Olympics - London 2012 - Olympic Torch Relay (Andy on 23rd July)

[cazza99]

I have the torch cam on! So excited. It's driving through Consett at the mo.

Oh no the screen went completely black after a minute or so. Maybe I'm not allowed to watch it from Canada. Bummer.

Have you tried watching the stream from the olympic site. ? That should be OK outside the UK. http://www.london2012.com/

[VamosVixs]

Oh no the screen went completely black after a minute or so. Maybe I'm not allowed to watch it from Canada. Bummer.

The torch cam has been on and off all day, so not just you.

[Genbrit]

I have the torch cam on! So excited. It's driving through Consett at the mo.

Oh no the screen went completely black after a minute or so. Maybe I'm not allowed to watch it from Canada. Bummer.

RL - Keep it on. Unfortunately, sometimes they lose the signal because there is no connection or there are so many people using it. Yes, as I'm typing this it has come back on. :clap:

[RoastLamb]

Yes, it just came back on thanks. But I think I missed it going through Low Fell. Argh.

[RoastLamb]

Just reading the scroll on the sidebar. It's amazing how many wonderful people there are raising so much money for charities. So incredible.

[rondun]

Been hearing worrying stories about some of the runners being given counterfeit torches to carry - but I'm pretty sure the one I saw was genuine (http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/rondun/amcom/olympic-flame-tested.jpg).

[RoastLamb]

Been hearing worrying stories about some of the runners being given counterfeit torches to carry - but I'm pretty sure the one I saw was genuine (http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/rondun/amcom/olympic-flame-tested.jpg).

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

[cazza99]

Been hearing worrying stories about some of the runners being given counterfeit torches to carry - but I'm pretty sure the one I saw was genuine (http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c130/rondun/amcom/olympic-flame-tested.jpg).

:rolling:

[VamosVixs]

:rolling::rolling::lol:



I held one of the torches yesterday. A colleague knew someone who was a torchbearer on Wednesday and he let her bring the torch into school yesterday to show staff and pupils. It's lighter than I thought it would be and it's very nice. :thumbup:

[KnightOwl]

Yes, it just came back on thanks. But I think I missed it going through Low Fell. Argh.

Yeah, I think that was around 12:30 or so - however on the torchcam page, you should be able to use the orange slider under the video to go back and watch something earlier in the day. Low Fell was towards the end of the morning session, so in theory if you click on the "Morning: Gateshead to Blaydon" tab and slide the bar back to maybe 12:15 ish, then if torchcam was working at the time, you should be able to see it go through Low Fell etc.

Edit: bother! I've just tried to test that for you, but for some reason the morning section now says 'unavailable' - sorry :sad:

[KnightOwl]

I held one of the torches yesterday. A colleague knew someone who was a torchbearer on Wednesday and he let her bring the torch into school yesterday to show staff and pupils. It's lighter than I thought it would be and it's very nice. :thumbup:

Wow, that is very very cool! I don't suppose you got someone to take a photo of you holding it, did you??

[VamosVixs]

Wow, that is very very cool! I don't suppose you got someone to take a photo of you holding it, did you??

I did, but I look horrible in it, so I don't want to post it as I would give you all nightmares!! :sofa:

[RoastLamb]

Yeah, I think that was around 12:30 or so - however on the torchcam page, you should be able to use the orange slider under the video to go back and watch something earlier in the day. Low Fell was towards the end of the morning session, so in theory if you click on the "Morning: Gateshead to Blaydon" tab and slide the bar back to maybe 12:15 ish, then if torchcam was working at the time, you should be able to see it go through Low Fell etc.

Edit: bother! I've just tried to test that for you, but for some reason the morning section now says 'unavailable' - sorry :sad:

Oh too bad! Thanks for trying.

[KnightOwl]

I did, but I look horrible in it, so I don't want to post it as I would give you all nightmares!! :sofa:

Awwww - I'm sure you don't!!

I bet we'd all love to see it - a forum member holding an actual Olympic Torch - fantastic!!

[Genbrit]

Awwww - I'm sure you don't!!

I bet we'd all love to see it - a forum member holding an actual Olympic Torch - fantastic!!

I agree, you need to post it. Would LOVE to see it.

[Genbrit]

Yeah, I think that was around 12:30 or so - however on the torchcam page, you should be able to use the orange slider under the video to go back and watch something earlier in the day. Low Fell was towards the end of the morning session, so in theory if you click on the "Morning: Gateshead to Blaydon" tab and slide the bar back to maybe 12:15 ish, then if torchcam was working at the time, you should be able to see it go through Low Fell etc.

Edit: bother! I've just tried to test that for you, but for some reason the morning section now says 'unavailable' - sorry :sad:

I don't have an orange slider at the bottom of mine. Is there a way of getting it, do you know?? I read that once the session ends you can't go back but I can't even go back on the current session which is disappointing. Any help would be appreciated.

[KnightOwl]

You should be able to, Genbrit. On mine, if you hover your mouse over the video, it shows a pause button and a time slider, plus a volume control and a full-screen button.

What browser are you using? Some behave a bit differently, for example I can't even get the video to play on Firefox, but it all works on Google Chrome....

[Genbrit]

I have been using Safari. Did try Firefox but got the same as with Safari. have the Volume Control, Full Screen & STOP button!!! Will try & download Google Chrome as my son has been telling me about that.

[KnightOwl]

How strange! Weird to get some of the buttons but not the slider :confused:

I use it all the time trying to get screenshots to post on here :big grin:

Edit: in case it helps, this is what it looks like when I hover my mouse...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/7380615426_671aba0581.jpg

You can grab the white bit at the end of the orange bar and drag it back to watch earlier footage - annoying if it doesn't work for everyone though!

