"Being the son of a rag-and-bone man, I had to pinch myself being among all these superstars," says 90-year-old Fred Little, who enjoyed a remarkable career overseeing some of the biggest nights in professional boxing.

As well as being brought into contact with the likes of Tyson Fury, Frank Bruno and Ricky Hatton, Fred, originally from Barton Hill, Bristol, also worked in security for big stars such as Tom Jones.

As a boxing inspector, overseeing safety, regulations and medical standards, one of his standout memories came in Las Vegas, where he watched Roy Jones Jr take on Antonio Tarver in an atmosphere he described as "unbelievable".

Now, as he celebrates his 90th birthday, Fred is reflecting on a remarkable life that has taken him from wartime Bristol to top-flight boxing.

In his early life, Fred remembers his early childhood spent during the horror of World War Two. "We used to run down the street with airplanes on fire and bombs hitting houses," he said.

"We'd go to a communal air raid shelter and everyone's crying and screaming, it was terrible."

When Fred grew up, he became a welder, working on oil rigs around the world, including the Piper Alpha platform off Aberdeen shortly before the 1988 disaster in which 167 people died.

"I was inconsolable," he said of the loss of life. "I knew quite a lot of those blokes."

His career also took him across the United States, where he spent five years coaching football after leading a team from St Pauls in Bristol to victory in a soccer tournament.

But it was boxing that brought him into contact with some of the sport's biggest names. Rising up to chief inspector for the British Boxing Board of Control, Fred oversaw everything from gloves and ring preparations to security, safety and ambulance provisions.

Fred also worked as security for entertainers including Shirley Bassey and UB40. He says one memorable encounter saw singer Elaine Paige dedicate a performance of the song Memories to him.

Looking back, he said: "I've had the most amazing life, I've done everything you can think of."

His daughter, Charlotte Maggs, said: "He is a very familiar face around Bristol and is hugely respected within the community and by the many people he has met throughout his life."

She added: "Over the years, he has battled numerous health problems, including suffering a cardiac arrest, which left our family fearing that we had nearly lost him."

And Fred's final wish is simple. He said: "When I'm gone, on my headstone just put: 'I have lived'."