Upon being told he was Male of the Year in the West Cumbria Community Heroes Awards, Stephen Coates scoffed.

Despite being mayor of his beloved Cockermouth twice, a town councillor on and off for 30 years and devoted to the town's Royal British Legion branch since 1969, Stephen didn't think he deserved it.

Kept company in the Crown Street home his great-grandparents lived in in the 19th century by his eight-year-old Westie, Skye, the humble 78-year-old said he was taken aback by the news and didn't know why he had been nominated.

"All of the things I've done since school and leaving the army I've enjoyed but it wasn't so I could be somebody," he says.

"I'm interested in people and if I can help them, even just somebody crossing the street, I will.

"I'm not trying to be a saint, I'm just Stephen the old fella down the road.

"My cousin used to say 'When I walk up the street with you, I get dizzy from people saying hello.'"

Since joining the League of Friends of the Cockermouth Cottage Hospital in 1975 and becoming vice-chairman, he has helped to save the town's cottage hospital and develop new facilities.

As a Conservative town councillor, Stephen tackled local issues and, in his second spell as mayor, he helped guide the town through the 2009 floods.

Reflecting on that period, tears well in his eyes and he says it was a year he hopes never to relive.

Until this year, Stephen had run the legion's Poppy Appeal for 34 years, after being handed the role unexpectedly at a meeting, and he says he will miss raising the funds.

He adds: "I knew I was getting to the stage where it was taking it out of me and I'm not 37.

"But when I see those lads coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq without their limbs, it's life-changing for them and their families.

"I've always enjoyed meeting and being involved with people, I haven't done it for praise."

Stephen has always been passionate about our military heroes and did National Service with the Border Regiment between 1955 and 1957.

He joined the town’s British Legion in 1969 and later became standard bearer for the legion and the Border Regiment in 1978.

"I think I said I'll have a go but I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it," he says.

"I went to the Royal Albert Hall for a Remembrance service in London and the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic.

"I carried that on until I broke my leg on Remembrance Sunday 20 years ago.

"I'm doing the wreath-laying ceremony in Cockermouth this year because I've promised the town council I'll do it until I can't.

"I still enjoy doing it but I get myself worked up."

And after fighting for the survival of the town's legion branch earlier this year, Stephen says he knows the time will come when somebody else shoulders the responsibility of being chairman.

"I know a lot of people who joined the legion just for the social side and that's fine but I always had to put my great feet in it and do something," he adds.

"I've managed to get a new secretary, treasurer and vice-chairman but I know the day's coming when I'm going to have to say to myself 'Come on, hand the reins over'."

After leaving school at 15, Stephen started work the next morning in the hardware department of the Beehive Co-op in Workington.

Five months after starting there, his friend Peter failed his army medical and returned to his old job, leaving Stephen out in the cold.

He found work with grocer Norman and Beckett before joining the army's Border Regiment for National Service when he was nearly 19.

He served as a private in Carlisle before moving to Hindhead, in Surrey, where he worked first in the Quartermaster's stores and then as officers' mess steward.

He also spent time guarding the camp with the Regimental Police.

Returning from military life in 1957, Stephen again worked at Norman and Beckett for three years before joining Coopers of Liverpool.

During this time he established a youth club at Lorton Street Methodist Church, organising day trips and quirky activities for the town's youngsters.

As a relief manager for Coopers, his job took him all over the North West and he even filled spare hours with evening work in the Globe Hotel between 1960 and 1961.

After eight years, Stephen began an almost three decade-long spell as wine and spirits manager at Jennings Brewery, where he mixed, blended and bottled rum.

Stephen took early retirement in 1996 but only lasted a month before he joined Walter Wilson's grocers in Lowther Went, working there for eight years before finally deciding to stop for a rest.

But after a lifetime of giving to Cockermouth, Stephen still seems reluctant to take any credit, adamant that it was always a group effort.

He adds: "I think a lot of the place and I hope I've been able to help in any way over the years.

"I'm a Cockermouthian and I love the town. It's been my life really."