastics between 2000 and 2007, chairman of the association between 2008 and 2013 and also president from 2013 to 2016. Alan’s involvement in gymnastics began in the late 1960s in coaching when he met Olympian Nik Stuart. While Nik had the technical expertise, it was Alan who quickly realised the potential of gymnastics on a UK-wide scale and together they introduced the sport to many communities around the country.
Robert Callahan MBE last met Alan and his wife Hilary at the Nik Stewart Awards last October. They exchanged many happy memories about gymnastics past and present and changes in the sport since they first met many years ago. As chairman of the British Amateur Gymnastics Association Board, Alan unified the home nations as well as overseeing major improvements in all disciplines of gymnastics in the UK.
Robert shared that “Alan was a good friend of Scotland during his time at British Gymnastics. He always supported us during our own transition into a professional organisation and will be missed by many in our sport.”
On his retirement from British Gymnastics, Alan joined the board of the Nik Stuart Foundation which for many years has bestowed honours on gymnasts, coaches, judges and others past and present for their services and success in their sport
He will be missed by his gymnastics friends and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.