A teacher who has inspired thousands of Sheppey pupils over nearly five decades has been presented with a lifetime achievement award for his work in the community.

Paul Murray, who moved to the Island to teach at Danley Middle School for a year and then stayed for 49, was awarded a certificate, medal and plaque in a special ceremony at Swale House, Sittingbourne.

It was the final presentation of the Swale Civic Awards handed out by retiring mayor Cllr Sarah Stephen.

A bemused Mr Murray, 69, said afterwards: “I just thought I had been invited, like many others, to have tea with the mayor on her last day. The award came right out of the blue. It was lovely but a total surprise.”

He added: “The mayor talked about the work I had done over the years, supporting families and helping to set up the Sheppey Community Development Forum and the community bus and all the committees I sit on.”

Among the groups he is connected with are Swale CVS, Sheppey Matters, the Royal British Legion, Swale Leisure, Age UK, the Sheerness Town Team and Big Local.

He helped set up the Saturday morning parkrun on The Leas at Minster where he still volunteers as a marshal – despite now living in Maidstone.

Incredibly, he manages to find time to watch football and cricket. Paul is a season ticket-holder at Maidstone United - it would be Sunderland if they played nearer - and is a member of Kent Cricket Club, even though he maintains his heart is still in Durham.

He said: “I love working on Sheppey. It’s a challenge but I am very proud to be here. We have some lovely kids.”

In a message to young Islanders, Paul, who was awarded an MBE for services to education in the 2011 New Year’s honours list, said: “I come from a very ordinary background but I had two parents who were determined I would do something with my life. With people’s support, you can succeed. Please, never, ever give up.”

He paid tribute to his wife Margaret of 43 years, also a former Sheppey teacher, who continues to support him.

He said: “She is the one person who never gets any thanks for all that she does. She is fantastically hard-working.”

Paul was born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

It was there he went to a “tough secondary modern” called Woodhouse Close before switching to King James I Grammar School, where Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy was a former pupil.

Paul read history at Durham University before moving to the Isle of Sheppey in1975 at the age of 21 to teach PE and humanities.

He worked at Danley Middle School and then Sir Thomas Cheyne Middle School - later renamed Cheyne - in Jefferson Road before joining the Oasis Academy in 2009, where he is now its community leader.

Paul admitted: “I miss the middle schools. I just hope the changes which are taking place will give our students the education they deserve. It will take a while but I really do think it will work.”

He is waiting to see if one of the new trusts taking over Sheppey’s secondary education in September will offer him a job when Oasis leaves the twin school sites at Minster and Sheerness.

Paul admitted: “I’d love a job in the new structure so I can do more work in the community for at least another year.”

The presentation ceremony took place on Tuesday, May 14.