Jenson Button's Formula 1 win celebrated in Frome

Jenson aged 19 talks about his dreams of becoming an F1 champ

Frome is planning to hold a celebration party with the new Formula 1 champion Jenson Button as the guest of honour.

A group of organisations including Somerset's Chamber of Commerce and Into Somerset are working with Jenson's management to find a free date.

F1 expert Roger Phillips said they were finding it difficult to find a free date but they were going "to persist".

Mayor Damon Hooton said the win would increase the profile of the town. "He's given a boost to the town," he said.

"It's well deserved. He's inspirational not just for young people, but for everybody. There's an extra spring in Frome's step and everyone seems to be a bit more happy."

'Frome on the map'

People of Frome crowded into pubs to watch the moment when Jenson clenched the championship.

People gathered in the Frome Flyer pub to celebrate the win

One family friend of the Button's said: "It's absolutely wonderful. It's the best thing to happen to the town. I can't believe it, I honestly didn't think he'd win it this week. I'm overwhelmed.

"For a town like Frome it's absolutely amazing because it's such a small town. We obviously didn't think we'd have a world champion and watching him today in a pub he's named after...

"We're such a little town; we haven't got anyone famous here even though we don't really know him personally now, you do feel like you know him because he's from Frome and he's a world champion and you can't take that away. We love him!"

Jenson went to Frome Community College and Selwood School

Fan James Curtis said: "Somebody from Frome winning a title like that - I think it's absolutely amazing. I think it's put Frome more on the map and I think it's very important for Frome. It's a very small place so it just shows that a normal person from Frome can go on to great things.

Andy White, landlord of the Vine Tree pub in Frome, said: "I don't think we can appreciate how good it is for Frome.

"We tried to think of another world champion that came from the area and couldn't think of one. It was fantastic. The feel-good factor was tremendous."

Youngest British FR driver ever

Jenson first caught the racing bug when he was eight years old after his father John bought him his first racing kart.

In 1991, he won all 34 races in his first season of the British Cadet Car Championship.

Jenson with his father John

Mike Penn who trained Jenson said he had always been a "natural".

He added that Jenson worked hard, with his father always there pushing him, and that they were "relentless in focussing all the time on the objective and of course the objective was to become a Formula 1 World Champion".

Mike remembers one occasion when he told John that Jenson needed to "buck up his training" to which John replied: "Mike, one day my son is going to be a Formula 1 World Champion".

"And I said 'John, the chances of anyone making a living out of motor racing at this stage are 4000-1' and he said 'no, no, no, one day my son will be a Formula 1 racing champion'. And I said yes ok John."

"They were a true team. I saw lots and lots of fathers and sons where fathers were living their dreams through their children - the children didn't want to do it, Jenson was there with his dad focused as a team, focused all the time."

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What do you make of Jenson's win? How should the town celebrate?

Well done Jenson, I knew you could do it, can't wait for March 2010.Hope you get the drive with Brawn!
Gloria Whittam, Corfe Mullen, Dorset

They have just re-surfaced bath street with a very smooth tarmac? is this a sign? Who could ever turn down driving an F1 car down your old high street. go on....
Andrew Bell, Frome

Jenson Button is a product of Somerset and he is extremely loyal to his Somerset friends.
This is a unique opportunity to put Frome and the County of Somerset on the map - hence the efforts of some of us (the Into Somerset inward investment agency, the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Action Resources Ltd and www.motor-sport.uk.com, the Haynes International Motor Museum and the BBC included)over the past 6 months to seek to plan ahead for this outcome and to try to stage a celebration for World Champion Jenson Button and for Somerset and Somerset citizens.
We are trying at this moment to get an available date out of Jenson's Management who are, alas, not based in Somerset and who are now embroiled in his contract negotiations for next year. I can assure everyone that we are persevering though!
Roger Phillips, Langport

Graham Reeds from stockton can't even spell pay-cheque which sums up that comment. Followed Jenson from his first kart race he deserves all the praise in the world well done Jenson bloody brilliant. Gave you your first chequered flag at clay. Enjoy it and win next year.
David, Armagh

WELL DONE JENSON.from one ex west country guy to another,good luck for the last race of this season,a win would really top it off.
Richard, Edmonton, Canada

well done jenson
Philip, Darlington

Put a good driver in a good car and you have a winner (It must be 50/50 ratio alter this at your peril, ref. Hamilton at start of season) Note to Graham in Stockton, Wouldn't you do the same ? I would.
Steve Tisdall, Wells, England

... does anyone know what it's like to live in a town where every young driver of 16 or 17 has Jenson as their idol and role model?
Michael Collins, Frome

I have brawn stripes on my sports car since turkey gp nearly took them off after saturday qually, i drive it around frome when i can
John Ward, Midsomer Norton