[rondun]

I have been using Safari. Did try Firefox but got the same as with Safari. have the Volume Control, Full Screen & STOP button!!! Will try & download Google Chrome as my son has been telling me about that.You'd probably be better off making sure you're flash player plugin is up to date before trying different browsers

[KnightOwl]

Well, it varies - I found Flash 11 wouldn't work on my main laptop, so I had to get hold of Flash 10 - but Flash 11 worked ok on my teeny travel laptop - both are Windows 7. I find it all a bit flaky, to be honest! Even with the "'latest" version of flash, neither laptop can show the video on Firefox, but both work ok on Chrome :confused:

[KnightOwl]

June 16th: Durham

A local tennis hero caries the flame in a 1920's motorcycle sidecar!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8011/7380857116_6e82330ab2.jpg
Photo courtesy of BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day29)


1822: The umbrellas and hoods may be up, but the enthusiasm of the crowds shows no signs of abating. It's three or four deep as Ken passes the flame onto Dennis Laycock - aka Tennis Dennis. Dennis is taking a more unusual mode of transport, riding in the sidecar of a vintage motorcycle, with the driver wearing the full emsemble of goggles and raincoat!
And about that nickname... Dennis is passionate about getting people involved in tennis, bringing more than 80 junior players into his beloved Lanchester Lawn Tennis Club. Speaking about his nomination, Dennis said: "It was a complete surprise! I am thrilled and honoured to be a small part of sporting history."
(extract from #bbctorchcam live-text commentary on the BBC Torch Relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day29) Page.)

[Genbrit]

How strange! Weird to get some of the buttons but not the slider :confused:

I use it all the time trying to get screenshots to post on here :big grin:

Edit: in case it helps, this is what it looks like when I hover my mouse...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7221/7380615426_671aba0581.jpg

You can grab the white bit at the end of the orange bar and drag it back to watch earlier footage - annoying if it doesn't work for everyone though!

Thanks KO & Rondun - I just don't have the orange bar and the pause box is just a solid white box to stop!!! I have 11.03 Flash so seems current. Will keep playing with it. Think I will try my work laptop.

Have to laugh. Matt Baker is under an umbrella and the poor girl who has just finished running with the torch is left to stand in the rain. Matt Baker must be a big celebrity over there but I haven't heard of him before. My first impression is "a wimp", although I guess a not bad looking wimp!!!

[KnightOwl]

:lol: He's an ex Blue Peter presenter, and currently co-presenter of The One Show - also iirc does sports commentary, mainly for gymnastics...I'm not sure "big celebrity" is entirely accurate, but I guess he's fairly popular - personally I find him rather annoying!

[Genbrit]

He looked kind of smug & annoying. If I was that girl I would have forced my way under his umbrella. That's probably why I would never be chosen to run with the torch!!! :red devil: ;)

[VamosVixs]

Awwww - I'm sure you don't!!

I bet we'd all love to see it - a forum member holding an actual Olympic Torch - fantastic!!


I agree, you need to post it. Would LOVE to see it.

Ok, I hate myself in photos but I will be brave, and the torch is the main attraction! As it proved all day with hundreds of kids and staff getting their pic taken with it.

Special thanks to the torchbearer who very kindly let us borrow it for the day! :thumbup:

[MurrayAOne]

That's a great picture!

[RoastLamb]

That's a awesome photo. You should get that framed. Also, the background is fabulous too!

[Genbrit]

:thanks: Vixs- That is awesome. You look great and how wonderful to be able to hold that part of history. The kids must have loved it as well. Kudos to the torchbearer for sharing. I love that you had the background too!!! :thumbup:

[KnightOwl]

Brilliant Vixs - thank you so much for posting - and you look lovely by the way :)

[Hawkeye]

Looking good V!

[cazza99]

The torch relay is on the BBC red button this afternoon- 2-7 pm (after 3.30 on freeview).

[cazza99]

You look great Vixs. You look very different to what I thought you would look like though.

[Alis]

:lol: He's an ex Blue Peter presenter, and currently co-presenter of The One Show - also iirc does sports commentary, mainly for gymnastics...I'm not sure "big celebrity" is entirely accurate, but I guess he's fairly popular - personally I find him rather annoying!

He was also runner up in Strictly Come Dancing 2010.

[Genbrit]

Well, I tried experimenting to get the rewind option. It seems whatever browser or version of Player I use, I can't get the orange bar!!!! :(
Tried my work laptop, IE but it is the same as my apple/mac/safari.
Maybe it's because I'm overseas????? Wouldn't think so.
RL - Can you rewind on yours???

[RoastLamb]

No, I don't get the orange bar either. Strange, huh?

Genbrit, which part of the UK are you from?

[Genbrit]

I'm from Greater London - Middlesex/Hertfordshire. Although I have lived in Northamptonshire/Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire and also South Wales for a short 3 months. And as I mentioned got married in Scotland.

Orange Bar must be for the Brits only!!! :( I was hoping I could start the session of in the middle of the night, go back to bed and rewind when I got up but I guess it's not going to happen. My mum lives in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire and it goes through there on a Saturday so I might just have to stay up all night as I won't have work - we will see.

[Sallydaisy]

June: 17th: Durham to Middlesbrough

More to follow

[Sallydaisy]

June 18th: Middlesbrough to Hull

more to follow

BBC webpage here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day31)

[hfwardhouse]

Lovely picture Vixs - how exciting for you :)

[-J-]

Ok, I hate myself in photos but I will be brave, and the torch is the main attraction! As it proved all day with hundreds of kids and staff getting their pic taken with it.

