Former javelin world record holder Steve Backley returned to his old school in Bexley as the guest of honour at its presentation evening.

The twice Olympic runner-up and world silver medallist was a pupil at Beths Grammar School in the early 1980s, when it was known Bexley and Erith Technical High School.

He went on to become one of the greatest javelin throwers and field athletes of all time, though as he told students, teachers and parents at the school in Hartford Road, Bexley, he couldn’t have done it without the start Beths gave him in life.

Speaking at the awards evening on September 9, Mr Backley said: “Thank you for what you gave me – the robustness to walk into an Olympic stadium.”

Head teacher James Skinner added: “We are always delighted to welcome back any of our old boys but it’s particularly pertinent to have Steve here, somebody who has performed at the highest level in his field.

“It demonstrates to all our students that they can achieve great success.”