DAY 33 of the Queen's Baton Relay and of the 4,000 baton bearers taking part in the event, those in the East Renfrewshire brigade certainly represented some of the most excited - and enthralled.

Stage and screen star John Barrowman made his expected effervescent appearance at Greenbank House in Clarkston. And, as always, he is a hard act to follow.

However, at Clarkston Hall, the carnival atmosphere, with fun rides for children, bouncy castles, bicycle challenges and many of the 500 people in attendance wearing I Love Clarkston.com T-shirts, offered the excitement level Barrowman would have loved.

Retired Team GB and Scottish athlete Lee McConnell carried the baton at Netherlee Primary School in the suburb.

Then came Sara Clegg, whose story of resoluteness and resolve seems to sum up very well the spirit of the Commonwealth Games.

At the age of three, Sara was in a crash at a level crossing that left her life hanging by a thread. The resulting brain damage left her with severe learning difficulties, but over the past 12 years she has defied doctors' expectations to achieve success in sport and is now involved in with several other sports organisations.

She is currently working towards her Duke of Edinburgh Award.

And when she carried the baton into the car park outside Clarkston Hall, the roar could be heard way above the pipe band.

How did she enjoy her big moment? "Great," she said, her face beaming.

Could she believe the number of people who had turned out see her carry the baton? "No," she said.

Sara's precise answers only served to highlight her own excitement and the crowd's obvious delight.

They cheered just as loudly when the baton was handed over to Jamie Rigg. Sixteen-year-old wheelchair-bound Jamie has cerebral palsy but was a recent Scottish Champion in boccia.

"He wasn't nervous, just extremely proud," said his father Alistair of his son.

The Mearns Castle High School pupil is now looking forward to going to college and Jamie said he loved his moment.

"It was brilliant," said the teenager. "This excitement will last a really long time."

David Kane's excitement in parading the baton to the watching world was equally infectious.

The Carolside Primary School football coach and community fundraiser said: "I loved doing it.

"It was great to be nominated but it's also great for the children who have come down to see all this."

The baton relay circus then moved to Giffnock, offering Iain Galbraith, president of Giffnock Lawn Bowls and Tennis Club, the opportunity to shine the light on his 200-strong successful club and to encourage new members to join in the fun.

Hundreds of baton followers lined the nearby the streets keen to see the baton, or perhaps even touch it, and there was also a big crowd when it stopped off at St Ninian's High School.

Events and conferences organiser Clive Thomson, who dedicates his spare time to encourage all ages to play tennis, couldn't contain his excitement as he handed over the baton to Liz Grant.

"My family are all really involved in tennis," he said. "I'm a member of Whitecraigs Club and my daughter Kirsty works for the Lawn Tennis Foundation and Disability Tennis.

"I've been working to build up a rapport with the local community but I didn't expect this fantastic reception."

Yet day 33 highlighted that the baton relay is not just about acknowledging sporting endeavour, or indeed dragging couch potatoes away from the living room.

Liz, for example, is a charity fundraiser nominated for her work with the Wayside Club in Glasgow which feeds homeless people.

She danced a jig to the backdrop of the pipes and it was a dance of joy for the watching crowd, all realising, and appreciating that caring for others and impacting on lives does not always require a track suit or running vest.