HE'S been to some of the country's biggest events during the last five decades.

He's seen Royal weddings, funerals and the production of classic television programmes such as Dr Who and Top of the Pops.

But after years filming these moments, Jules Greenway, of Denton, had to step out from behind the cameras to be honoured with a prestigious award.

Mr Greenway had spent 48 years as a television cameraman before he retired last July, and his fellow professionals were not going to let him leave quietly.

Instead he was nominated for The Guild of Television Cameramen's top award and, after being unanimously chosen, he was awarded the prize by the Guild's founding member Dick Hibberd at a ceremony in Birmingham.

Previous winners of the award, which is for those who have fostered the craft of TV camerawork, include Sir David Attenborough.

Mr Greenway, 68, said: 'I am honoured to be in that company.'

His nomination praised his ability as a cameraman and fairness and support as a crew leader.

It added: 'One of the 'old school' who will be greatly missed by all who worked with him.'

During his career Mr Greenway had the opportunity to attend a number of important royal events, including the Queen Mother's 80th birthday celebrations, her funeral and the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

He said that it was very nice to have that opportunity, but as a cameraman his focus was not on the famous faces he was seeing.

He said: 'It is an every-day basis and at the time you don't think about it, it is just second nature meeting someone else famous, but I do regret not keeping a diary, as I can't remember all the programmes.'

He added: 'Most cameramen's pleasure is in executing a good shot, doing it well and being pleased with the end result.'

Mr Greenway started his career at the BBC in 1963 and had the chance to work on programmes including The Likely Lads, Top of the Pops, Blue Peter, Playschool and Z-Cars, as he recorded many shows from the iconic Television Centre.

From here he went on to work at Anglia, covering sports events and programmes including the PD James Crime Drama Series, About Anglia and Tales of the Unexpected, before becoming a freelance camera supervisor leading between four and 30 cameramen for Channel Four Racing for 18 years.

In 1998 the production team received a BAFTA award for their coverage of that year's Epsom Derby.

'I always favoured the dramas as they were the opportunity to shoot complicated shots. Sports events were exciting to do but very repetitive, the shots are very similar, while with drama you are constantly looking to do something different,' he said.

Now the grandfather of one is enjoying his retirement, but his love of cameras has been passed to his son Dan who is an expert in microcams.