We profile Colin Nixon, Carlisle Villa Amateur Boxing Club's Chairman, who has been with the club for 40 years and was recently awarded Volunteer of the Year Award by the ABAE.

Colin Nixon is Chairman / Coach of North West based Carlisle Villa Amateur Boxing Club.

In 1974 he completed his coaching badge and began coaching sessions in his local church hall. For nearly 20 years Colin, along with a group of volunteers coached hundreds of youngsters in the art of boxing. Although many never competed competitively, all were taught discipline, fitness, confidence and self respect in a safe environment.

In 1993 the club was given notice to vacate the church hall due to development plans, and this is when Carlisle Villa Amateur Boxing Club was formed.

The club has gone from strength to strength and now trains over 60 youngsters in three different classes every day.

Through his hard work and dedication, Carlisle Villa Amateur Boxing Club successfully achieved Clubmark in 2008, making the club only the second boxing club in the country to do so.

Not only is Colin well thought of within the club, at a recent presentation evening, Colin was commended for receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award, a prestigious honour handed by the ABAE. The award was given specifically for his dedication, commitment and tireless work towards helping the club move forward - work which he has persisted to give the club for 40 years.

At the same ceremony, the club also received a CFM Pride of Cumbria award, testament to their hard work becoming more widely acknowledged.

At 73 years old Colin Nixon very rarely misses a session and continues to pass on his wealth of experience to the youngster and club coaches alike.

We asked how Clubmark accreditation has benefitted the club:

"Clubmark has led to increased participation and better access to funding. The accreditation has made a massive difference to the boxing club, the attendance has doubled and funding from the Big Lottery Fund enabled us to fit the gym out excellently."