A NEWPORT-born teacher has been awarded an MBE and intends to cap an already successful year by competing in the Transplant Games in Argentina – at the age of 72.

Anthony “Tony” Scott, who now lives in Harrow, was born in Newport. He attended Lliswerry Primary School and, having failed his 11+, went on to Stow Hill Secondary Modern School.

It is quite remarkable then that Mr Scott, who later taught a young Peter Mandelson, is to receive an MBE for his services to education after making the New Year’s honours list.

“I didn’t like school and left when I was 15,” he said. A keen boxer and table tennis player, Mr Scott played football for Nash United, Queens Hill Rangers, and Newport County.

He eventually earned enough money to pay for a home study course with Wolsey Hall Oxford to get eight O-levels and an A-level, before attending a teacher training college at Dudley in Worcestershire.

Mr Scott added: “It was my intention to go abroad, but I became so involved with my job I never got around to it. My head got me an interview for Hendon County Grammar School where I taught PE to Peter Mandelson.”

In 1998, Mr Scott had a liver transplant – unrelated to alcohol – and has since competed in several British Transplant Games for Addenbrookes Hospital and has been selected to represent Team GB at six World Transplant Games.

He holds the 5k world record for ages 60-69 and won ‘Outstanding Male Athlete’ in the 70+ age group at the British Games last year. He has now been selected for Team GB in Argentina at the World Transplant Games in August.