SPORTS coach Linda Nicholson collected a special Christmas present on Saturday.

The mum-of-two from Peebles was presented with the British Empire Medal by the Lord Lieutenant for Tweeddale, Sir Hugh Strachan.

And it was a family affair with Linda’s parents, Alan, 91, and Muriel, 89, Pears, along with husband, Gregor, and their two daughters attending the presentation at Cringletie House Hotel on Christmas Eve.

A delighted Linda told the Peeblesshire News: “I am absolutely thrilled to receive the British Empire Medal.

“I feel like keeping the medal on for the whole of Christmas.

“My dad is proud as punch that I’ve been awarded the medal.”

Linda was awarded the BEM for services to sport in the Scottish Borders, especially netball, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Hailing from Newcastle, Linda moved to Scotland to study psychology at Edinburgh University.

She was already the English Schools long jump champion before her move north.

And her success on the track was to continue with numerous medals at the Scottish and British universities championships.

Her love of netball blossomed while in Edinburgh as she played centre/wing-attack for the capital club.

It was after becoming a mum and moving to Peebles that Linda returned to athletics – setting Scottish age-group long jump records on her way to several national and British masters championships.

But, arguably, her greatest success has come on the sidelines as a coach.

She has guided some of the region’s best young long and triple jumpers to national success – including her own daughter, Faye, who narrowly missed out on a Commonwealth Games place in 2014.

And her enthusiasm for netball has not only seen Linda create of a club in her hometown of Peebles, but she has built it into one of Scotland’s biggest and best.

Over the past decade Peebles Netball has dominated national youth and school competitions.

And the club has produced several Scottish internationalists.

Linda, who dedicates around 20 hours each week to Peebles Netball, added: “Everyone said at the start that netball would never work in Peebles as it was too far away from other clubs and we didn’t have the facilities.

“I have been delighted to prove them wrong.

“Peebles Netball is still growing – we added a Primary 7 club this year and are looking towards Primary 6 as well.”

Away from the sporting arena, Linda has worked for British Rail, the Scottish Office and a private research company before setting up her own business in 2003.