A Lowestoft teacher has been honoured with a prestigious national award recognising his inspirational teaching.

Eastern Daily Press: Winners at the BAFTA Young Game Designers Awards. Photo: BAFTA/James Cannon.Winners at the BAFTA Young Game Designers Awards. Photo: BAFTA/James Cannon. (Image: Use of this image is subject to prior approval in writing from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). This ...)

Dave Chilver, who teaches IT and game design at Lowestoft Sixth Form College, on Rotterdam Road, won the BAFTA Young Games Designers (YGD) Mentor Award.

The award ceremony, on Saturday, July 8, was held at BAFTA's headquarters in London and hosted by Dev Griffin of Radio 1 and Georgie Barrat of the Gadget Show.

Mr Chilver, 32, said: 'Being recognised by BAFTA is a real honour and sharing the stage with so many gifted young games designers was exciting too. These young people are our future and it's great to know that there is so much talent out there.

'Initiatives like the BAFTA Young Game Designers Awards are so important in raising the profile of games design and inspiring young people to pursue careers in the creative industries.'

Mr Chilver started teaching 10 years ago after completing his degree in games design and throughout his career has been promoting the games industry as a viable career rather than a media to be consumed.

Outside scheduled lessons Mr Chilver runs extracurricular coding and game design sessions. For the past eight years he has led the Lowestoft Game Designers Competition Club for students in the local community. The initiative is now judged by the University of Suffolk and exhibited at the Norwich Gaming Festival.

He said: 'The gaming industry is a huge industry that doesn't respect geography. As long as you have an internet connection you can get involved. It's important the students know there is the potential for a career in Lowestoft.'

BAFTA YGD is a nationwide competition to find the game designers of the future and the educators that inspire them. The YGD Mentor Award is presented each year to an individual nominated by the public for their involvement in the education of young game designers.

A spokesman for Lowestoft Sixth Form College said: 'We are so proud of Dave, with his constant hard work and support he really does deserve this award. The students describe his as a legend and enjoy his lessons very much.'