We were delighted to welcome back Old Lyonian Dr Ritan Mehta MBE, 1997 leaver as our special guest speaker for both the Goldhawk Lecture to Year 12 and 13 students and the popular Head Prefect Lunch Series, which is open to all students.

Recently awarded an MBE for his outstanding contribution to sport and exercise medicine, Dr Mehta has built an extraordinary career at the very highest level of elite sport. He is currently a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine and serves as Head of Women’s Medical for Women’s Football at the Football Association.

Over the course of his career, Dr Mehta has held senior medical roles across a number of elite sporting organisations and major international events, including Barnet FC, Watford FC, Reading FC, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, multiple UEFA Women’s European Championships and FIFA Women’s World Cups.

As Head of Medical for the Lionesses, he played a pivotal role in supporting the England team through their historic back-to-back UEFA European Championship victories in England 2022 and Switzerland 2025 — an incredible achievement in the history of English football.

During his visit, Dr Mehta reflected on his time at John Lyon and spoke candidly about how one conversation with his Physics teacher shaped and guided him throughout his career. Students were captivated by his insights into working within elite sport, managing high-pressure environments, making decisions on the pitch and supporting athletes through long term rehabilitation.

Most importantly, he encouraged students to embrace curiosity, remain humble and respectful, and pursue their passions with dedication and purpose — whatever path they choose to follow.

We are hugely grateful to Dr Mehta for returning to inspire the next generation of Lyonians and for sharing such valuable experiences from his remarkable journey.