INVERCLYDE’S clown prince of charity running Tommy Armstrong was the first person nominated for one of the Telegraph’s new Community Champion Awards.

The 76-year-old, who has raised more than £200,000 for local good causes over four decades, was put forward for Charity Champion of the Year.

He was suggested by a local person who wanted to remain anonymous, but said he had followed Tommy’s fundraising over the years.

Tommy has three grown-up children and spent most of his working life as a site clerk on construction sites, including the building of a new airport in the Falklands, and he has also been a Private in the Army.

The grandad is known throughout Britain for taking part in races dressed as a clown, including the London Marathon and the Great North Run, where a few years ago he met Denise Lewis, who won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
He said: “I told her about the runs I do for charity, and she said she remembered me from a previous Great North Run.”
Denise gave him an autograph which said: ‘Keep up the great charity work, Tommy. You’re a star!’
Tommy started his fundraising at the 1984 Inverclyde Marathon, and launched the Inverclyde Santa Dash in 2006, encouraging many people to dress up in Santa outfits and be sponsored to run a 5k through the streets of Greenock.
Thousands of pounds have been raised through the event, and he is already planning the next one for December.
Tommy has featured in a photographic exhibition including some of the country’s best runners, as well as ordinary competitors, held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Great Scottish Run.
He was chosen because he has run many of the races in fancy dress, and even won the event’s best-dressed runner competition.
None of the fame goes to his head, however, as anyone who meets him on his charity stance on West Blackhall Street will testify.
He is a regular feature near the Cancer Research shop – just one of the many charities he supports – playing 60s records, collecting money and giving away cuddly toys and sweets to children.
Five years ago, the tables were turned on him when he was presented with cash. He won £12,000 on the Postcode Lottery – and promptly gave away £1,300 to seven local organisations.

Tommy said: “I raise money for charity every time I do a run. So when I won a wee bit of money, I decided to give some to charities.”

Tommy didn’t do many runs in 2016 because he wasn’t feeling very well, but he already has several lined up this year and is determined to help many more charities by keeping on running.