Special thanks to the torchbearer who very kindly let us borrow it for the day! :thumbup:how you doiiiinnnnggg

[Sallydaisy]

June 19th: Hull to York

:olympics:

Just a quick roundup of what the torch is up to today!

Tuesday's route takes the relay from Hull (starting at The Deep aquarium) through Brough, Goole, Camblesforth, Selby (traffic bottleneck), Monk Fryston (nice hotel there), Barkston Ash, Tadcaster, Boston Spa, Wetherby (racecourse), Harewood, Knaresborough, Harrogate (Betty's Tea Rooms anyone?) and Ripon before travelling around and into York.

It'll be greeted at historic Harewood House by HRH Princess Beatrice.

The day will end when former showjumper Harvey Smith, 74, takes his torch into the racecourse, riding novice showjumper Paddy. He will light the cauldron at the evening celebration.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A posse of torchbearers;
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/60999000/jpg/_60999961_601601248.jpg

A town crier welcomes the torch to York Road, on the outskirts of Knaresborough and first to take the flame after lunch is Danielle Bailey (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=lindsay-bailey-6717/index.html). Danielle contracted meningitis at the age of four which resulted in both her legs being amputated above the knee as well as both her hands and all her fingers.

She started swimming last year and has since gone on to join Harrogate's swimming squad and now regularly competes in the National Gala in Sheffield. Danielle hopes one day to compete in the Paralympics. As with many of the wheelchair users who have carried the torch, Danielle has a special fitting on her chair to hold the torch while she waves to people on the roadside.



Schools out in Harrogate
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61003000/jpg/_61003335_harrogatepic.jpg

York cyclists ready to escort the torch ....
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61009000/jpg/_61009292_yorkcyclists.jpg

Scott Stockdale on York City Walls, Minster in background
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61014000/jpg/_61014949_stockdaleonwallsgetty.jpg

Great scenes at York Racecourse .....

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61012000/jpg/_61012158_harveysmith.jpg

Here's Harvey:

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61014000/jpg/_61014192_harveysmithpa.jpg

[KnightOwl]

Would have loved to watch some of this today, as I went to York University, and my brother lives a handful of miles from York now, so I know the area well, but unfortunately I was at work - the luxury of watching torchcam through the day is over ;)

[Sallydaisy]

June 20th: York to Carlisle

:olympics:
Day 33 of the torch relay started at York Minster where Jessica Hoggarth-Hall - who was celebrating her 14th birthday - got proceedings under way. She was selected for overcoming her dyslexia through regular participation in drama activities.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61020000/jpg/_61020370_f34c25da-5d22-4da5-bb1d-45f6cd098168.jpg

And a better view of the Minster
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61017000/jpg/_61017807_minster_tweet.jpg

The flame was then carried from the 14th Century cathedral, through the city's cobbled streets, to the National Railway Museum. There Josephine Loughran, from Esholt Shipley, climbed on the front of the Scots Guardsman for a photograph before the rail journey to Thirsk. Ms Loughran, 54, underwent surgery to give a lung lobe to her sister Sheila, who had cystic fibrosis (but who has since died from the disease).

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61019000/jpg/_61019254_steam.jpg

The Flying Scotsman train was originally going to be used (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-17405264) for this leg of the journey, but more remedial work was needed on the engine, which could not be done in time. Pipes and drums from the First Battalion, the Scots Guards piped the flame's arrival.


During the day the flame will travel 134 miles to Bitts Park in Carlisle. After taking in Thirsk, the home town of James Herriot, author of the All Creatures Great and Small series of books, it will travel to Northallerton, Aiskew and Bedale.

The flame then travels to Aysgarth Falls in Wensleydale where Lucy Gale, who saved a car and its elderly driver from a potential collision with a train, takes her turn with the torch before the relay heads to Leyburn. Arriving in Richmond, Helen Jackson, 38, from Huddersfield, will take the flame to Richmond Castle. She was chosen for the voluntary work she does at local hospices to repay them for the care they have given to some of her friends and family in recent years.

The relay will then travel through Barnard Castle, Brough, Appleby-in-Westmorland and Penrith where the day's final torchbearer, Jordan Little, will light the cauldron at the evening celebration in his home city of Carlisle.

extracts from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18508981)and torch relay pages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day33)

[Sallydaisy]

As much use as a Chocolate Torch .........
;)

A chocolatier in York has created a chocolate version - it looks AMAZING!!!
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61003000/jpg/_61003337_choctorch.jpg

Have added a few more piccies to the Durham/York section.

Additional information and photos on the York to Carlisle run .......

Frederick Collett hands over to Caroline Curtis with Aysgarth Falls in the background.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61024000/jpg/_61024194_falls.jpg

Flame swapping in Appleby
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61035000/jpg/_61035679_appleby.jpg

erm, and here's another home made Olympic torch but not quite as classy as the choccy one!
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61035000/jpg/_61035482_mantorch.jpg

[KnightOwl]

As much use as a Chocolate Torch .........
;)

A chocolatier in York has created a chocolate version - it looks AMAZING!!!


Brilliant :big grin:

Loved the photo from the walls in York, with the "monster" in the background, as we used to call it when I lived there :)

[VamosVixs]

I'm loving this torch relay, it's so addictive watching the torchcam. :)

[Sallydaisy]

June 21st: Dumfries to Bowness-on-Windermere
... and a quick sneak back into Scotland

:olympics:

The relay started in Dumfries at the Robert Burns Statue, built to honour the famous Scottish poet. Demelza Powell, 34, who adopted two boys with disabilities, was the day's first torchbearer.

Touching the torch in Dumfries
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61042000/jpg/_61042237_dumfries.jpg

Between Grasmere and Ambleside, the flame will be carried on the open-top bus by Andrew Holden, 71, from Barrow. He has been playing hockey since the age of 14 and has played at club and county level. He has played in European and World Championships for England in over-60s, over-65s and over-70s categories.

It will also go to Annan, Eastriggs and Gretna - a favourite with wedding parties - before visiting Carlisle, Wigton, Aspatria, Maryport, Flimby, Workington and Whitehaven. The Olympic flame will board the steam boat at Waterhead Pier and travel to Bowness-on-Windermere.

Whatever you do, don't drop it in the lake.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61063000/jpg/_61063062_stephanie.jpg

A flotilla escorts the Olympic flame on Windermere
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61063000/jpg/_61063064_tern.jpg

(information and all images from the BBC website and today's torch relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day34))

[VamosVixs]

Yay, my favourite torch security runner is on today, he's such a cutie! Better go to the shallow thread! :shamed: :getcoat:

[Sallydaisy]

June 22nd: Kendal to Blackpool
... even the torch has given into the weather!!!

:olympics:
The Olympic flame travelled 60 miles between Kendal to Blackpool (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day35) but the conditions did not deter the crowds from showing their support for the relay participants.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61069000/jpg/_61069399_joyce.jpg

Kendal local Michael Liptrot (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=michael-liptrot-2547/index.html) was the first of the day's 139 torchbearers as he started the relay at the 12th Century Kendal castle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendal_Castle). The 49-year-old represented Britain at judo and it is through his work that the Kendal dojo gained pre-Olympic training camp status ahead of the London Games, hosting boxers from the Pacific island of Nauru. From Kendal, the torch also travelled to Milnthorpe and Carnforth.

Kendal Castle
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8tYJMwIpTL1K9ZAp-hQ-HtDP6zCRgorUGGf4PQPKspQTNQQKC-d0MPdvuoA

Did you know that one of Carnforth's claims to fame is that in 1945, the railway station was used as a set for the David Lean film Brief Encounter, starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. In the film the station was called Milford Junction.And here is a picture of the clock at the station, which was featured in the film.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61069000/jpg/_61069402_carnforthrailwaystation.jpg


The flame then went to Bolton-le-Sands and Hest Bank before arriving at the seaside resort of Morecambe. Here Victoria Brier, 54, carried the flame to the Eric Morecambe statue on the promenade. Graham Ibbeson's bronze sculpture was erected in 1999 as a tribute to the late comedian, who adopted his hometown's name as his stage name. From Morecambe, it moved to Lancaster, the county town of Lancashire, before continuing its journey to Garstang, St Michael's on Wyre and Fleetwood.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61069000/jpg/_61069405_ericmorcambe.jpg

The relay then moved on to Cleveleys where it was carried on Britain's first electric tramway, from the Rossall School stop in Cleveleys to West Drive in Blackpool. Southport's Peter Cunningham, a pastor who works with the homeless and young people, took the flame on board the tram.

Mr Cunningham carries the flame in a lantern for a few stops on the tram
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61089000/jpg/_61089431_61089429.jpg

Heavy rain and high winds momentarily put out the Olympic flame and forced Blackpool's evening celebration indoors as the relay reached its halfway point. A trip to the top of Blackpool Tower was cancelled and, with the tower in sight, the flame went out as the squall worsened in the early evening. It was swiftly relit from one of the back-up lanterns. Organisers of the Blackpool celebration, which had sold-out, said in a statement: "Unfortunately, the evening celebration that was due to take place on the Tower Festival headland can no longer go ahead due to the weather conditions. The continuing storms also caused slight changes to the torch's progress through the resort. Earlier events in Garstang, Fleetwood and Cleveleys were also abandoned because of the weather.

McFly's Harry Judd and dancer Aliona Vilani swept across the Blackpool Tower ballroom floor to light the cauldron. A grand outdoor finale had been planned in the seaside town but torrential and wind reaching up to 50mph curtailed the day's events.

This is a first for our Olympic torch relay - ballroom dancing in Blackpool.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61089000/jpg/_61089428_61086793.jpg


(information and all images from the BBC website and today's torch relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day34))

[Sallydaisy]

June 23rd: Lytham St Anne's to Manchester
A day for sports fans starting at one of Open golf’s venues and travelling through Lancashire to the home towns of six Football League clubs before reaching one of England’s biggest cities and the new home of BBC Sport and British Cycling.

:olympics:


Royal Lytham St Anne's links .....
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/torchrelay/day_images/passthrough/day36_morning.jpg

After leaving Lytham the torch proceeds through Preston, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Rawtenstall, Rochdale, Bury, Prestwich and onto Manchester. Former Olympic 800m finalist Diane Modahl will be among the torch bearers heading through Preston.

Carrying the torch into the city centre will be Britain's most successful Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy. Sir Chris, 36, said he was "very excited" to have been chosen to carry the torch in his adopted home city

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61089000/jpg/_61089046_hoy.jpg

And on the centenary of his death (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17662585), the flame will visit the statue of computer pioneer Alan Turing in Manchester. The torch will be taken to the monument by Martin Hewitt (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=martin-hewitt-7353/index.html), 30, a former soldier who overcame injuries sustained in Afghanistan to become an international skier.

The relay ends with an evening celebration at the city's Albert Square between 17:00 and 19:30 BST. The flame will be carried onto the stage by 2011 Mancunian Of the Year, Carl Tilson (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=carl-tilson-943/index.html), who raises funds for his fellow sufferers of muscle-wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Carl, who has raised more than £100,000 for the cause, is due to light the cauldron at 18:50 BST.

