ROWING: City oarsman meets the Queen

James Fox is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II during an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Picture:: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The 24 year-old former Jack Hunt School pupil won a gold medal at the Rio Paralympics and was made an MBE in the New Years Honours list.

He tweeted after the ceremony: “It was such an incredible pleasure to be invested by Her Royal Highness in the company of friends, family and countrymen. And all for tinkering about in a boat!”

Fox, who was also honoured by Peterborough City Council with the freedom of the city in December, began his career at Peterborough City Rowing Club at the age of 11.

James Fox MBE enjoys a chat with the Queen. Picture:: Yui Mok/PA Wire

He stayed there until he moved to university and it was there that he suffered a broken back in a car accident.

The accident left him with limited movement in his ankles and that allowed him to take up para-rowing.

He went on to win world titles in the LTA Mixed Coxed Fours in 2013, 2014 and 2015 before fulfilling his dream of striking Paralympic gold in Rio.

Crewmates Dan Brown and Oliver James were also presented with MBEs alongside Fox.