From thisiscornwall.co.uk

A BODMIN athlete almost missed his nineteenth London Marathon after leaving his running number and foot tag in the hotel.

But thanks to a speedy taxi driver, a blue light escort and a quick-thinking wife, Norman Trebilcock, founder of Cornish charity Frontline Emergency Equipment Trust, was still able to take part.

"I think my wife Kathy saw the disappointment, apprehension and devastation in my eyes," said Mr Trebilcock. "I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. No tag, no time, no run."

One of the other runner's partners was still at the hotel and was able to put the bag with all Norman's items in it into a taxi to Blackheath but the police had blocked the roads and he could not get closer than two miles.

"Kathy used her charms and eventually begged a police motorcyclist to come to our aid and, with only 15 minutes to the start, the taxi came across Blackheath with a blue light escort," said Mr Trebilcock. "Kathy said the taxi driver was peering over the steering wheel with a big grin."

Norman was part of a large team of runners from the county who ran the event in aid of FLEET.

Mr Trebilcock, who completed the race in 4 hours 37 minutes and carried a Cornish flag throughout, said: "I carried the flag with pride and was screamed at by hundreds of Cornish supporters.

"I was tired, exhausted and aching in every joint but to see our own FLEET supporters at the finish was fantastic.

"We also have great support from our local community, Morrisons in Bodmin helped with our fundraising efforts, BFS Fruits supplied boxes of bananas and James Barnecutt, from Barnecutt's Bakery, supplied us with pasties as well as running with us.

"Hotdog in Lostwithiel printed all our T-shirts and, apart from my little bit of forgetfulness, everything went well.

"Thank you to all our supporters, sponsors and all those who held events and a big thank you to Kathy who has to put up with me during my training and then look after the team on the day."

The FLEET runners this year were: Faye Pearn, from St Issey (4:41), Dan Nicholls, from Bodmin (3:52), Jackie Whitmarch, from Tresillian (3:57), Mandy James, from Truro (6:02), Pasty Battle, from Polzeath (7:16), Sarah Hitchens, from Chasewater (4:07), Matt 'Wappo' Westlake, from Wadebridge (4:36), Chris Taylor, from Penzance (3:57), Mark Rowe, from Wadebridge (4:29), Sue Kittow, from Padstow (7:00), Julie Haimes, from Wadebridge (4:48), Charles Travis, from Wadebridge (5:06), Steph Trebilcock, from Withiel (7:00), Alison Hills, from Padstow (5:09), Paul Icken, from Penzance (5:24), Debbie Slater, from Truro (5:47), John Iddles, from Truro (5:55), James Barnecutt, from St Merryn (4:31).