This way, Mr Cameron: Keith is the PM’s chaperone

But nothing could quite match an opportunity to meet and greet a Prime Minister.

Keith was given the great honour of showing David Cameron around the Hanover Place club last Wednesday morning.

He introduced a panel of Bann stalwarts including president Bobby Platt, vice-captain Stephen Smyth, coach Geoff Bones, committee member Simon Hamilton and former Irish Olympic rower Richard Archibald.

And the Prime Minister also got to talk with many of the club’s starry-eyed young rowers who are hoping to following in the slip-stream of Alan Campbell and Co.

Keith told The Coleraine Times: It’s a superb honour for the club and the town.

“It’s totally overwhelming just coming as it does with all the excitement about our Olympians, Alan and Richard and Peter.

It looks as if someone has taken notice of us somewhere!

I think it’s fairly unique to have one town producing three Olympians in the same sport at the same time.”

Asked what the Prime Minister said to him, Keith revealed:

“He said he wanted to come and see where it had all started. He’s delighted to be here.

“And he took a great interest in the memorabilia that the boys and girls have brought back to us over the years as they have had their success and is obviously keen to see some GB medals from them.

“It’s a very proud day for eveyone at Bann and Coleraine.”

* Keith Leighton, Bann captain, with Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for NI and David Cameron, Prime Minister. CR32-303PL

PICTURE: PAUL NASH