Volunteer Keith Grainge Receives BBC Unsung Hero Award

The BBC Yorkshire’s Unsung Hero award has been presented to a volunteer who established a sports club using his personal funds. Keith Grainge, a resident of Copmanthorpe near York, received his nomination from one of the 300 individuals he introduced to pickleball, as part of the Sports Personality of the Year awards. In 2023, the 83-year-old widower initiated pickleball sessions in York, and he now oversees clubs at six distinct venues across the city. Pickleball player Tony McGale stated: “I had to nominate Keith because pickleball is amazing and it’s changed so many people’s lives, including mine.” Mr. Grainge is scheduled to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony next week and has been shortlisted for the national Unsung Hero award. Pickleball is a variant of tennis, played on a compact court with plastic bats and balls.