RUNNER Kelvin Bowers made headlines around the globe when he completed a 10,500 mile journey from Stoke-on-Trent to Sydney, Australia, on foot.

Now he has been nominated to attend a dinner to celebrate the Potteries' most influential individuals in honour of his achievement.

Kelvin ran his first marathon at the age of 14 in 1960, making it on to the front page of The Sentinel.

Fourteen years later, the world's press looked on in amazement as he embarked on his epic record-breaking run from Stoke-on-Trent to Sydney, Australia.

Fenton-born runner Kelvin passed through 11 countries before reaching his destination Down Under.

Kelvin, aged 64, remembers how the idea came to him.

He said: "In 1966 I was staying with the famous running coach Percy Cerutty in Australia.

"It was his idea to run from Australia to England, but he was in his 70s, his wife wouldn't hear of it and he couldn't get the backing.

"He sowed the seed of the idea, but by then I had stopped running. It wasn't until I returned to the UK and bumped into an old running companion, Keith Boydon, that I started running again.

"A group of us including Peter Buxton, who was sports editor of The Sentinel at the time, used to meet in secret in the Stoke City boardroom at the old Victoria Ground.

"We spent two years planning the trip; it took longer to plan it than complete it."

Setting off in April 1974, it took Kelvin until September 1975 to reach his destination.

From Stoke-on-Trent he ran to Dover and arriving in France he ran through Belgium, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.

Leaving Europe and heading into the Middle East, Kelvin ran through Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan, Pakistan and India before catching a ship from Madras to Fremantle in Western Australia.

Kelvin, now living in St Ives in Cornwall, was accompanied on the entire journey by his then wife Leona and their son Zhenka in a camper van, with various friends travelling with them for stretches of the trip.

He said: "I planned the route with a friend and we approached all kinds of organisations so we had the right information to avoid monsoons in India and snow in Afghanistan.

"I definitely thought it couldn't be done and it was only after we'd made it through the Khyber Pass that I felt we'd make it.

"It was a crazy journey and the world has changed so much, when I explain it to people they can't understand that I've run through countries that are on the news."

Alan Collinson, aged 62, a retired BT engineer from Blurton, remembers hearing of Kelvin's travels.

He said: "I think he put Stoke-on-Trent on the map when he did this.

"I was in the forces at the time and lots of different people there knew about him. His journey was no mean feat and deserves recognition."

With this is mind Alan has nominated him for a place at the city's centenary meal marking 100 years since the federation of the six towns.

A host of events are planned to take place across the centenary year, including the celebration dinner at the King's Hall, Stoke, which will be hosted by Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers.

The Sentinel is asking readers to nominate 50 people who have contributed to the city to be invited to the dinner. To nominate someone for The Sentinel 100, log on to www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/sentinel100 or write, outlining your nomination to: The Sentinel 100, Sentinel House, Forge Lane, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5SS.