Hit band Tribe, indie favourites the Courteeners, the Halle Youth Choir and Britain's Got Talent finalists, dance duo Twist and Pulse will entertain the crowds. The show will be followed by a free party at the Printworks, Withy Grove, with some of Africa's finest musicians lending an exotic turn to Manchester's streets.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61089000/jpg/_61089525_albert.jpg

(extracts and photographs from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18554247))

[Sallydaisy]

June 24th: Salford to Leeds
... and someone tried to pour water over the flame!!!

:olympics:

There was also a moment of drama in Leeds when the torch security team moved swiftly to intercept a member of the crowd who tried to throw a bucket of water over the torch relay.
Rotten spoilsport!!!
:grrr:

Sunday's route from Salford to Leeds (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day37) had 151 people carrying the torch 121 miles, ending the day at Temple Newsam.

The torch made its way through towns which were once intrinsic to the cotton industry, before crossing the Pennines into West Yorkshire. The relay started in Salford and went onto Trafford, Moss Side, Rusholme, Longsight and Levenshulme befpre leaving Manchester. It then took in Stockport, Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, Marsh, Huddersfield, Brighouse, Halifax, Bradford, Keighley, Skipton and Ilkley before moving to the districts of Headingley, Potternewton, Harehills and Richmond Hill in Leeds.

BMX world champion Shanaze Reade was the day's first torchbearer. The 24-year-old, from Cheshire, has won six world titles across BMX and track cycling and competed at her first Olympics in Beijing.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61104000/jpg/_61104482_shanaze.jpg

There was drama again when the flame arrived in Leeds. Simon Buckden (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=simon-buckden-3085/index.html), a soldier who served in Bosnia and the Gulf War, carried the Olympic flame in Leeds, and then got down on one knee to propose to his own flame, his girlfriend. It was the torch relay's second proposal (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18476689).

Colin Moynihan, chairman of the British Olympic Association, who has helped to deliver the Games to London, also completed a relay leg in Leeds.

The oldest torchbearer carrying the flame was 94-year-old Thora Beddard (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=thora-beddard-460/index.html). She carried the flame in Oldham. She has written 6,000 poems, learnt to swim at 50, discovered yoga at 60 and took up abseiling and lingerie modelling at 70.In her 80s she passed her English GCSE and carried the Commonwealth baton in Manchester in 2002.

Sir Bobby Charlton holds the Olympic flame aloft outside Old Trafford, home of Manchester United FC.
http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/285x214/328612_1.jpg


(extracts and photographs from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18563480))

[Sallydaisy]

June 25th: Leeds to Sheffield
... and Seb Coe will be running with it

:olympics:
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61108000/jpg/_61108733_sebcoe.jpg

From West Yorkshire to South Yorkshire the route leaves Leeds to travel south, through Morley and its seven hills and rugby league heartlands. There is the chance of some ‘Pontefract cake’ before the torch steels itself to arrive in Sheffield.

The route will cover 76 miles as it leaves Leeds to travel south ending the day with celebrations in Barkers Pool, in the centre of Sheffield. It will travel through Leeds, Huntslet, Beeston, Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Wakefield, Castleford, Pontefract, Ackworth, Lundwood, Barnsley, Darton, Kexbrough, Chapeltown, Ecclesfield and Parson Cross before ending the day in Sheffield.

During Monday afternoon two torchbearers will take the flame to the National Coal Mining Museum and to Sheffield Children's Hospital.

Among Monday's torchbearers are Jono Lancaster (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11780938) who featured on BBC documentary Love Me Love My Face. The 27-year-old, from Wakefield, was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affected the way his facial bones developed while he was in his mother's womb.

Dorothy Hyman (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=dorothy-hyman-49/index.html), 71, who is set to carry the flame in Lundwood, won a silver and two bronze medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Sheffield lad Seb Coe, aka Lord Coe, Chairman of Locog, will be carrying the flame through his home town of Sheffield. But will he be in a white 'flame suit' ???

Well, yes he did.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61137000/jpg/_61137421_coe.jpg

Coe has been instrumental in bringing the Olympic Games to London. Seems only fair and reasonable, then, that he gets to run with the torch in his home city Sheffield. Lord Coe was the head of the London bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, and then became the chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

Before that he wasn't bad at running. During his athletics career he won Olympic gold in the 1500m at the 1980 Moscow Games and successfully defended his title at the Los Angeles Games. He also won silver in the 800m at both of those Olympics.

Flame watchers in Wakefield
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61119000/jpg/_61119824_crane.jpg

Torch excitement in Barnsley
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61127000/jpg/_61127562_barnsleypic.jpg

Lighting the flame at the cauldron in Sheffield
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61137000/jpg/_61137045_cauldron.jpg

(extracts and photographs from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18570307))

[VamosVixs]

Had a giggle this morning as my tweets concerning a certain member of the TST ended up on the bbc live text!! :shamed::shamed: :lol:

[Sallydaisy]

Had a giggle this morning as my tweets concerning a certain member of the TST ended up on the bbc live text!! :shamed::shamed: :lol:
Ahahaha!!! That's twitter for you!!!
Nice one Vixs.
:olympics:

[Sallydaisy]

June 26th: Sheffield to Cleethorpes
... sun, sea, sand and ...

:olympics:
Good morning and welcome to day 39 of the torch relay which sees the flame travel from
City of Steel Sheffield to Cleethorpes on the Lincolnshire coast.

The torch starts its 77-mile journey from Don Valley stadium, which hosts athletics and the English Institute of Sport. After Sheffield, the flame is travelling to Rotherham, Dalton, Thrybergh, Conisbrough, Warmsworth, Doncaster and Armthorpe.It will then go to Dunsville, Hatfield, Scunthorpe, Brigg, Wrawby, Immingham and Grimsby before arriving in Cleethorpes at about 18:50 BST. At about 18:35 BST there will be a train journey for the flame as it is scheduled to take a trip on the Cleethorpes Light Railway (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-17403988). The evening celebration in Meridian Park will begin at 17:00 BST and feature a community street dance performance and a showcase of music from the East Coast Elite Brass and Percussion Corps (http://www.eastcoastelite.org/), which is based in Grimsby.

Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium was the starting point for day 39 of the Olympic torch relay as the flame travels from Sheffield to Cleethorpes (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day39). Lucy Brunt, 13, from Sheffield, was the first of 130 torchbearers and completed a lap of the stadium's running track to start the relay. Ms Brunt was nominated to run at the athletics stadium for her courage and determination in coping with Down's Syndrome.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61172000/jpg/_61172665_brunt.jpg

Poet and storyteller Debjani Chatterjee carried the flame into the Magna Science and Adventure Centre (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-13049591) in Rotherham, which included a spark-filled visit to the Fire Pavilion. The centre was opened in 2001 and was built on the site of the Templeborough Steelworks, which was once the largest in the world.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61172000/jpg/_61172161_magna_pa.jpg

Also carrying the flame though Rotherham is sportsperson Chloe Birch, 16, from Preston, who has been playing badminton since she was eight and has been representing England since she was 11.

Conisbrough, midway between Rotherham and Doncaster, is home to a majestic castle which still has an original Norman tower. While the historic importance of the castle is undisputed a headline-hitting UFO sighting in Conisbrough in the Sixties is regarded as a more dubious piece of the town's history.
http://ukga.com/images/content/preview/image5069.JPG

DONCASTER
transport has played a part in forging the market town's history from stagecoaches, to railways and even race horses. And for history fans, Doncaster was founded in AD 71 by the Romans because of its strategic position on the River Don.

The most emotional story of the day is that of Ben Parkinson
Ben joined the Paras at the age of 17 and was serving in Iraq by 18. But while on deployment in Afghanistan in 2006, he was injured by an anti-tank mine and was not expected to survive as he lost both legs and suffered a massive brain injury. However he made it through and now has prosthetic limbs and has learned to speak again. He spends his time raising money for military charities.

Ben wants to walk his 300m stretch. He's being supported under his arm but there is definitely a determined look in his eyes. It's actually quite something for Ben just to make his way through the huge crowds that have gathered in the centre of Doncaster. The torch relay security team are clearing the way but they are pressing in on either side to witness his stint.

Walking behind Ben are former members of his regiment dressed in their military fatigues and red berets. They are clapping him all the way and now the crowd is joining in with shouts of "Go Ben." Ben had to be given a new torch because the burners only last for a limited time. Ben has been walking for more than 20 minutes now.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61140000/jpg/_61140178_ben_tweet.jpg

Among the other torchbearers in the city was James Needham, 28, an England wheelchair rugby gold medallist who teaches wheelchair skills to newly injured people.

Alice Kaye carrying the torch in Brigg
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61182000/jpg/_61182870_alice.jpg

Running the relay in Immingham is Megan Harris (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=megan-harris-659/index.html), 27, who has been playing football - and encouraging other girls to - since she was six. She now plays for Lincoln Ladies.
Before she set off on her leg, Megan tweeted this photo (https://twitter.com/MegsHarris7/status/217639834473349120?tw_p=twt) of herself

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61182000/jpg/_61182868_megan.jpg

Onto 'Great Grimsby' and one of the runners is gutsy Jenny Clark (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=jennifer-clark-4028/), 69, who has been a member of Cleethorpes Athletics Club for almost 30 years. She has had breast cancer twice and managed to run six miles-a-day while having radiotherapy and completed the Swaledale Marathon six weeks after a mastectomy. She has raised money for the Breast Unit at Grimsby Hospital and other charities. In a skiing accident in 1998 she suffered a triple fracture of the femur which left her having to use a wheelchair for nearly two years. During this time she completed a triathlon and did the running section on crutches.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61180000/jpg/_61180026_jennifer.jpg

Micky Clorley with the flame on the Cleethorpes Light Railway for a short journey ahead of the evening celebrations in Meridian Park.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61180000/jpg/_61180029_mick.jpg

The last torchbearer of the day is World War II veteran Jack Andrew, aged 92, from Wakefield. He was nominated for his passion for sport, which has driven him to coach local football and cricket teams and continue to play golf despite having both knees replaced.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61180000/jpg/_61180032_jack.jpg

You can follow coverage of the daily torch relay via the BBC website - link given below.


http://static.bbc.co.uk/navpromo-assets/img/torch_tomorrow_fresh.jpg





(extracts and photos from the BBC London 2012 pages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/2012/) and todays webcam coverage (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day39))

[cazza99]

The torch going through Sheffield is covered here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01k7dl3/Look_North_%28Yorkshire%29_25_06_2012/

and here http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01k8cw9/Olympic_Torch_Yorkshire/

[Sallydaisy]

June 27th: Grimsby to Lincoln
... oooooh, The Red Arrows!!!

:olympics:
On the journey from Grimsby to Lincoln (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day40) the flame will travel 112 miles and will be carried by 137 torchbearers. The relay will travel through Grimsby, Louth, Legbourne, Withern, Maltby Le Marsh and onto the coast at Mablethorpe and Trusthorpe. From Sutton on Sea it follows the North Sea coast via Mumby, Hogsthorpe, Ingoldmells, Winthorpe, Skegness, Wainfleet All Saints and Wrangle. The RAF is organising a Typhoon aircraft to fly over Skegness and a tutor aircraft, used for Elementary Flying Training, at Sleaford.

