Last updated 15:58, Friday, 05 September 2008

HEXHAM’S first-ever Olympic medallist Matthew Wells received a hero’s welcome when he returned this week to the place where he first began honing his talent.

360852

Members of Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School Rowing Club decorated the clubhouse and gathered to congratulate their most successful old boy.

The 29-year-old rower, who competed in the double sculls event in Beijing with partner Steve Rowbotham, has no doubt inspired the scores of young people who attend the rowing club.

Matt arrived with his proud parents John and Anne, and girlfriend Georgie, to show off his Olympic bronze medal.

Matthew, a former Queen Elizabeth High School student, revisiting the club where he described having an “amazing time” as a teenager. He was reunited with a proud Pauline Higgins, the teacher in charge at the rowing club, who watched Matthew develop from the age of 13.

She said: “Matthew won gold in his first national championships in a double with a young man called Paul Deacon, and we always knew he could and would go on to bigger and better things.

“He always had the size, the fitness, the stamina, and the nature to succeed. He was very committed from a young age and we’re all very proud of him.”

Matthew paid tribute to the rowing club which, despite struggling with funding like most clubs, gave him some fantastic opportunities over the years.

Hexham’s Mayor, Coun. JB Jonas, was also on hand to congratulate Matthew on behalf of the town.

He said: “I must admit there isn’t much which gets me shouting and cheering in front of the television, but this certainly did. It was a very gripping race.

“It is an excellent achievement and Matthew should be commended on what he has done for Hexham and for rowing.”

Learning that it had been 32 years since Britain last won and Olympic medal in the men’s sculling really does set Matthew’s achievement into context.

But with several world championships just around the corner and 2012 to focus on, Matthew only has a few months off before returning to his strict training regime.

“Both Steve and I are continuing but nothing is guaranteed for four years time. We’ll both have to go through selection again,” he explained.

“But I’ll have a few months off to catch up with everyone and then it’s back to training five hours a day for six and a half days a week.”