Cornish twinkle ahead of Olympic torch relay

I think, in the general run of it, Keith Songhurst is one of the world’s more likeable people. At 73 still a handsome and windburned face, ever smiling as he enjoys a knock-up with Martin, the coach at Penzance Tennis Club.

Thirty-two years of coaching and he wants some more here yet.

“I still get such a thrill from it,” he twinkles with a warm Cornish burr, “it’s not about how good anyone is at tennis – it’s the enjoyment you see? The fun – isn’t it?”

It is. We do see. All around us at this, voted the best tennis club in the south-west and one of the top fifty Lawn Tennis association clubs in the country with a fine record of youth coaching.

For all those years Keith’s been central. A legend in west Cornwall well beyond the club, who’s worked with thousands of young players – whether they could pay or not. Yet he’s amazed and genuinely thrilled his name’s come up to run with the Olympic torch through Penzance tomorrow:

“Oh I’m just delighted. I just can’t believe it really. At my age though running it’s pushing things a little bit.”

And he laughs again.

Read more: Interactive map of Olympic torch route

Every torch bearer has the option to buy their torch for just under two hundred pounds. Needless to say Penzance Tennis Club will be getting Keith’s for him by way of thank you and recognition for 32 years work at the club.

Which is what the coming 70 days and 8000 bearers are all about – Olympic recognition of local dedication to sport and the community more widely.

Of the 8000, 7,300 will be the Keiths of these islands and the torch will go some way – no doubt – to bringing what’s basically a London event to the nations.

Land’s End still and hot in the sunshine today. Little swell washing into the stacks, caves, granite headlands and islets.

Few tourists about today and just three coaches – a quiet day in Land’s End terms.

The helicopter buzzes overhead out to the Scillies…a single yacht motors past, mainsail set but not much wind…cormorants fly low, absorbed, purposeful…tomorrow from 6 am it will be different as the helipad receives the chopper and Olympic sailor and Cornish triple gold medallist Ben Ainslie takes the lit torch for the first relay.

If you have any stories about Olympic torch fun and games, anecdotes, people who deserve bigging up – send them to me here in coming weeks: alex.thomson@itn.co.uk

You can follow Alex on Twitter @alextomo