Former Barnham Broom Golf Club secretary Robin Brooks has spoken of his honour at winning the BBC Unsung Hero Award at the Norfolk Sports Awards.

The awards, which are organised by Active Norfolk, celebrate sporting excellence in the county.

The Unsung Hero Award recognises an individual who has dedicated their live to the promotion and welfare of sport both professionally and voluntarily.

On receiving the award, Robin said: 'I am truly honoured to have received this award but I have to admit it was a complete shock. My passion for golf is well known and I have always encouraged youngsters to experience what a great game it is.

'It gives me great satisfaction to be able to see how far the Barnham Broom Junior Academy has developed over the years and I am sure it will continue to grow as there is a great team at the golf club who share my drive to create the best environment for young golfers to develop.

'Getting the High Achiever GolfMark status is very important as it gives Barnham Broom a formal endorsement and recognition of the work it has done in helping juniors to learn and enjoy golf.

'I am so grateful for all the support and advice I have received over the years; without it I wouldn't have been able to do have done half as much.

'The award is as much for those people that I have turned to as it is for me and I hope this recognition will spur others in the county to help out youngsters get into golf.'

Robin will now go forward to the Eastern Region final and ultimately could win the national Unsung Hero award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in December.

Robin was nominated for the enormous amount of work he has put in to developing Barnham Broom's junior section which culminated last month in Barnham Broom being awarded the High Achiever GolfMark Award, to become one of very few clubs in Norfolk to gain this status.

Robin has a passion for developing junior golf and has done huge amounts to promote the sport and nurture young talent in Norfolk. He has worked tirelessly and voluntarily to set up and run the junior academy and to achieve the high standards needed to gain the High Achiever GolfMark status.

Barnham Broom's junior academy now boasts 50 regular members. All the work he does for the junior set up is voluntary and all of the junior members at Barnham Broom are very proud of the work that he has done on their behalf.

Before retiring last Friday on his 78th birthday, Robin acted as secretary for the men's committee at Barnham Broom and was secretary and treasurer to the Norfolk Links group, which meets on a regular basis to discuss business matters and competitions within the clubs.

Barnham Broom professional Alan Hemsley, added: 'He is one of the most knowledgeable golfers you will ever meet.

'If he doesn't know something about golf then you don't need to know it! He's made everybody's jobs here at Barnham Broom so much easier with his knowledge and his willingness to help out wherever he possibly can. He has been a true inspiration to all who have met him down the years and will be dearly missed.

'The junior academy and the GolfMark status is a fantastic legacy to leave us with we will do our utmost to carry on his good work. It's fitting that Robin won the Unsung Hero Award as it epitomizes the man he is.'