Larnian Ian is a Jubilee year Diamond Champion

The Larne Grammar School old boy, who is 72 and lives in Bristol, was presented with a pin and certificate, signed by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, as part of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession. The awards are presented to people aged 60 and over in recognition of their contribution to volunteering.

Ian (pictured), whose sister, Patricia McNeill, lives at Drains Bay, is one of 60 people from England’s South West to be honoured after 4,500 nominations were submitted.

Born in 1939, the son of George Beattie, general manager of the Laharna Hotel and a past president of the Larne Rotary Club, Ian became a Rotarian himself in 1990 when he joined the Bristol club.

The Queen’s University Belfast MSc chemistry graduate was president in 1996 and four years later served a term as a district governor of the charitable organisation.

Earlier this year, Ian was awarded Rotary International’s highest honour, the Service Above Self award

In 1997, he helped set up a branch of health and drug education charity, Life Education Centres “helping children in primary schools make healthy choices”. In 2002-03, Ian was instrumental in creating a prostate cancer fund-raising and awareness event in Bristol called Run for the Future, which has raised in excess of £225,000 to date.

Ian is chairman of his parish church’s 150th anniversary events committee and a member of the church choir. He is also chairman of the 70-strong Bristol Cabot Choir.

In his spare time he has rebuilt and maintains Edwardian bus shelters and overgrown Roman paths.

As previously reported, two Larne residents - Robert Alexander of Old Glenarm Road and Millbrook woman Norma Shannon - have also been honoured as Diamond Champions.