DESPITE kick off not starting until 5pm, the crowd began arriving from half past three, keen to get the best vantage spot at Spencer Thorn Bookshop in Bude to see local rugby hero, Phil Vickery, on Wednesday evening.

As the numbers began to increase so did the expectation, eager to experience a great evening. As 5pm loomed the queue was snaking through the venue, out the entrance and working its way right down the street. The hero of the evening arrived slightly later than planned, entering the arena to a huge welcome of cheers, wolf whistles and applause; this wasn't Twickenham, this was Wednesday evening in Spencer Thorn Bookshop.

For more news on a brilliant evening, see this week's edition of the 'Post'.