Gold medallist Beth Tweddle pays tribute to Pinewood coach Fergus Beedham
By Becky BarnesOctober 15, 2012
Olympic gold medallist Beth Tweddle joined members of Pinewood Gymnastics Club to pay tribute to coach Fergus Beedham, who has died aged 47.
Fergus, a former coach at Pinewood Gymnastics Club in Old Wokingham Road, taught the 27-year-old gymnast up to the age of 12 at Crewe and Nantwich Gymnastics Club, Cheshire.
He passed away in the US over the weekend.
Speaking to the Bracknell Forest Standard from a holiday in the US, Beth said: “I was so sorry to hear of Fergus’ passing. He was one of my first coaches when I started gymnastics at Crewe and Nantwich.
“He taught me the all-important basics of gymnastics and took me to second in the country during the five years that I was with him. I am very grateful for all of his support during those early years and my thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”
Members of Pinewood Gymnastics Club paid tribute to Fergus and said they were ‘shocked’ by the news.
A spokeswoman said: “Fergus was a fantastic coach and unique human being who inspired gymnasts all over Great Britain and, in later years, USA. He was much-loved and respected by all who had the pleasure of meeting him; his passing is a great loss to the gymnastics community.” Fergus was a coach at Pinewood before moving to the USA in the early 2000s.
A spokeswoman for Crewe and Nantwich Gymnastics Club said: “We are very shocked to hear he died before his time.
“He was a long-standing coach who got girls through to big competitions. We all send regards to his family.”
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