A GRASSROOTS sports volunteer awarded the British Empire Medal said the honour was tinged with sadness, coming weeks after the death of his mother.

Bob Anderson, of Peterlee, whose mother Mary has died, said weeks before he learned that he had been selected as a torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympic Games Torch Relay, his father Bob had passed away.

The 70-year-old, who has been given the honour for voluntary service to sport, said: “My parents would have been so proud of me.

“I am personally honoured by the award, but at the same time a bit embarrassed, because I don’t do things for the greater glory or award. I do things for the love of it.”

Mr Anderson was instrumental in setting up the Peterlee Martial Arts Club in 1981 and has run it since 1984, training thousands of people over several generations in martial arts.

In 1988 he set up the Peterlee Celtic Football Club. The team developed into a senior team and joined the Peterlee and District Sunday League.

If short of players, he will often step in himself to the amazement of both his own team and that of their opponents. He was still playing at the age of 69 against players 50 years his junior.

He is also on the Peterlee and District Sunday League’s committee, having held the position of secretary for many years. Along with the committee, he has tackled long-standing issues of discipline and a lack of referees and through his efforts saw that poor discipline was reduced by 90 per cent. The league went from having a shortage to a surplus each week.

Mr Anderson said: “I was first inspired to get into sport when I went to St Leonard’s School in Durham, having come from a small village school with only three teachers. My PE teacher said “you’ll never make anything in sport’ . I set about to prove him wrong.

“He has since died, but when I carried the Olympic torch I thought I would love to go and see him and say ‘well there you go’. Maybe it was the kick up the backside I needed.”

He added: “What motivates me is seeing people progress. Seeing children coming through, growing up to be adults and still keeping in touch. I enjoy getting children off the street and showing them that discipline and enjoyment can mix.”