Princess Anne knight was an Olympian
Yesterday, the Princess Royal awarded Sir Brendan Foster his knighthood.
He claimed it was a “real honour”To receive the royal honour at Windsor Castle, where Anne was reunited.
The 73-year old became European champion at 5,000 meters in 1974 and was named BBC Sports Personality that year.
Sir Brendan, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, went on to win 10,000-metre bronze at the Montreal Olympics, Great Britain’s only track-and-field medal at the event, and took gold at the 1978 Commonwealth Games.
He was knighted in recognition of his services to national and international sport, and culture in North-east England.
Speaking to the PA news agency at Windsor, he said: “It’s a real honour to be knighted today.
“It was particularly exciting for me to receive it from Princess Anne.
“We go back a long way. We both were part of the 1976 Olympic team and were each BBC Sports Personality for the Year in 1970.
“It was lovely to see her and it was great to receive the honour from her.”