Gold medallist thrilled to carry Olympic torch (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

David Hemery disappointed not to run in Marlborough but happy with Royal Wootton Bassett's welcome

5:12pm Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in News By Nigel Kerton

Olympic gold medal winner David Hemery, who ran the first leg of the torch relay in Royal Wootton Bassett today, said afterwards: “It was amazing, the energy in the crowd was palpable.”

Mr Hemery, 67, who lives in Fyfield, near Marlborough, had been disappointed that he was not running in what he has to become his home town.

However the 1968 Mexico City games 400m hurdles gold medalist said: “There was a huge crowd five or six deep along the 300m section I was running and the buzz from them was just amazing.”

He said getting on the bus with all the other torchbearers including Didier Drogba was a great experience in itself.

Mr Hemery who is vice chairman of the British Olympic Association heads up a charity called 21st Century Legacy to encourage young people to make the best of their lives in all walks as well as in athletics. The charity which helped London win the 2012 games has its headquarters in Loran House in the High Street in Marlborough.

When Mr Hemery was asked where he would be keeping his Olympic torch, he said: “I think I will keep it at Loran House and it will go to the schools when we visit them to tell them all about 21st Century Legacy.”