Last updated at 19:33, Thursday, 28 June 2012

A Cockermouth man will drive athletes and officials across London for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Alan Jackson, 50, of Cocker Lane, will spend two weeks from July 27 ferrying people to and from their hotels to Olympic venues.

Alan, who will work in the Park Lane area, said: “I will have my camera and autograph book with me but I am sure I will be talking to all kinds of people. This gives me the chance to put something back into the Olympics.”

Alan, who has worked at Lloyd BMW in Low Road, Cockermouth, for 34 years, got the chance to volunteer after an invitation was sent out to dealerships.

He put his name forward and had an interview in Newcastle in November.

He believes his experience as a former mechanic who then moved to front desk service was the reason why he was offered the position.

He said: “I said I was very interested in driving, I talk to people every day in my job and I feel I am very outgoing.”

Alan has been on three training weekends to get to know London’s streets.

He has had to finance the trip himself, with a little help from BMW, and will live in a hostel near King’s Cross Station.

l The Olympic torch in West Cumbria – Page 6

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 28 June 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk