HE’S been known as a local hero across Tynedale for nearly 30 years, and now that title has spread to a national level.

For well-liked Haydon Bridge High School PE teacher Derek Todhunter (57) appeared on the hallowed turf at Twickenham to collect his prize after being named a NatWest Real Rugby Hero by England RFU Schools’ Union.

Derek, who lives in the village, was one of a handful of recipients of awards invited to the home of England rugby to be rewarded for his long service to promoting rugby to young people during his time at the high school.

While semi-retired, he remains hugely passionate about schools rugby and regularly arranges festivals.

And his good work earned him and 18-year-old son Adam, a Year 13 pupil at Haydon Bridge and a keen rugby player himself, a trip to Twickenham for the Real Rugby Heroes Awards ceremony, presented with a certificate and pin badge during the national finals of the U15 and U18 schools’ finals. He also was handed two tickets to return to the stadium in May to watch England take on Wales.

He said: “Liz Hicks and Adrian Irving both independently nominated me without realising the other had, so it was quite nice that two colleagues put me forward and then that the county RFU endorsed the application.

“I literally knew nothing about the award, and then I got a letter one lunchtime and had to read it again after opening the envelope as I couldn’t believe it.

“It was great to get the award as we are such a small school, perhaps the smallest high school in the country, but despite that there have been so many students, both boys and girls, who have went on to play county level and beyond.

“We’ve had a lot of success over the years and we just keep it going in a small area, which just keeps getting smaller as the school gets smaller!

“You definitely don’t do teaching for any awards, because the reward is what the children go on to achieve.

“It was almost as rewarding for me to go into school and run a Year 7 rugby tournament and, although the level isn’t that great, the reward is that these children are just starting their path in rugby.”

Derek’s love of rugby started as a schoolboy growing up in Workington, in Cumbria, representing the county through the various age levels.

He went on to play at a high level too, breaking through and playing for Cumbria’s senior team from 17 onwards and representing England in a couple of ‘non-cap’ internationals.

He played against some top names in the rugby world, including Clive Woodward, who went on to manage England to World Cup glory in 2003, Bill Beaumont, Peter Dixon and Roger Uttley.

However, numerous dislocations of his shoulder meant he needed to hang up his playing boots at the tender age of 22.

Yet his inability to play led him to take up coaching and teaching, moving up to Haydon Bridge nearly three decades ago.

And there have been many highlights during that time, the school enjoying plenty of successes along the way.

He said: “On one England county tour to Argentina, there were three lads, Jason Oakes, Ed Thorpe and Jonny Williams, from Haydon Bridge High School represented, while we had two pupils, Rebecca Thompson and Katie Armstrong, in the first schoolgirl international between England and Wales.

“A few lads have gone on to be professionals with Newcastle Falcons, and it’s nice to see people continuing playing after school.

“One of the proudest things was when Northumberland’s senior team won the inter county championships at Twickenham, and half of the squad were past Haydon Bridge students.

“What also fills me with pride is I can think of somebody, no names mentioned, who has played for Tynedale’s first team for a long time but he wasn’t a good player at first. But then you see them become good players and that is the best feeling.”

In addition to developing youngsters at Haydon Bridge High School, Derek was also instrumental in founding West Tynedale Rugby Club for juniors.

Along with Andy Gair, who wash Northumberland rugby development officer at the time, they introduced rugby sessions for children under the age of 12 living in the west of the district.

He said: “There were only two clubs in the country which didn’t have a senior section, and we thought, ‘why wasn’t there a rugby club in Haydon Bridge?’ as the closest one was Tynedale.

“The club has certainly served its purpose and has got a lot of children interested in rugby, and they’ve gone on to play at Tynedale or the like.”