EX-world record-breaking athlete Derek Ibbotson today received an MBE.

The 75-year-old – who always stayed true to his Huddersfield roots after finishing a glittering athletics career – said he was immensely proud of the honour.

He added: “I found out I was to receive the award about a month ago.

“It was a thrilling moment, but I had to keep totally quiet and not tell anyone, not even my children.’’

But he now intends to celebrate – and in style, with an exceptionally expensive champagne.

“A very good friend of mine bought me a bottle of Krug champagne for my 75th birthday last June,’’ he said. “But I never opened it. I can’t think of a better moment than now.

“Receiving the MBE is the pinnacle for anybody in sport and, looking back, I’ve had a wonderful life.’’

Derek was honoured by the Examiner when he was given the Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Examiner’s Community Awards in 2006.

He has received the MBE for services to athletics and hopes it will inspire youngsters to follow in his running shoes.

He has personally appeared at many events promoting athletics among the young across Kirklees.

He said: “I’m starting to worry that Great Britain will not provide any more runners who will break records at middle-distance running.

“I just hope today’s young people will feel inspired and I truly believe that Huddersfield is a sporting town.’’

Derek is a life member of Longwood Harriers — the club where it all began for him — and has helped them out many times over the years.

The two highlights of his running career were breaking the world mile record in July, 1957, by clocking up a time of 3min 57.2sec and getting a bronze medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

Derek was born in Berry Brow on June 17, 1932.

His father, John, was a foreman joiner and coachbuilder for Huddersfield Corporation buses.

Derek — whose elder brother, Stuart, died seven years ago — was educated at the former Berry Brow Council School and Almondbury Grammar School.

He began cross-country running when Almondbury Grammar entered a team in the Yorkshire Championships.

Derek came third and joined Longwood Harriers.

He won the Yorkshire Junior Mile three years in a row, from 1949 to 1951.

In 1952 he was picked to run for the England Amateur Athletics Association and was called up for National Service in the RAF.

His running career rocketed and he spent most of his time in the RAF training and competing.

After his running career was over Derek joined sports manufacturers Puma in Batley and worked for them for the next 30 years in design, product development and promotion, persuading top sportsmen – including Huddersfield’s 1966 England soccer World Cup winner Ray Wilson – to use Puma sports gear.

Between 1967 and 1972 Derek was fitness coach at Manchester City, during the era of flamboyant manager Malcolm Allison. He got stars such as Francis Lee, Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee going again after injury.

During this time Manchester City won the then First Division, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Derek later did the same job for Stoke City.

He also became a good squash player, training youngsters in fitness at Huddersfield Lawn Tennis And Squash Club.

Two of them — Andrew Clarkson and Richard Moseley — went on to become professionals.

Derek became a Yorkshire Veterans Champion at the sport and represented his county about 30 times.

Derek has three daughters — Christine, Nicky and Georgina – from his first marriage, which ended in 1970.

He remarried, but his second wife, Ann, died from a brain tumour 10 years ago. They had a daughter together called Joanna.

Derek now lives in Ossett with partner Lynette.