MEMORIAL FOR ANDY SUTCH – A TRUE CHAMPION OF SPORT IN THE COMMUNITY
A special memorial service has now been organised in memory of our well known resident Andy Sutch who died on 16 January 2026.
The service is to be held at St. Mary’s University Chapel, Waldegrave Road, Twickenham TW1 4SX at 2pm on Friday 24 April and afterwards at the onsite 1850 Club.
Andy was a well-known and well-respected figure in the community for his love of sport and his support for sport-themed projects like the community group SporTedd and Teddington Lottery.
He was long-standing Trustee of the London Playing Fields which paid the following tribute to his contribution.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our much loved former Trustee Andy Sutch who died suddenly on 16th January. He leaves behind his wife Hilary and son Neil.
“After 27 years of dedicated service as a Trustee (1997 – 2024) and at least another eight years of strategic support as Sport England Regional Director for London prior to that, his impact on the work of the LPFF cause cannot be overstated and the charity owes him a huge debt of gratitude.
“Born in Yorkshire and educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Wakefield where he developed a life-long love of rugby, he subsequently graduated from London University in Geography. Andy taught geography and geology at City of London School for three years, before joining the then Sports Council in 1976, working on facility planning before moving initially to the South East Region and subsequently to London Region. In 1989 he became the Regional Director for Sport England (London). After leaving Sport England in 2003, he joined Business in Sport and Leisure as Executive Director which included a secondment to the 2012 Olympic Games Bid Team until 2005. In addition to these demanding roles, he still found the time be a LPFF Trustee, Chairman of the London Council for Sport and Recreation, Chairman of Panathlon and Chairman of his local sports council in LB Richmond.
”Given Andy’s encyclopaedic knowledge and understanding of grassroots sport in London, the Foundation benefitted hugely from his support. A massive champion for playing fields and the sports played on them, it was no accident that once the Sports Lottery was launched in 1994, the Foundation become one of the early beneficiaries of significant capital grants for Peter May Sports Centre and Fairlop Oak Playing Field. Not satisfied with merely modernising the LPFF’s current stock of playing fields, Andy showed the instincts of a bloodhound in identifying vulnerable sports grounds and then mediating with Sport England and London Marathon Charitable Trust to ensure that LPFF stepped in to save the day on three separate sites in Greenwich, Redbridge and Greenford over the space of eight years. Thanks to Andy’s vision and incredible energy levels, the Foundation moved from an organisation that disposed of playing fields to a one that rescued them.
”As Chair of the Funding and Communications Committee for twelve years, his passion, commitment and innovative thinking were such an inspiration to staff and fellow Trustees alike. Even after retirement, his love and enthusiasm for the Foundation remained undimmed where he continued to be a committed member of the LPFF Quiz Organising Committee.
LPFF CEO Alex Welsh said: “In addition to being a magnificent Trustee for London Playing Fields Foundation, Andy was one of the most influential and innovative figures in London sport over the last forty years. He was humble, dynamic, unfailingly supportive of others and simply brilliant at his job, setting the standard for the rest of us to follow. His contribution to the world of sport is incalculable.”
St Mary’s University in Twickenham also expressed its sadness at the recent passing of their Honorary Fellow Andy Sutch.
“Andy was an advocate of sport at the University and played a key role in developments in this area on campus in the 90s and 00s. He was an advisor in the successful bid for national lottery funding that enabled the building of the University Track and refurbishment of sports facilities. Andy was also instrumental in building partnerships between the English Institute of Sport and St Mary’s.
“These facilities have been a key part of the University’s development of elite sport, launching the careers of Olympians and world class including Sir Mo Farah, Beth Potter, Andrew Osagie, Charlotte Purdue, Adelle Tracey, Steph Twell, amongst many others.
“His contributions to the University were recognised in 2005 as then Chair of Governors Bishop George Stack awarded him an Honorary Fellowship.
“Aside to his support for St Mary’s, Andy was an advocate for ensuring everyone could access sport. He was the Director at the Sports Council (London) 1989-2003, was part of the bid team for London 2012, Chair of GLA London Mayor Sport Team between 2009-2014, and Chair of the Panathlon Foundation 2013-2023.
“Speaking of his contributions to St Mary’s, former Vice-Principal Prof Dick Fisher said, “Andy was in many ways a part of us. He was our go to person for advice on developing projects, engaging with community sport and understanding how national sports policy was unfolding. In turn he really enjoyed what he called the ‘university vibe’ at St Mary’s and was delighted to be made an Honorary Fellow. The vibrant entity that now is Sport St Mary’s owes much to him; from student engagement in all respects, flourishing community initiatives and performance at the highest levels.
“He was always full of ideas and unfailingly generous to us with his time and enthusiasm. St Marys owes him a lot, and he enjoyed his engagement with us and the friendships he developed here.”
Andrew Reid-Smith, Head of Sport at St Mary’s University, added: “Andy believed deeply in sport as a force for good – creating opportunity, building confidence and strengthening communities. That ethos continues at Sport St Mary’s today. Working with Andy, as former Chair and then Director of the Panathlon Foundation, we were proud to host the regional final for young people with disabilities and special educational needs. Supported by our student volunteers, it was a wonderful day for the children, and for our students and staff alike – exactly the kind of inclusive, community-connected sport that Andy championed.”
Hilary has requested that if you are plan to attend, in order to help with catering, please advise her at hilary.sutch@btinternet.com