SEVENTEEN years ago, just as I was setting out as editor of The Northern Echo, I launched an event to honour the heroes of grass roots sport in the North-East.

Little did I know what I was starting. The Local Heroes Awards have grown every year into a very special annual occasion which has produced so many memories.

This year’s awards will be staged on Thursday evening in the Grand Marquee at Wynyard Hall and it is guaranteed to be another inspirational, tear-jerking night.

Naturally, I won’t be giving away any secrets about the winners but there’s one honour that I wanted to share in advance.

Earlier this year, grass roots sport in the North-East lost one of its young stars when wheelchair basketball player Stephen Johnson passed away at the age of 14.

Stephen, who attended St Aidan’s Academy in Darlington, was charismatic and popular, with a lovely smile. Everyone who knew him loved him.

Sadly, he suffered a spinal injury in a car accident when he was six years old but he showed incredible strength of character to adapt to life in a wheelchair. He started playing with the Tees Valley Titans whelchair basketball team when he was 10 and was instantly a natural. His talents were recognised nationally and his dream of representing GB at the Paralympics was becoming a reality as he won the 2015 Junior Player of the Year at the National Junior Championships, and attended GB training camps from the age of 13.

Tragically, Stephen contracted an infection and, despite a brave fight, he passed away in July with his mum and dad by his side and his beloved Titans t-shirt on his chest.

Stephen’s parents Allison and Stephen, along with his grandparents, brother and sisters, will be special guests on Thursday and the Tees Valley Titans will be staging a demonstration of their skills in memory of a much-missed local hero.

STILL on the subject of Local Heroes, Charlie Donaghy telephoned to say he’d decided to call it a day.

After more years than he cares to remember, spent lovingly compiling the fixtures, results and tables that have made up the Local Heroes section in The Northern Echo, Charlie is retiring. Coming up to 81 in January, Charlie’s finding the going tough and his days of filling pages with grass roots grout have caught up with him.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute but you know when your time’s up,” said Charlie, originally of Sunniside but latterly Tow Law.

He added a few more words which were among the most unnecessary I’ve ever heard: “Thanks for putting up with me.”

It brought a lump to my throat. The truth is that people like Charlie are the lifeblood of local papers such as The Northern Echo. Volunteer correspondents who do it for the sheer love of it – in Charlie’s case, an undying passion for grass roots sport.

I’m pleased to say that Charlie’s heroics as county basketball star, pub cricketer, badminton player, and Durham CIU Games Secretary for 23 years didn’t go unsung. He was joyously voted our overall Local Hero in 2013, see below, and the year before that he was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch on its journey through our patch.

I’ll be cringing for many years to come at the memory of his precious replica Olympic Torch getting bent after he’d trustingly loaned it to me for the Local Heroes ceremony.

Sorry again about the torch, Charlie, and thanks for everything. Thanks for every fixture, every score, every league table – and thanks for putting up with us.

The Northern Echo:

ANOTHER thank you is due to Newton Aycliffe Women’s Institute for booking me for a talk next year.

The date is February 14 next year, so I’ll expect to feel the love.

Mind you, when it comes to being centre of attention, I’m already facing competition from my new grand-daughter.

“Could you please bring Chloe?” I was asked when the booking was made.

I don’t think her stand-up routine will be well enough developed.

ONE of the things I’ve been doing since stepping down from the editor’s chair last April is to teach journalism at Middlesbrough College. One of my students, also called Chloe, came up to me last week to say: “You really remind me of my Grandad – you’re just like him.”

“Really?” I asked. “How old’s your grandad?”

“82,” she replied.

FINALLY, I recently mentioned that I’ll be doing the Boxing Day Dip at Seaton Carew for charity with the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Brian Jones.

The Mayor is under some pressure to do his dip in a mankini but, quite honestly, local government’s in enough trouble as it is.

Meanwhile, I invited suggestions for theoutfit I should wear on the big day and a special thank you to Elaine Jennings, of Shildon, for her blunt proposal: “Why not try lead boots?”

She might not be my biggest fan.