WALCOT chief coach Harry Scott was presented with a lifetime achievement award at Fitzpatrick’s boxing show at the Oasis last Friday.

The veteran coach has won a host of accolades over a 40-year career, including the Swindon Mayor’s Community Award, the Nationwide Building Society Community Award, the ABA Coach of the Year, the Swindon Advertiser Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Youth Action Wiltshire Youth Leader Award.

Paddy Fitzpatrick presented Scott with his trophy in front of George Groves and a huge crowd at the Oasis.

In his speech, Fitzpatrick mentioned Scott’s devotion to amateur boxing for over 40 years, saying Scott was one of ‘boxing’s characters’.

Scott said afterwards: “What a nice surprise – I had no idea Paddy had planned that.

“Many thanks to him for such a gesture. I open the Walcot gym every night and coach the kids because I enjoy it. I like to see the young people improve themselves, and I enjoy the success we have enjoyed in recent years.”

Walcot chairman and secretary Dave Veysey was delighted for Scott, adding: “Harry fully deserves every accolade he receives because he is a true Swindon sporting legend.

“As well as opening the gym five nights a week and Sunday mornings, he travels all over the country to boxing events.

“The Walcot gym is a disciplined and safe environment where young people have learnt the skills of amateur boxing for over 40 years.

“Harry’s boxers have achieved much down the years – the highlight being Jamie Cox’s Commonwealth Games Gold medal in 2006.

“In fact, over the past 10 years Walcot boxers have achieved a fantastic 24 national and international titles.”

Veysey also paid tribute to Fitzpatrick, saying: ‘I would like to publicly thank Paddy for such a fantastic sporting gesture.

“We are rival clubs who regularly compete against each other - so for him to give Harry this award on his show was tremendous.”