Inverness Swimming Club stalwart Alex Sutherland is set for a star-studded night out at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards later this month.

The 86-year-old – who was a founder member of the London, Midland and Scottish Railways swimming club in Inverness in 1937 – was named as BBC Scotland’s Unsung Hero for 2008.

Sutherland received a £2,500 bursary and will now head to The Echo Arena in Liverpool, where he will rub shoulders with the great and good of British sport at the glittering awards ceremony on December 14.

“I was so surprised when I first heard I was up for the award, and am simply delighted to have won,” said Sutherland, who was honoured by Inverness Leisure earlier this year when the newly refurbished boardroom was named after him.

“I really enjoy swimming and have enjoyed giving so much back to the sport.  When we first opened the pool it was the best in Britain and it still has very high standards to this day.

“Whatever I have done in my life my swimming has never suffered and I have always tried to give something back to the sport.   

“It would mean a great deal to win the overall award.”

Sutherland’s only spell away from the club came in 1941 when he was called up for service in World War II, but he was back in the pool soon after and competed for the RAF at London’s Victoria Aquacade in 1945.

Former Inverness Swimming Club secretary Dorothy Shanks nominated Sutherland for the award, and she insists the veteran would be a worthy winner of the national BBC Sports Unsung Hero award.

“At the age of 86 Alex deserves all the recognition he gets,” said Shanks.  “He has worked unbelievably hard and hasn’t lost any of the enthusiasm he had when he was younger.

“He still swims competitively in veteran competitions and is a great ambassador for Inverness Swimming Club.

“Lots of people in the area know him and he is very well respected in the community.”