"I'm very humbled but I don't do it for the recognition", says Islander Paddy McHugh, his modesty and selflessness proving exactly why he is the Isle of Wight County Press community champion for May.

For more than 40 years, Paddy, who turns 54 this year, has been volunteering and running a host of Island events.

"I do it because I do, I guess until the day I die!", he said.

From organising carnivals to helping out with car parking, if there's an event, Paddy is probably involved in some way or another.

His work with the community first started around 1985, when he got involved with the now-former Pan Carnival.

"I was asked when I was in my last year in high school, so I helped build the float and it went on from there really", he said.

After that, Paddy helped out at Downside Youth Club, before getting involved with other carnivals.

Isle of Wight County Press: Paddy on stage at Riverfest.Paddy on stage at Riverfest. (Image: Riverfest)

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For the last two and half years he has been the chair of Newport Carnival, and last year he was the chair of the Isle of Wight Federation of Carnivals - a role he was nominated for and accepted again this year.

"We should be proud of our carnivals", he said.

"They're the oldest in the country and we should keep building on that".

Paddy also volunteers at the Garlic Festival, the County Show and Cowes Week, which he has been doing for around 20 years.

While most of us wind down at Christmas, Paddy gears up - delivering gifts to Island children as part of the Isle of Wight Radio Toy Appeal.

And last year, when friend and founder of the Isle of Wight Classic Car Extravaganza, Vic Gallucci, died suddenly, weeks before the event, Paddy stepped in.

Isle of Wight County Press: From left: Vic Gallucci, Graham Cole OBE and Paddy McHugh.From left: Vic Gallucci, Graham Cole OBE and Paddy McHugh. (Image: Paddy McHugh)

"It was a tight turn-around, but it had to happen", Paddy said.

It was a similar story for Riverfest, which returned last weekend.

After Covid-19 led to back-to-back cancellations, Paddy and the Newport Carnival & Community Events Association took on the mantle.

Three years on, the free, family event is bigger and better than ever. Paddy's highlight from this year was seeing others enjoy themselves.

"I stood back stage watching (CBeebies star) Gemma Hunt's show and what was nice was you could see all the grandparents dancing, they knew all the moves! It was brilliant."

Such is his selflessness, Paddy refuses to take all the credit.

He said: "It isn't just me. It's a whole host of people. There are about 12 to 13 other people behind it and others too."

Paddy does his volunteering while working a full-time job at Island Roads, which he admits takes "a bit of balance".

But, he says, he does it because "it's our Island".

"It's what we do. It's been part of me for such a long time."

Paddy is the second Islander to be named as an Isle of Wight County Press Community Champion. April's was choir leader, Hannah Brear.