JUDO: AFTER 38 years spent rolling around on dusty crashmats in Trowbridge, judo teacher Denis Truckle has finally hung up his judogi.

Truckle retired as head coach of the Trowbridge Judo Club, where he taught more than 1,000 players, on Friday. He was presented with a plaque to mark four decades of extraordinary service to the art of self defence.

The 68-year-old sixth dan Sensei made his first sweeping hip throw at the Atworth Judo Club in 1968. From there he joined clubs in Westbury and Trowbridge to improve his technique.

Truckle's love affair with the Trowbridge club was born when a colleague left him high and dry with 27 junior members. He said: "One of the brown belts asked if I would help train some of the kids in his garage. He disappeared one day and I've not seen him since, but I didn't want to let the kids down."

Truckle was awarded a black belt in 1973 and as leader of the junior section oversaw foreign tours to a judo club in Norden, Germany, from 1979. "Although Norden is twinned with Bradford on Avon, Bradford did not have a judo club at the time, so the Germans agreed to do an exchange with Trowbridge instead," he said.

"We ran trips for 10 years until 1989 and it was the finest thing we ever did. I made hundreds of friends, some of whom I'm still in contact with to this day." Truckle gained recognition for his teaching skills when he was asked to coach the West of England ladies' team, which he did for eight years from 1993. He also made the grade as a national referee.

Truckle says he felt privileged to work at the Trowbridge club, which has made its home in Innox Road for the last 21 years. He said: "We are one of the few clubs in the south of England to have its own judo hall. The building is purpose-built for martial arts and is also used for karate and aikido."

Truckle was never paid for his services to judo. His love affair was funded by 30 years spent working as a night driver for Bowyers of Wiltshire. "I used to finish judo at 10pm, come home for supper and then head off to work. I would get back at 9am and sleep through to the afternoon. Then it was time for judo again."

Truckle has left the Trowbridge club, which can cater for 70 junior and 20 adult players, in the capable hands of former pupil Darren Mallows. Mallows and his daughter Kerry-Lee, a junior instructor, will take over teaching, with Truckle enlisted as club chairman and trustee.

"Darren has been involved as a coach for eight years now and I'm very pleased with what he is doing," said Truckle. "I will still be around, but as of Friday I will not have any physical contact at the club."

Family and friends threw a surprise goodbye party for Truckle during his last session, which was attended by Trowbridge town crier Trevor Heeks. "Halfway through the session a bell rang out and there was Trevor. I knew something was going on but I had no idea so many former pupils would come.

"I met two men who came to me as teenage tearaways. They told me my teaching had kept them out of prison and that meant more to me than anything."Truckle has promised his wife Phyllis that he will slow down in retirement and take up a more sedate hobby.

"After 38 years I am finally going to do what she has always wanted. I will learn to dance. It will have to be something light, like ballroom dancing, otherwise I might throw her to the ground. "I couldn't have done this without her and I will miss everyone I have been fortunate enough to meet over the years," he said.