The flame then travels across flat fenland through Boston, Sleaford, Bracebridge Heath and finally to Lincoln. The evening's festivities will take place at Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln and features local talent, including a dance and gymnastics show with 100 performers. Loick Essien (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=loick essen&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.loickessien.com%2F&ei=sMnqT8GdB4jV0QWm4Km6BQ&usg=AFQjCNET1-GKNpj5KctmOl11X14aifu_cw&cad=rja) will sing while Twist & Pulse will also perform.

The day's finale will include a flypast from the Red Arrows over Lincoln.

I've been to quite a few of the places on today's torch route because my 2nd set of ex-laws lived first near Spalding (so we spent days out to the coast) and then nearer to Boston and it's famous Stump! And as a child my family went to Butlins at Skegness - by train all the way from Worcestershire 'cos my Dad was a train driver and we got free travel.

Onto today's snippets ... and it's OMtG - for the uninitiated that's One Month to Go till games-time!

Grimsby is one of the gateways to the North Sea. By the early 1900s it was one of the world's premier fishing ports. And today is kicking off with something a little special - an abseil down the iconic Dock Tower (http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/sevenwonders/yorkshire/royal_dock_mm/index.shtml). The Royal Dock Tower is a symbol of the town's importance as a port. The Royal Dock was opened by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert more than 150 years ago, and it has been a life-saving landmark. The tower is 309 feet tall and was designed by architect James William Wild in the style of Siena's Palazzo Publico. It was built to store water to provide hydraulic pressure to operate lock gates and to supply drinking water to ships, the fish market and houses on the dock estate.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61189000/jpg/_61189837_docktower.jpg

Don't look down!!!
Carrying the flame down the building will be Alan Ellinson, 55, of Stockport, who has raised more than £12m for charity through abseiling and zip wire events - so he's no stranger to this type of escapade. But Alan has probably never performed with this big an audience before - nor with an 80cm torch. Which is lit.
Here he is just going over the edge ........ see last photo if you dare look down!

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61189000/jpg/_61189838_alantower.jpg

Some TeamGB supporters waiting to see the Olympic torch pass through Louth.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61189000/jpg/_61189842_louthfans.jpg

Good piccy of a flame 'kiss'
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61189000/jpg/_61189843_jameskiss.jpg

The Lincolnshire coast - typically flat with dunes and coarse grass.
http://www.my-bicycling-adventure.com/image-files/seaspray.jpg

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Those of a nervous disposition should look away now!!!

The torch abseiling down Grimsby Dock Tower

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61191000/jpg/_61191947_abseil624351.jpg

(Thanks as ever to the BBC for it's excellent live coverage of the Olympic torch relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day40))

[Sallydaisy]

June 28th: Lincoln to Nottingham
... beware the Merry Men

:olympics:
The torch starts at Lincoln Cathedral and then quickly moves to Lincoln Castle before travelling exactly 100 miles from Lincoln to Nottingham. The relay travels through Lincoln, Saxilby, Darlton, East Markham, Tuxford, Kirton, Boughton, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Kelham, Newark-on-Trent, Balderton, Belton House, Grantham, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham and West Bridgford.

Look out - there's Robin Hood about!!!

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61210000/png/_61210704_robinhood.png

At Sherwood Forest (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-18599537), the flame visited Major Oak, a tree estimated to be aged between 800 and 1,000 years old, with torchbearer Laura Graves, 16, from Grantham.

A total of 107 torchbearers carried the flame through 17 communities during the day. The day also saw 20 young people, selected through the Locog International Inspiration programme (http://www.london2012.com/join-in/education/international-inspiration/), run in two teams of 10 in Radcliffe-on-Trent and Nottingham. One torchbearer was chosen from each of the 20 countries taking part, from Azerbaijan to Zambia.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who originate from Nottingham, took the Olympic torch on to the ice. The figure-skating pair, shot to fame when they won gold with perfect scores at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
They performed a specially choreographed routine with the torch in hand at Nottingham Ice Arena.

Later they lit the cauldron at the city's evening celebration.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61237000/jpg/_61237368_61237367.jpg


(Thanks as ever to the BBC for it's excellent live coverage of the Olympic torch relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day40))

[Sallydaisy]

June 29th: Nottingham to Derby
... via the scenic route

:olympics:
The 112-mile journey from Nottingham to Derby (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day42) began at Nottingham Castle where the relay visited the Robin Hood statue, and took in 12 communities.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45326000/jpg/_45326075_robinhood203.jpg

The torch then headed through Nottingham, Newstead, Glapwell, Bolsover, Calow, Chesterfield, Matlock, Darley Dale, Bakewell, Buxton, Ashbourne and Derby.

Mid-morning the relay visited Newstead Abbey, the ancestral home of poet Lord Byron, where swimmer Samuel Van de Schootbrugge carried the torch. Newstead Abbey (http://www.newsteadabbey.org.uk/) was founded as a monastic house in the late 12th century, and to this day the house retains much of its medieval character. The West Front of the church dates from the late 13th century and is now a scheduled ancient monument. Inside the house are medieval cloisters, the former chapter house (now the chapel) and a collection of medieval stone carvings and manuscripts. It was the ancestral home of the Byron family but fell into disrepair and the poet sold the Abbey in 1818 to Thomas Wildman, who had inherited a fortune from plantations owned by his family in Jamaica.

British gymnast Dominick Cunningham carried the flame on the Heights of Abraham (http://www.heightsofabraham.com/) cable car in Derbyshire's Peak District and earlier ran in the relay. At last year's Commonwealth Youth Games, Cunningham was the most successful gymnast with his haul of two golds, a silver and a bronze.
You can just see him waving with the torch below, and a better piccy of the view.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61260000/jpg/_61260258_cablecar.jpg http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61260000/jpg/_61260256_abraham.jpg

In Bakewell, the relay visited Chatsworth House (http://www.chatsworth.org/), the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, which has been home to the Cavendish family since 1549.

