Derek gets the plaudits for his half century

Hayward, MBE, has spent the last 45 years overseeing the growth of athletics in the county but his commitment to the sport goes even further back.

The national governing bodies' surprise award was handed to the 79-year-old at the Shropshire Athletics Association AGM and it capped a memorable year for the former PE teacher.

In November last year, he was told by doctors he was recovering from Leukaemia.

And, a couple of months later, Hayward found himself in the presence of the Queen, receiving an MBE on behalf of his services to Shropshire athletics.

He said: "It is a big honour and a surprise that the national governing body could recognise somebody like me.

"I've always done it because I like doing it and the rewards are not in concrete terms. You can't measure them, I didn't expect to get an award or even recognition by the governing body.

"It sometimes seems that they're a bit distant if you're not careful. It was overpowering to receive the award.

"But I have been involved for over 50 years in one way or another with athletics – since I was at school.

"It started me off on sport generally and not just athletics. I qualified at Loughborough as a PE teacher.

"I taught for many years and came up to Shropshire in 1970 as the physical education advisor when Telford was just being built.

"It was great, they took me into the middle of a field and said this is going to be Stirchley and at the time we were just outside of a cemetery. They said what do you suggest?"

After leaving Loughborough University in 1959, where Hayward did national service while studying PE.

He took the examination to become a AAA field events official. He was eventually promoted to a field referee aged 26, becoming youngest referee in Britain at that time.

Hayward subsequently served as field referee at National AAA & Inter Counties Championships and, subsequently, officiated at major international events including the European Cup in Scotland.

Essex-born and now living in Wem, Hayward played a large part in the growth of athletics in the region. He added: "Over the years we have built up clubs.

"I've tried, in my professional capacity as PE advisor, to look at the county generally and say, we can't do synchronised swimming – so let's start a club for synchronised swimming.

"Indirectly, I helped form five athletics clubs, I suppose by calling people and saying 'how about having a club?' and then it grew.

"Telford is one of the clubs, Shrewsbury was already here, William Brookes at Much Wenlock was in existence as a sports club rather than an athletics club.

"We formed Bridgnorth and Oswestry. Since then, of course, others are springing up. As a result, this association grew as well because the clubs then fed into the county association."

There were more reasons to smile for Hayward at this year's AGM, as they oversaw the presentations of the Clements Cup and President's Cup.

hese historic trophies are rewarded for the best male and female performances at the County Athletics Championships.

Hayward revealed how seeing youngsters receive plaudits for their impressive performances gives him a very special feeling.

He explained: "You don't realise what influence that you are having until you suddenly hear somebody say 'I remember you doing such and such 30 years ago and you turned me on to sport.'

"That is really very satisfying. You don't get paid for any of this and it is very rewarding when that happens. I had an email recently from someone that said I changed their life.

"Fifty years ago, he liked what he saw at the athletics club where I was coaching and he became a coach and coached the triple jumper that went into the London Olympics.

"You just have no idea that you were having that effect. It's been exciting times."

Athletics has also rewarded the former PE advisory worker in other ways, his trip to Buckingham Palace earlier this year, alongside wife Jackie and family, was a proud moment.

It wasn't for his involvement, the two may have never crossed paths. He said: "It's been a special year.

"Not only is my health improving, but the award of the MBE on the honours list was the icing on the cake.

"It was the most memorable day I've had for years, if ever. We went to Buckingham Palace and the award was given by the Queen.

"It doesn't get much better than that. That was a magic feeling and I was able to have my family and my wife around me, so that was good.

"My wife and I met at the English Schools Championship in Manchester. That's another thing that athletics has done for me. She's been very supportive."