Pembrokeshire’s sporting fraternity was represented at the BBC’s ‘Sport Personality of the Year’ awards as Pembrokeshire’s only Paralympian, Jacob Thomas, had been invited to attend – and actually met up with eventual winner Lewis Hamilton!
 
Jacob made the long journey north to Glasgow with parents Caroline and Mike, plus sister Polly and uncle Wayne, and stayed just five minutes away from the SSE Hydro venue which housed the 12,000 guests and paying public who watched the world-famous show hosted by Gary Lineker and Claire Balding.
 

Special treats for Jacob and Wayne

 
Although dad Mike is his ramp assistant when Jacob, the No 4 ranked boccia player in the world competes, Jacob took his uncle Wayne to the sports awards because he is a real sports fanatic, a decision fully supported by Mike, who joined the rest of the family watching just down the road at the hotel.
 
Jacob not only met Lewis Hamilton and several other top sportspeople he was delighted to speak to Dame Tanni Grey, easily the best-known Paralympian and now sitting in the House of Lords.
 
There was also a special treat for Wayne, as avid a Liverpool supporter as you can get, because he had a photograph with Liverpool former player and manager Kenny Dalglish.
 
Jacob also had a picture with the famous footballer but admits his teeth were gritted a little because he is equally as avid a Manchester United supporter!

 
Amazing evening and a great view

 
“It was an amazing evening,” said Jacob, “and we were on a raised platform so had a terrific view.
 
“The atmosphere was amazing, especially in the lead-up to the top three being announced.”
 
It was very much back to work the following day, though, as Jacob and Mike then had a ten-hour trek to Surrey for the last training camp before the New Year for the British squad’s boccia players.
 
The rest of the Thomas family faced an even longer train trip before they arrived back in Bethesda, near Narberth, but all agreed that it was worth it for Jacob to have an experience of a lifetime amongst the other top sportsmen and women of the UK.