FORMER Olympic Boxing Champion, awarded an MBE in 1985, celebrated his 80th birthday last Thursday, October 15.

Dick McTaggart, originally from Dundee living in Troon, won gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.

McTaggart appeared in two more Olympics becoming the first British boxer to complete in three olympiads. He is one of 18 siblings.

Tracy O'Neil, McTaggarts daughter, said: "My dad told me that his most outstanding achievement is that he is the only Scottish lightweight boxer to win an Olympic gold medal."

McTaggart went on to win 610 out of 634 fights and has achieved 32 cups, 57 plaques and 49 medals over the years.

The boxer was crowned Commonwealth Champion in 1958, European Champion in 1961 and achieved silver medal at the 1962 Commonwealth Games, to add to his three Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) lightweight titles and two light welter weight belts.

He won bronze medal at the 1960 Olympics, eliminated by Polish boxer Kazimierz Pazdzior, who won overall. This was the only Scottish medal at these Games.

In 1964, it was another Pole, Josef Grundzein, that ended McTaggarts dreams of reaching the quarter finals in Tokyo.

Tracy O'Neil added: "Dad says his best memory was in 1956 after winning the gold medal in Melbourne and the Val Barker trophy.

"When he arrived back in Dundee the streets were crowded with people to welcome him home. They laid on an open top bus and took him around the city. He says, you never forget things like that."

McTaggart retired from boxing in 1966 and moved to Glasgow in the 60s, where he became a rat catcher, before working at Rolls Royce in Hillington until he retired officially.

He was still involved in training children and boxers for the Olympic and Commonwealth Games and was the flag bearer in the opening ceremony at Tokyo 1960.

In 2002 he was inducted into the first Scottish boxing Hall of Fame along with four other famous boxers: Ken Buchanan, Benny Lynch, Walter McGowan and Jackie Paterson.

He is also became President of the Ex Boxers club on Sunday, October 11, which he attends once a month, fundraising to help people who used to box professionally afford events such as funerals.

Tracy, not into sport herself, is the mother of four boys who adore it and their grandfather. At Glasgow 2014, McTaggart awarded Charlie Flynn, the then 20 year old boxer from Lanark, his gold medal.

She said: " I was so proud of my Dad. You feel like crying when you see something like that."

"Mum and dad will be married for 50 years next March. Because he's saving up for the big occasion, he hadn't planned anything for his 80th so we threw him a surprise party at my house on Saturday."

McTaggart and his wife Doreen have four daughters and 12 grand children. They moved to Troon in 1997.

Tracy said: "Dad loves to talk about his boxing career and recounts it like it happened yesterday.

"His memory isn't great and of you asked him what he had for dinner last night he probably would not have a clue. Ask him about any boxing achievement and he'll tell you without having to think about it."

Olympic Gold (1956) Val Barker (1956) British Empire Champion (1958) and European Champion (1961) are just some of McTaggarts boxing achievements, congratulations.