Keighley-born Stephen McCall was bowled over after winning a coveted award in recognition of his cricketing prowess.

He has received an Air Officer Commanding Training Group commendation for his devoted efforts as manager of the hugely successful RAF Cranwell cricket team.

He is seen, right, receiving the award from Cranwell's station commander Group Captain Rob Cunningham. Stephen, 48, a qualified cricket umpire, worked as an operational support manager with the RAF. Although now retired from the service - after 28 years - he is still employed at Cranwell in Lincolnshire in a civilian capacity, providing air traffic control for a pilot training simulator.

During his RAF career he played for and managed most of his unit cricket teams while serving in the UK and on overseas tours in Cyprus, Germany and Bahrain.

Stephen was educated at Highfield and Oakbank schools, and played cricket for the Ingrow St John's youth team for one season before joining the RAF.

He and wife Margaret live at Cranwell village and they have two daughters - Kaye, 20, a second-year occupational therapy student at the University of Northumbria, and Karen, 17, head girl at a school in Sleaford.

Despite being away from Keighley - where his stepfather John and brothers Mark and Paul still live - Stephen has never forgotten his roots, and always seeks out the sports results for his home town and county teams.