City throws its weight behind 'Mr Judo' with top award

SCOTLAND'S "Mr Judo" has been named the winner of this year's Edinburgh Award.

Judo master George Kerr, 73, has been practising the martial art since he was eight and once taught Mick Jagger.

He was made a CBE in the New Year's Honours List just two weeks ago for services to the sport. And he has also recently been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan's highest honours.

The Edinburgh Award was established in 2007 to honour outstanding individuals who have made a positive impact on the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh as a result of their work. Nominations are sought annually from communities, businesses and individuals across the city and the winner is selected by a panel chaired by the Lord Provost.

Previous winners include Ian Rankin, Sir Chris Hoy and JK Rowling.

Mr Kerr, from Leith, is president of the British Judo Association and has taught the sport to thousands of children and young people, first at The Edinburgh Club, which he formed in 1964, and now at his Junior Judo club in West Bowling Green Street.

He said: "The Lord Provost phoned me himself to tell me I'd won the Edinburgh Award and I was just thrilled.

"I think it's amazing. It's the nicest thing in the world to be honoured by your own town. You can't get any better than that really."