Son rises on a very special day for Brian

Sep 21 2009 by The Journal

FIREMAN Brian Batey had done the Great North Run three times before but this year was special – it was the first time his son watched him cross the finish line.

Mr Batey, 43, was one of thousands to be reunited with their families at the race’s finish in South Shields.

As tired runners greeted loved ones Mr Batey, a watch manager at Morpeth Fire Station, embraced his three-year-old, Olly, and wife Rachel.

Excited Olly ran into the crowd to meet his dad as he crossed the finishing line.

Mr Batey, of Felton Avenue, Whitley Bay, said: “He came running up to us but he got a bit confused in the crowd and ended up running around in circles.”

“It is different having him here. It really spurs you on and you hope you are delivering the right message of fitness from a young age.

“I would love to run it with him one day. I hope I’m still running when he’s old enough to do it.”

Mrs Batey, 38, a human resources manager at Burberry, said: “It’s been lovely and I’m always so proud of him when he finishes.”

When asked what the best part of the day was Olly thought carefully for a moment. “The ice lolly,” he said, finally.

But all thoughts of sweets were forgotten as the Red Arrows display team blazed over the family reunion area.

Children using the run’s foil blankets as capes stopped to stare as jets raced past the coastline.

Jacki Dunn, 62, of Jarrow, waited anxiously for her team of four family members as the planes flew over.

Her son Carl, 41, a car salesman, grandson Adam, 17, a student, son David, 39, a air conditioning engineer, and David’s wife, Tracy, 39, a housewife, all ran in aid of Marie Curie. Tracy’s mum Margaret Steele died of cancer last June.

She said: “I’ve been a little bit anxious but it’s been a lovely day. The most important thing is that people are doing it for someone they’ve lost.”