WHEN the Olympic Flame finally hits our shores tomorrow (Friday), one Abergavenny man will have the unique responsibility of escorting it the full 8,000 miles on its tour of our green and pleasant land.

From the moment it leaves Lands End with barely a flicker until its arrival at the Olympic Stadium where it will ignite the London 2012 opening ceremony, the Olympic Torch has a lot of distance to cover, and so too does Police Sergeant David Thompson who is part of the Metropolitan Police Services's (MPS) specialist Torch security Team (TST).

For the TST team, known as "the runners" and their supporting team, tomorrow brings to an climax 18 months of grueling training and final preparations to embark on what will be a unique role in British policing.

The runners are just one element of the wider torch security team, which includes motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, senior officers and operational planners, who will ensure the integrity, safety and security of the Olympic and Paralympic Flames, plus the immediate protection of the Torch bearer holding that flame.

David will be part of a team who will travel with the Olympic Flame, and the former Our Lady and St Michael's pupil who has served with the MPS for 17 years was chosen to take on this challenge from an initial 664 applicants, following an eight month selection process.

The 40-year-old applied for the role after a lifetime of following athletics both home and abroad. His sporting interest stemmed from his mother and father, Eric and Christine Thompson who were both athletes and still live in Abergavenny.

David is a keen sportsman, playing in two football leagues for MPS teams as well as in the Welsh football league. He has also run a number of half and full marathons.

Numerous hours have gone into preparing for the role, but outside of work David has been preparing by mixing up his exercise programme, with a personal trainer, to include spinning, running, speed work and hill training, not to mention running after his two young sons.

Once the Games begin David is looking forward to watching the athletics, in particular the 100m final and being a marathon runner himself - the marathons in London. His Olympic sporting hero is Allan Wells, who he aspired to be like as a youngster, after he won the 100m sprit in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

An excited David explained, "It means everything to me to be part of the Olympics, something I've always watched. It also means I will be able to tell my grandchildren that I was part of history.

"I think there will be a sense of pride as I run through my home towns and that is the part I am looking forward to the most."

And David's proud parents will be lining the streets amongst thousands of others to welcome both the Olympic Torch and their son home to the Gateway of Wales in a day touched by the hand of history and watched by the world.

Eric Thompson told the Chronicle, "My wife and I are so very proud of David and his involvement in such a momentous event, and hope he enjoys every minute of his 70 day journey."