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Appleby sporting hero David Cannon made a dash back to his home town to see the Olympic torch pass his own house – just hours after carrying the relay through Richmond, north Yorkshire.
Mr Cannon joined the crowed lining Bongate and The Sands in Appleby which welcomed the Olympic torch relay, before attending a community party in the grounds of Appleby Bowling Club.
Children from all the local primary schools attended the celebrations which were organised in the town by Appleby Community Acting Together (ACAT).
Chair of ACAT, Susan Spence said: “The celebrations in Appleby for the arrival of the Olympic torch have been a real, massive community effort – which is what ACAT is all about.
“So many businesses and local individuals have given so much to make this a very special, memorable day for everyone in the town. We were very grateful to David Cannon for bringing his Olympic torch to the event.
“Special thanks to the Bowling Club who have gave their car park for the afternoon tea and Andy Forrester for the marquee.
“We are very grateful to the Mayor of Appleby Dot Anderton, Cllr Keith Morgan, Alison Taylor from Appleby Brownies, Paul Nesbitt of Appleby Carnival and to Jane Parkin and Louise Aitkin from Appleby Grammar School for their help and support. Thanks also to Appleby Primary School, Appleby Town Band, Euphoric Circus from Centre 67 in Appleby and Eden District Council for the grant to help fund the celebrations.
“It has been a massive community effort and we are grateful to all the businesses for their help; Karen Hindson from Paws for Thought for sourcing the balloons and inflating them with Karen Reynolds, the Crown and Cushion, Bojangles, Taste of Eden, Kath Earls Bakery, Midland Hotel, Riverside Fish and Chip shop and Appleby Bakery for the amazing catering. And special thanks go to Appleby WI, Our Lady’s Church, Sands Methodist Church and The Friday Club members who also helped with the catering.”
The torch was carried through Appleby by Angela Cunningham of East Kilbride who passed on the flame at the opposite side of the town to Samantha White of Nottingham, pictured.
And at the community party, David brought the torch to the party, and gave locals the chance to hold and have their photograph taken with the historic torch.
David's athletic career began at age 13 when he won the Westmorland School Championships.
Since then he has run 25 marathons, competed at the European Championships, became the fastest Britain in 1980 (clocked 2:11:35sec) at the world championships.
He was British Marathon Champion in 1977, the first winner of the Cumbrian Run 1982, he became British Fell Running Champion on three occasions in 1970's.
He has also won the Ben Nevis Fell Race five times, and set the record in 1976 (1:26:55) and it stood for nine years.
He also represented Britain in cross country, road running and track running, was appointed National Coach developing Junior Road Running by British Athletics Federation.
David has been given the Freedom of the Borough of Appleby-in-Westmorland, and also won Cumbrian Sports Personality. Now he can add Olympic torch bearer to his list of sporting achievements.
The torch, which travelled from Brough went on to Penrith then Carlisle.
o Send us your Olympic Torch photographs for cumbria24’s Cumbria Olympic Torch gallery special which will go live on Saturday, 23 June.