Well Done Jenson!!!!!!! I have supported you since you first hit the F1 scene and it was fantastic to watch you win the World Championship Title in Brazil. I hope you stay with Brawn and hope you go on to win again next year. I'll be watching!
Sam Ellis, Chippenham

Who is this sad jealous guy with attitude from Stockton. WELL DONE Jenson, you deserve to live wherever you want. Right from the start you had a winners attitude and you've proved you are worthy of being a World Champion in a World Class Team.
Graham, Chelmsford

As much as I wanted Lewis to win, it's really great to see that F1 title has gone to a first timer. Congrats - Jenson and to all Frome F1 supporters.
Gibion Machanja, Karen, Kenya

Well done Jenson, we are extremely proud of you.
John, Coleford near Frome

Jenson has a road (Jenson Way) named after him on the outskirts of Frome that has considerable access and open space to accomodate large crowds. Would it not be best to have him if possible drive his BGP001 along it so anyone who is interested in seeing him can.
Mark, Trowbridge, Wilts

Congratulations Sir Jenson! How long has it been since F1 pundits see you as a potential F1 world champion, a true motorsport hero?

That long wait and dreaming is over! it's a reality, NOW! You did it!

What adds to your great win would be the many struggles you've been entangled on: a new team and a new formula which greatly affected car design and ability which in turn had to focus on driver's SKILL and team work...

Your having taken the world driver's championship title is a genuine, perfect moment! You conquered the odds! A world champion for a new era of Formula racing!
diecastcargroup-jvb, Manila, Philippines

well done answered all the critics
Eamon, Dublin, Ireland

well done jenson, i knew you would do it and if anyone deserved it you did matey. all the trash you have driven in F1 restricted your winning ability but give you a quality car and just like lewis last year you proved we brits ARE F1!!!! well done!
Ian Holder, Stroud UK

A great day not just for Somerset but for BrawnGP. What's the betting Jenson wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year! Go Button, go.
Jed, Wiveliscombe, Somerset

i only got into F1 since 2007 because i always heard hamilton on the news, now on my 3rd yr, button wins it. which means we've got britsh back-to-back champions. GO BUTTON
Mehir Rahman, Swansea

Well done Jenson, Hope you come to visit us soon.
Alvin Horsfall (former Mayor of Frome), Frome

GREAT RACE JENSON WELL DONE
Tricia Taylor, Scotland

Well Done Jenson, I always knew when he was at Selwood that he'd make it. Makes all those conversations in English about the F1 title worthwhile! Up the Frome!
Dan Burgess, Frome

What a wonderful drive by Jenson: brave, purposeful and precise under considerable pressure. It's a fairly-tale story for him and for Brawn GP. Frome can be justifiably proud of it's World Champion, much as Stevenage rightly was for Lewis in 2008 (and frankly, it's irrespective of where they now choose to live).

For us F1 aficionados, 2009 has been an excellent season - despite the many off-track, er, 'distractions' - and Jenson's deserved triumph, with a race still left to run, tops it off perfectly.

Two British World Champs, back-to-back. FANTASTIC.
Ian Fergusson, BBC Weatherman, Bristol

Graham,

If you lived in Frome you would know that Jenson actually comes back here frequently and can be seen in normal pubs/restaurants in Frome with normal ordinary friends..

And yes Frome should definitely celebrate and what more fitting way than to drive his car down Bath street...they did it in London.
Em, Frome

Not half bad for a local lad. well done Jenson and here's to many more.
Harvey, Bath

Well done Jenson, I always said if you had a good car you would win races
Peter, Langport

Winning an event at a world level in any sport is an instant recognition, of the many qualities of a personality weaved into one. More so in a daredevil sports like F1. Well done Jenson, wish you all the best.
Kamath Naresh, New Delhi, India

Great driving Jenson, you are a worthy champion! I know Jenson lives in Monaco now but we hear of him from time to time, like when he supported our neighbour's charity (James Eyers Memorial Fund, in memory of her late fiancee) by donating his racing helmet twice for auction, which was wonderful. So he's a good local boy done very very good!
Adam Boyden, Frome

A great race Jenson, and you deserved the title.
Ed Phillips, Frome

What about Jenson driving the BGP001 down Bath Street?
Dave, Frome

Now 18, i grew up supporting Jenson from the age of 9 and now he finally has got what he deserves, a true champion and my only regret is im currently at uni and not in Frome!!!
William Laye, Frome

A great win well deserved, and a good win for England for a change.
June Kyte, Street

No, they [Frome] shouldn't celebrate. He doesn't live there; his family doesn't live there. Him and his family [went] to Monaco as soon as he got his first paycheck.
Graham Reeds, Stockton

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