A Hendon Football Club director and former runner who dedicated a lifetime to athletics has been honoured with an OBE for his services to the sport and fundraising.

David Bedford, a former director of the London Marathon who once held the world record for the 10,000m, was named in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.

The former Olympian, who was caricatured in the 118 118 adverts, enjoyed a successful athletics career between the ages of 14 and 24.

The 64-year-old was credited for revolutionising the way long distance runners trained in Britain by running for many miles on a daily basis.

In 1972, Mr Bedford competed in the Munich Olympic Games, finishing sixth in the 10,000m.

He also held the British records for the 3,000m steeplechase and the 5,000m.

As well as a 50 year career in athletics as a runner and administrator, Mr Bedford has had a long association with Hendon FC in Claremont Road.

He watched the team as a boy and later became involved in the club, where he currently holds a director’s post.

The former runner also hosts the Radlett Rotary Club fun run each year.

He said: “I had a brief, but very exciting athletics career. It could have been topped with a better day at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, when I finished sixth, but there is no point in dwelling on the negative, but to celebrate what I achieved.

“In recent years I have been heavily involved with Hendon FC, trying to keep a great club alive.

“It is a great joy of my life and one of the things I enjoy about watching football at this level is that you can shout at a referee and not only will he hear what you say but also he will probably have a very good idea of who said it. Long may it continue.”