Seventy-eight-year-old Mike Smith has been nominated for a Community Stars award after he has “consistently displayed all that is best in a true volunteer” for the past 30 years.

Nominating Mr Smith, Paul Garnett, who works with him at Specsavers in Bradford city centre, added: “He does so much for Thackley and the area.”

Mr Smith has served as chairman at Thackley Football Club since 2007.

He is a former vice-chairman of the parent teacher association at Beckfoot Grammar School in Bingley and has raised funds for charities including Help for Heroes and Manorlands Hospice. He has supported the Gambian Schools Trust and the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity.

Mr Garnett said Mr Smith’s largest contribution to the village was a gala day in June to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee .

He added: “In November 2011 he published his ideas for a festival that would embrace the whole community, but sadly there was no response. Doggedly determined, he decided to go it alone, and for the next five months ploughed a lonely furrow, soliciting sponsorship, producing the programme, collecting paperback books in their hundreds, visiting village elders who had memories of the original Coronation Day, collecting materials for the bonfire, laying out the course for the welly chucking contest and decorating the community hall.”

Mr Smith said the jubilee event had been “superb”.

He said: “We were blessed with the only summer day we have had all year and we had hundreds of people.”

He said he was “delighted” to be nominated in the Community Champion category of our awards.

Nominations are still being sought in the Community Stars awards, run by the Telegraph & Argus in association with Bradford Council.

As well as the Community Champion category, we are looking for nominations in the categories of Good Neighbour, Volunteer, Fundraiser, Community Group, Young Active Citizen, and Community Sport Maker, a new category which aims to recognise someone who devotes their time to increasing participation in physical activities among people aged 16 and over.

Nominations must be received by September 8.

l A report in the Telegraph & Argus on Tuesday, August 7, about Community Stars award nominee student Tom Brown incorrectly started that he had set up a football league for NHS workers. The league was set up and developed by Bradford Council's Sport and Activity Development Units. We apologise for any confusion caused by the error.