KENT'S Billy Beck is set for a star-studded night out at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards on Sunday.

The 45-year-old from Chatham was chosen as the BBC South East's Unsung Hero supported by Robinsons, at the region's awards ceremony at Priestfield Stadium on Monday night for his work with Brompton Boxing Club.

Beck was recognised after giving the last 28 years of his life to coaching local youngsters after boxing at an amateur level until the age of 18 and will now go to the NEC in Birmingham, where he will rub shoulders with the great and good of British sport, for the national awards ceremony.

He will also receive a £2,500 bursary as part of the Robinsons Unsung Hero award which recognises and rewards outstanding contributions by individuals at the grassroots level of local sport.

"I am very proud, it is a real highlight and is recognition – but I don't deserve it, it is the kids who deserve it and the parents who also give up a lot of their time," said Beck – who was nominated by Beverley Reid, whose son, Elliott, attends the club.

"The bursary will go toward equipment, travelling costs. It is a great thing for the club, we started with one boxer seven years ago, within a week we had 20 and now we have 120 and 11 national titles.

"We have mainly boys and they start from about six or seven years old.

"I see the main part of my job as keeping kids off the streets. We never turn anyone away – I don’t believe in that – and it doesn’t matter how good they are

"A lot of the kids come down here just to keep fit – and if someone loses a couple of stone and feels better themselves, then to me that is as good as someone winning a belt.

"The club is open seven days a week and I’m usually there about four times a week."

Brompton ABC is currently based in Cross Street, Chatham, having previously operated from Lordswood Leisure Centre.

The Sports Unsung Hero award, sponsored by Robinsons, recognises and rewards the outstanding contribution made by individuals to grass roots sport.