Argyll and Bute’s sports volunteers of the year have been announced at the Queen’s Baton Relay celebration in Dunoon.

William MacKinnon from Campbeltown has been named Young Sports Volunteer of the Year.  Helen Waddell from Toward received the adult Sports Volunteer of the Year award.

Argyll and Bute Council and sportscotland held the awards in the year of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games to recognise and thank local volunteer coaches for their work in communities across the area. Lorna Jackson of sportscotland presented William and Helen with their awards.

Over the past two years William has been an enthusiastic, committed sports leader and young ambassador, dedicating ten hours of his own time each week to helping others. His volunteering includes coaching after school clubs for children from nursery up to secondary school age, helping deliver sports festivals, curriculum sessions and community sports clubs. William is now heading off to university and will be greatly missed by all in his local community.

William said: “I’m amazed and overwhelmed to have won – I didn’t expect it at all.” He was described as “a superb role model for our young people” by Argyll and Bute Council’s Provost, Councillor Len Scoullar.

Helen won her award for her lifetime contribution to sport. She has been coaching tennis and badminton in Toward and Dunoon for 40 years. She has coached two generations of players and has played a huge part in sport across Cowal.

She said: “It’s been an absolute privilege to work with young people and see them learning and having fun in a sport that has given me huge enjoyment over many years.” 

Provost Len Scoullar paid tribute to William and Helen’s efforts, saying: “Both our winners are well-known and very much appreciated in their local communities for everything that they do to encourage young people to enjoy sport. They are real ambassadors and Argyll and Bute can rightly be proud of them. It is a privilege to recognise their considerable achievements on this very special day.”