Rugby club's 'towering figure' honoured

Roy Tyerman received his Chairman's Medal from Councillor Joan Nicholson

A rugby coach who has been teaching the sport for more than 70 years has been honoured.

Ninety-year-old Roy Tyerman has been awarded the Chairman's Medal by Durham County Council after he "inspired generations of players" at Consett Rugby Club.

The medal is the highest honour the council can award to individuals and organisations for their outstanding voluntary contribution to the county.

Mr Tyerman said: “It came as a total surprise. I couldn’t believe it. It’s a very prestigious thing and I feel greatly honoured and privileged to receive this award."

'Admired by all'

The award nomination described him as “a calm, unassuming man” who was "universally loved, respected and admired by all those who know him".

The former number eight joined his hometown club in 1951 when it did not have its own playing field and said a lot had changed since then.

"Both teams and the referee used to get changed in the YMCA hut on Sherburn Terrace then we’d get the bus to the pitch at Delves Lane," he said.

"Whoever was first on had to buy the tickets!"

He said he was delighted to see how far the club had come.

"It’s thriving. We’ve got our own clubhouse and field and we’ve got about 300 local children involved in the mini rugby as well as women’s and girls’ teams," he said.

Mr Tyerman taught geography at Consett Grammar school where he introduced rugby in the 1960s. He also worked as chairman of Consett YMCA and is currently on the board of Delta North, which works with young people.

Councillor Joan Nicholson, chair of the county council, said: "People like Roy are absolutely priceless to their local communities and the contribution they make is so great it is impossible to quantify."