A STOURBRIDGE man showed what a good sport he is by joining pupils from Ridgewood High School on their trip to Gambia to carry on the Olympic legacy.

James Cox, aged 20, was appointed sportmaker at Stourbridge College last year after the college (now part of Birmingham Metropolitan College) received a grant from Sport England to fund a full-time sports professional to encourage students to take part in sporting activities.

He was keen to use some of his skills and experience to improve activities in schools in the Gambia so joined the Wollaston school on their trip earlier this year.

Mr Cox said: “We travelled to a local village called Bakau and our mission was to undertake a community project in two of the newer schools where we put on football sessions and tournaments, helped out with arts and crafts, played music and took part in ball games. We also helped out in the village gardens and helped to paint classrooms.

“It was an amazing experience and really showed me how important sport is in bringing people – and even nations – together, helping to carry on the Olympic legacy.”