A PEAL of church bells, cheers, whistles and clapping greeted Ian Botham and his entourage as they strode through West Devon this week on the charity walk from John O' Groats.
Mr Botham was joined by soccer hero Gary Lineker, chairman of the England cricket selectors David Graveney and ex-Lancashire and England cricketer Graham 'Foxy' Fowler for this leg of 'The Finale' — Mr Botham's last sponsored walk for Leukaemia Research.
Keeping up with the swift pace of the celebrities were Cllr Christine Marsh, Mayor of Okehampton, and Sidney Thompson of Okehampton OK!
Hundreds of people lined the route to wave the team on and throw donations in the many buckets being shaken by volunteer collectors.
Bill Rumsam and his wife Lou joined the collecting team at the start of the walk and carried on until the entourage hit Wigan.
'We had to have a week out for my husband to go into hospital — he's got leukaemia,' said Mrs Rumsam.
'People have been very good and the weather has been brilliant which helps a lot,' she said.
Ann Malenya of South Zeal was thrilled to get an autograph from Gary Lineker.
'When we heard they were coming through, we rushed into Forbuoys and bought a pen, paper and a camera.
'They were walking so fast I don't know if we got a picture — I think we might have got the back of his head!,' said Mrs Malenya.
'Everybody said "You won't get his signature" but I said "Yes I will!
'I actually had my little girl on my shoulders and I chased him up the street!
'He said he wasn't really allowed to do it but he scribbled it quickly for me — it looks the same as on the crisp packet!' said Mrs Malenya.
The walkers strode along the West Devon Drive finishing for the day at Jethro's in Lewdown.
Mr Botham has now clocked up eight long distance walks, averaging an incredible £1,000 a mile raised for the Leukaemia Research Fund.
He is due to reach Land's End this Saturday.