FROM Stephen Hawking to Jamie Oliver, there are always a few famous faces doing the rounds at the Abergavenny Food Festival, and this year it was Richard Hammond who was spotted and snapped by the prowling hordes.

Of course, Hammond loves Abergavenny so much he now lives here, but he wasn’t just attending the food festival as a hungry punter; he was here as a seasoned pro.

The former Top Gear presenter was fresh from a sell-out talk at the Angel Hotel when the Chronicle bumped into him in Nevill Street, soaking up Abergavenny’s bohemian coffee shop culture, reading an actual newspaper instead of doom scrolling, and enjoying a quiet cup of Joe.

A true gent and the sort of celeb who is always happy to help a wandering hack with a pic or two, the well-dressed man about town told the Chronicle how much he was really enjoying his first ever food festival in the town.

When asked how he was enjoying Abergavenny so far, he also added, “I’m absolutely loving it!”

Hammond first hit the street of Aber way back in 2012 on a modified disability scooter and returned last year to set up home in the hillside.

This weekend was a poignant one for Hammond, as it marked the 20th anniversary of his near-fatal Top Gear crash.

In a social media post, the 56-year-old presenter gave heartfelt thanks to the emergency responders who saved his life after he felt “convinced I was going to die.”

Hammond wrote on Instagram that he had “done my best to steer the car away from disaster, but disaster was, it seemed, my fate and having done everything I could do to avert it, I have to hand myself over to that fate.”

Fortunately, Hammond was freed from the wreckage by emergency workers and placed in a deep coma by hospital staff for weeks until he recovered.

Hammond added, “I am only here today to note this anniversary and write these words because of the work of them and any people involved in rescuing me from the shattered car, flying me to hospital and treating me there.

"Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”