The smiles on the faces continue to motivate him.
A youngster perfecting a new skill for the first time, achieving a personal best or simply enjoying being part of the club that has become so very close to his heart. It is all massively rewarding for Jim Hunter.
His association with Perth Strathtay Harriers stretches back more than four decades and includes time as an athlete, coach and now president. He is not one for basking in success, but he is deserving of it.
And this week Jim was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours when he received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to inclusion in sport.
“It’s a whole team of volunteers – I’m just the one who is sometimes the voice,” Jim (60), from Perth, smiled.
“I could not do this without a whole load of great folk around me.”
Jim started coaching more than 40 years ago and developed into an outstanding coach, before taking up the reins as club president over a decade ago.
He has encouraged and enabled frame runners, wheelchair users and able-bodied athletes all using the track at the same time.
This environment, as Jim mentioned, has been created and steered by him with support from the volunteers within the club.
As well as coaching at the club, Jim delivers athletics within the local schools, signposting potential athletes to the club.
He and other club coaches have delivered athletics as part of after-school taster sessions at the request of active schools.
And he has been invited to deliver athletics coaching to other organisations such as Perth Autism Support, PKDS, Physios, the Blind Society and SHIP.
He never refuses a request, taking his little personal free time and donating it along with his expertise.
Jim, as club president and an active coach, both voluntary roles, he spends upwards of 20 hours a week making sure that the club is operating efficiently, managing all the coaches and volunteers as well as making sure all the athletes in the club receive quality sessions.
“I started off as a schoolboy involved with the Harriers,” Jim recalled. “To be honest, I was a club athlete and okay at it but I enjoyed the social aspect of training.
“As I realised I was never going to get far from a performance point of view, I turned my attention to coaching.
“The Harriers supported me going through my early days of qualifications. I remember going through the route of getting qualified as a coach and have just continued to learn.
“That is the great thing about sport in general. As long as don’t stop learning, you continue to stimulate yourself.”
Jim, speaking as passionately as ever, continued: “All of the wee ones over the years, well, now they are no longer wee ones.
“They bring their kids and grandkids down to visit the club. There are generations who come through here.
“I have built up so many friendships through the years and it’s just great the amount of people who have touched my life, as well as I’ve touched theirs.
“Although I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some really good athletes over the years, what motivates me the most is seeing that smile on a youngster’s face when they achieve.
“It might seem insignificant but it is lovely when you watch someone achieve something for the first time. And when you see wee improvements, that also keeps me motivated.”
Jim also worked in partnership with Scottish Athletics and Scottish Association for Mental Health to deliver the Get into Summer athletics programme which was aimed at 11 to 19 year-olds.
A major benefit of this programme was the focus on mental wellbeing and physical activity which was included in sessions.
His influence has developed the club beyond a simple athletics organisation into a facility which is accessible to the local and wider community which has had the direct effect of building confidence and focus and improving mental health where it is most needed.
Despite the hurdles of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jim’s drive and determination to provide the best environment possible for members did not falter.
He told the PA: “From what we’ve gone through in the last couple of years, it could be easy to say it’s too much hassle and not worth it.
“But I always remember the smiling faces and that is why I do this. I still enjoy giving up my time. I’ve been very lucky over the years.”
