FORMER Melrose Provost George Bunyan was awarded the British Empire Medal during a ceremony at his beloved Greenyards on Friday.

Friends and family of Mr Bunyan watched on as he was presented with the Medal by the Lord Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale, The Hon Gerald Maitland-Carew.

George, who was Melrosian in 1956, was named in the Queen’s Honours List for his services to sport and the community.

Having played rugby for Melrose from 1950 to 1967 he went onto become a hard-working member of the Greenyards committee.

As well as two decades as secretary of the world-famous Melrose Sevens he was also tournament convener for seven seasons.

George told the Border Telegraph: “It was a super evening although I was a bag of nerves.

“I have often been involved in similar-type ceremonies but I’m never the recipient.

“It was lovely to have my family and friends with me on the evening - many people who have been very supportive since my wife, Margaret, passed away and it was an opportunity for me to thank them. It was also an opportunity to thank the people who put me forward for the Medal.” It was along with his late wife Margaret that Mr Bunyan helped form Melrose Waverley Tennis Club - a club he served as vice president for more than two years.

George was also a founding member of the Melrose Athletics Club.

But it was his involvement with the church which the Lord Lieutenant highlighted during Friday’s introduction.

For more than half a century Mr Bunyan has been an elder at firstly Melrose High Cross Church, and latterly, following its union with Melrose St Cuthbert’s, Melrose Parish Church.

He has also found time to be heavily involved with the annual Melrose Festival each year and acted as Provost between 1996 and 2005.

George added: “It was all very humbling and my thanks go to the people who nominated me for the British Empire Medal.”