Around 200 specially invited guests were at the International Hotel in Ashford on Wednesday 15 October to help celebrate the achievements of athletes and sports stars, with special presentations made to Jamie in recognition of his performance at the Beijing Games.

Earlier in the day Jamie visited his old schools, North School and Smeeth Primary, as well as taking time to stop off at Sk8side, a reminder of Jamie’s past career in BMX.

At the ceremony, Mayor of Ashford, Cllr John Link, presented Jamie with a framed scroll to formally recognise his outstanding achievement and Jamie also received a specially commissioned piece of artwork by local Ashford artist, Oliver Winconek.

A second original artwork by the artist was accepted on behalf of children’s charity, the NSPCC.

After taking some questions from event host, KMFM’s Webbo, Jamie answered questions from several young sports stars of the future and also from the winner of the Active Ashford competition.

Shadeau Atley, 14, won a bike from Halfords Bike Hut for submitting the winning question in a competition organised by Active Ashford, the borough’s Sports Partnership Network.

Jamie and Lisa are both Ambassadors for Active Ashford along with other sporting stars from the borough, including disabled athletes Candy Hawkins and Nick Boylan, who were both at the ceremony.

Cllr Gerry Clarkson, portfolio holder for cultural and project services, said: “It’s very exciting for Ashford to be able to honour athletes like Jamie and Lisa, people who are utterly dedicated to their sport.

“We hope that their example serves as an inspiration for more people to go out and take part in physical activity of any kind, whether it’s competitive sports or just walking for fun. “We have some excellent sporting facilities in Ashford and this has been acknowledged by the fact that four of them have been included in the London 2012 Pre Games Training Camps Guide.”

Mark Carty, head of cultural and project services at Ashford Borough Council, gave an emphatic speech on the night, praising Lisa and Jamie in particular: “Ashford is very proud that we have over 50 county, regional, national and international standard sports people, representing some 27 sports. “The Beijing Olympics was the first time that Ashford had two athletes at the same games and Jamie’s gold medal is another first – never before has an Ashfordian won sport’s greatest prize. “Through programmes such as Active Ashford we hope that Jamie, Lisa and all of our other sports people, can inspire the next generation of sporting heroes.”