Committee
Sir Rodney Walker - Chairman and Founder Member
In the Birthday Honours list published in June 1996 the honour of Knight Bachelor was conferred upon Rodney Walker by the Queen for services to sport.
Sir Rodney has many other varied business interests throughout the UK including his current and former Chairmanships of many high profile organisations, a few of which are listed here:
- Chairman Spice Holdings plc
- Chairman Goals Soccer Centres plc
- Chairman SMC Group plc
- Chairman World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association and World Snooker
- Chairman GB Sports Council
- Chairman Sport England
- Chairman Wembley National Stadium Limited
- Chairman Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games
- Chairman UK Sport
- Chairman Rugby Football League
- Chairman Leicester City plc
- Chairman Brands Hatch Leisure plc
- Chairman Donington Park Estates
Among Sir Rodney's many and extensive community and charitable involvements are:
- Deputy Chairman NSPCC National Appeal Board
- Hon. Life President & Chairman Wakefield Theatre Trust
- Chairman Wakefield Metropolitan Festival Company
- Vice Chairman Yorkshire Sculpture Park
- President Yorkshire Spinal Injuries Centre Appeal
- Trustee National Coal Mining Museum
- President Yorkshire Cancer Research (Wakefield Branch)
- Vice-President Federation of Disability Sports Organisations
Sir Rodney was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Bradford in December 1996 in recognition of his services to the County and admitted in 2002 to the Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem in recognition of his services to health in the rank of knight of Grace.
In November 2007, Sir Rodney was awarded the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award by First Wakefield in recognition of his service to the City, Sport, Business & for raising an estimated £40 million for a variety of charities & good causes.