VETERAN Evening Press Schools Sport correspondent Peter Wilmott has hung up his pen.

Poor health has forced Wilmott, who is in his 80s, to call it a day after more than 55 years as press secretary for York schools sport.

He has been a key part in publicising the development of sport in schools in and around the York area for many years.

Sports Editor Martin Jarred said: "I would like to thank Peter for all his dedicated hard work covering sport in schools in and around York for more than half a century. It is a remarkable record and one I doubt is matched in the country."

Wilmott has served as the assistant secretary, secretary and chairman of the York Schools' FA and in 1998 received the English Schools' FA Gold Award to mark his 50 years' service.

A life member of York Schools' FA, he has been on the Yorkshire and English SFA referees' list, vice-chairman and chairman of the executive council of the Yorkshire SFA, a life member, chairman and treasurer of North Yorkshire SFA. He has also served as the SFA representative on the York Minor League and the York SFA delegate to meetings of the English FA.

A member of the executive council of York Schools' Athletic Association of which he has also been general secretary and president, he was a member of the York District Sports Council executive committee and was the first winner of the Sports Council service to sport award in 1981.

A former pupil of Bar Convent Preparatory School and Archbishop Holgate's Grammar School, he did his teacher training at St John's College and took up a teaching post at Poppleton Road School in 1946. He remained there for six years before moving to Carr Primary School where he remained until 1980.

Updated: 10:51 Wednesday, June 15, 2005