Peter Wilmott and Wilf Mellor retired from York District Sports Council this week after being there since its formation in 1971. Former Evening Press chief sports writer MALCOLM HUNTINGTON looks at their huge contribution to sport.

We hear so much these days about the megastars of world sport that it is often easy to forget, or at least to put at the back of one's mind, that the road to stardom begins because of the tremendous amount of work and involvement from unsung heroes behind the scenes who make it all possible.

Two such people are Peter Wilmott and Wilf Mellor and tributes to their work were paid a tthis week's annual meeting of York District Sports Council in the Guildhall, where they bowed out of the scene after being involved since the YDSC was formed 27 years ago.

"I have had a great thrill out of working with young athletes for a great many years," says Wilmott, who, among countless other commitments, has been press secretary to York Schools Athletic Association for a remarkable 51 years.

"A lot of people don't have a good word to say about young people, but my experience is that there are a lot of very good youngsters about. I have been involved with the Fund for the Gifted on behalf of the Sports Council for many years and when we have managed to find some grant money for them they have been most appreciative in their letters of thanks.

"I have enjoyed it all, but now I just want to lighten my load a little." That load has been considerable for Wilmott, a York schoolteacher from 1946 until 1980 has been secretary, chairman, press secretary or council member of York Schools FA, North Yorkshire Schools FA, Yorkshire Schools FA, York Minor League and English Schools FA for varying terms in the last 52 years.

He is also community correspondent for the Acomb (North) area for the Evening Press, works on a voluntary basis for the National Trust, being in charge of the photographic library, and is senior warden of the Holy Redeemer Church in Boroughbridge Road.

Wilf Mellor's major work has been for York City Rowing Club, where he has been an enthusiastic member for 55 years.

He originally joined the club in 1942 but was then away in the army for four years. Mellor was elected joint secretary of YCRC in 1946 and has served in one office or another ever since.

He is an ex-chairman of the York District Sports Council, taking over when Jack Wood died in the mid-1970s.

Mellor has been on the executive council every year since it came into being in 1971.

"My main job has been to look after the sports directory which was first produced in 1976. We had a break from 1978 to 1990 but we then re-started it and I have done nine of them altogether," says Mellor, who was YDSC treasurer from 1991-1997.

"I have enjoyed my work for them, but, like Peter, I believe the time has come to step aside, although I will still be very busy with various other organisations.

"I would like to think that sport gets a bit more help from time to time and a more even-handed approach is adopted by those in power.

"I often think that sport is always a bit on the defensive and rarely do organisations come forward and say what can we do to help. I also hope that more young people will come forward to help with administration in sport instead of leaving it to the older people."

Mellor is treasurer of the Fulford Show, and is on Fulford Parish Council, while he spends one day of each week as an official Minster guide.

"I am just easing up a bit now, but intend to be involved in quite a number of things because I enjoy being involved," said Mellor, who worked for Shepherd Design Group for 49 years before retiring in 1989.

The contributions of the pair have already been recognised by the YDSC, Wilmott being the first winner of the Service to Sport award in 1981. Mellor took that award in 1994 when he was also given the Yorkshire and Humberside Region award for Service to Sport at a function in Harrogate.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.