Sir Peter Heatly


1924 - 2015

Diver and former Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Born in Leith, Heatly was educated at Leith Academy and read engineering at the University of Edinburgh. He began his diving career with Portobello Amateur Swimming Club and was self-taught. Heatly dominated diving in Scotland for 21 years, becoming the East of Scotland Champion (1937-39) and Scottish Champion (from 1946 - 1958). Having represented his country around the world, the highlight of Heatly's diving career was winning Commonwealth Gold medals for Scotland for 3 metre springboard diving (1954) and 3 metre highboard diving (1950 and 1958).

Turning to a career in sports management, Heatly acted as Chairman of the Scottish Sports Council, (1975 - 1987) and Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation from 1982 to 1990, including the return of the Games to Edinburgh in 1986.

Heatly was awarded a CBE in 1971 and knighted on 1990. He was also created a Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh in 1984. He holds honorary degrees from the University of Edinburgh (1992) and Queen Margaret's College (1994).

Latterly, Heatly lived in Balerno and was inducted as one of the first members of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. He died in Edinburgh.


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