TV fitness legend Mr Motivator certainly lived up to his name when he delivered a feelgood exercise and wellbeing session for staff and students at Telford College.
Derrick Evans, famous for his psychedelic lycra, brought his trademark colour, enthusiasm and energy to the college’s Wellington campus and thanked staff and students for the ‘incredible’ reception.
After starting with a gentle warm-up routine, he gave a motivational talk about his life and career, before leading a mass exercise class for a huge group of staff and students in the college sports hall.
He told students: “When this invitation came in, I just couldn’t say no, because I’d heard all about this place from Lish who told me how fabulous the college was, and how the teachers were great.
“Anything that you want in life is achievable. I know, because I’ve lived it. When I was leaving school at the age of 15, the careers officer told me the only thing I’d be good for is working in an office.
“But you have the ability to choose the direction you want to go. Sometimes you have to turn right and left a few times to get to where you want to, but if you believe it, everything is achievable.
“I love the opportunity to try to inspire young people who have a decision to make about where they want to get to, and make them understand that it’s not always going to be a bed of roses, but if you remain steadfast, you will get through it.
“The reception I got here was incredible. When I see everyone leaning forward with elbows on their knees when I’m talking, I know I’ve ‘got them’, and if everyone leaves with just one nugget of information from what I’ve said, and uses that as some sort of benchmark for where they go next, then my job is done.”
Mr Motivator became a big breakfast TV star in the 1990s with his early morning exercise routines, and received an MBE in 2020 for his services to health and fitness. He now runs ‘The Motivation Club’, which is helping people with their lifestyle and wellbeing goals.
One of his team members is former Telford College gym and personal trainer student Lish Crutchley, who joined Mr Motivator for the session. She first approached him 15 years ago, and said it was ‘magical’ to now be working with him as one of his instructors.
“It’s been incredible, I feel like I’m dreaming sometimes,” she said. “When I left Telford College I really wanted to continue what I was already doing through fitness, and make a difference to people’s lives, and it’s happening.
“I also wanted to go into the TV industry, and that’s where Mr Motivator really inspired me, because I felt that he was doing TV that really mattered. He inspired me from the comfort of my own home as a 15-year-old, and that stuck with me.”
Telford College enrichment co-ordinator Rosie Baldwin-Jones said: “Students took away so many messages from his session, including not letting anyone tell you what you can or can’t do, and being inspired to do what they want with their lives.
“One of them said ‘that was amazing, I want to be his assistant’, and another said ‘my mum’s going to be very jealous when I tell her I’ve met Mr Motivator at college today!’.”
The event was also a special reunion for Telford College music and media lecturer Ben Fitzharris, who brought with him a signed picture of himself with Mr Motivator, taken nearly 30 years ago.
It was at the wedding of his aunt, Elaine Bywaters, who had her own fitness show in the 1990s and became good friends with Mr Motivator.
“He remembered the picture, which was great,” Ben said. “It was great to see him again after all these years. I remember hanging out with him when he was a huge TV star and he’s always been a big hero of mine.
“There are not really much better days at work than this!”
Listen to the podcast here…
