Reception to honour gold medallist Skelton

Buy photos » Mayor Lennox Cumberbatch and High Bailiff of Alcester Court Leet Steve Payne welcoming Nick Skelton to town earlier this year. Picture by Mike Ford (s).

ALCESTER is set to honour Olympic gold medallist Nick Skelton with a civic reception next week.

The 54-year-old will be presented with a special painting of himself and horse Big Star at the event on Wednesday (October 10) at St Benedict's Catholic High School in Kinwarton Road.

The painting has been commissioned by Alcester Town Council and produced by famous portrait artist and Haselor resident Melissa Mailer-Yates, who has also painted for The Queen, the Saudi Royal Family and other celebrities.

Members of the town council, the Alcester Olympics committee, school pupils and other dignitaries will attend the reception designed to show the town's pride in Skelton's success at London 2012. The event is invitation only, but the public are welcome to cheer on Skelton, who lives just outside Alcester, as he arrives.

Alcester Mayor Lennox Cumberbatch, who organised the event, said: "Everybody is looking forward to him being here. When he came to see his gold post box in the high street quite a few people came up to speak to him and have their picture taken so there's a lot of interest.

"It's another chance for the town to express their appreciation."

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