Duke and Duchess met the Olympic torch and its bearer.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61263000/jpg/_61263921_chatsworth.jpg

http://www.chatsworth.org/images/dr_bc265b5864dd416815e53e1d94a24d65.jpg

A trio of sportsmen carried the flame through Derby, starting with Paralympic gold medal hopeful Dan Greaves (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=daniel-greaves-4072/index.html). The 29-year-old from neighbouring Leicestershire won discus gold in the F44 category at the Athens Paralympic Games and is keen to reclaim his title on home soil in London.

Olympic boxer Donald Scott later took the flame. Mr Scott, who has Parkinson's disease, won a silver medal in the last Games to be held in London in 1948.

Ex World Superbiker James Toseland lit the cauldron to end the day in Derby.

There are lot's more photos of the torch in Derbyshire (beginning with a great photo of Torvill and Dean from the day before) to be found here. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-18641372)

(Thanks as ever to the BBC for it's excellent live coverage of the Olympic torch relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day42))

[Sallydaisy]

June 30th: Derby to Birmingham
...

:olympics:
From the city which gave British Cycling its performance director Dave Brailsford through the heart of the West Midlands. The torch visits the National Memorial Arboretum, the country's centre for remembrance (http://www.thenma.org.uk/), founded in the National Forest.

On the journey to Birmingham, runners will carry the torch through parts of the Black Country, including West Bromwich and Smethwick. It will then cross into Birmingham and make its way past Warwickshire County Cricket Club's Edgbaston Ground to Cannon Hill Park.

In total, the relay will pass through 19 communities: Derby, Burton Upon Trent, Streethay, Lichfield, Hopwas, Tamworth, Great Wyrley, Newtown, Bloxwich, Leamore, Birchills, Walsall, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Oldbury, West Bromwich, Smethwick and Birmingham.

Corporal Johnson Beharry, awarded the Victoria Cross - the highest decoration for valour in the Commonwealth Armed Forces - in 2005, will carry the torch at the UK's centre of Remembrance.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44171000/jpg/_44171921_queenmemorial203.jpg

Here he is and some of the comments he made today.
"It's a great moment for me to be here. It's an honour," he told the BBC. "The hardest part for me was to actually enter the arboretum knowing that a few seconds more and I would have been on the wall. So it means a lot to me and all the guys in the service."


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61272000/jpg/_61272196_beharry976.jpg

Among the day's other torchbearers are Sir Cliff Richard and band The Wanted. The flame will also be carried on a canal boat during the 79-mile journey. From the towpath by Dudley Canal Trust Car Park, the flame will be taken on to a barge and travel under the lifting bridge into the canal basin.

Another highlight of the day will be a visit to Tamworth Castle which was built in about 1070 for Robert le Dispenser, who was the main steward for William the Conqueror.

In Wolverhampton Blue Peter will stage this Saturday's edition of Blue Peter's Big Olympic Tour (http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo/activity/blue-peter-s-big-olympic-tour-14/occurrence/111930)in West Park, Wolverhampton. Join Blue Peter presenters Helen Skelton & Barney Harwood plus special guests for an Olympic themed event for families.

GOOD NEWS AS THE MISSING TORCHBEARER IS FOUND SAFE AND WELL
An Ethiopian boy who was part of the Olympic torch relay has been found after going missing from his hotel in Nottingham.
Natnael Yemane, 15, was meant to be a torchbearer as the relay entered the city on Thursday. Police had been concerned because his English is limited and he was described as not being "street-wise". Officers confirmed he was found "safe and well" in the city on Friday evening.

(Thanks as ever to the BBC for it's excellent live coverage of the Olympic torch relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day43))

[KnightOwl]

Should have two chances to see the torch while it's in the Midlands! It's in Coventry tomorrow evening, so Dave & I are going to go over to see if we can catch a glimpse of it arriving in Memorial Park for the evening celebration. Then, on Monday mid-morning, it's passing through the park opposite where I work, and we're all allowed to go out and see it go past :big grin:

Dave will get a second chance too, as it's passing close to home around 07:30 in the morning - I'll already have left for work by then, but Dave is going to wander down and see if he can see it there too!

[Sallydaisy]

I wondered if you'd go along tomorrow! It'd be great if you could get some photos.

It comes within 10miles of where I live 3 times during July so I might mosey along on one of the days. Stoke Mandeville is 30mins away (Paralympics links), Bisham Abbey (National sports training centre) near Marlow is much closer and then it does a turn near West London (Denham/Ealing) which is a possibility.

[KnightOwl]

July 1st: Birmingham to Coventry

http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/images/smileys/olympics.gif

On Day 44 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day44) the Olympic Flame will be travelling through parts of the West Midlands and Warwickshire, visting Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwick Castle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwick_Castle) and Kenilworth Castle (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/book-and-buy/venue-hire/kenilworth-castle) before finishing for the day at the War Memorial Park in Coventry.

The torch will be carried through 17 communities today: Birmingham, Solihull, Earlswood, Redditch, Astwood Banks, Alcester, Evesham, Wickhamford, Broadway, Chipping Campden, Newbold-on-Stour, Alderminster, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa, Kenilworth and Coventry. A detailed map of the route can be found on the London 2012 (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/route/) website.

And here's the youngest torchbearer of them all!

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61282000/jpg/_61282076_dominic.jpg
Photo courtesy of BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day44)


0654: Deborah passes the flame to Dominic Macgowan who is the youngest torchbearer in the whole relay, having only just turned 12. He represents his school in football, swimming and badminton and loved gymnastics until he had to give it up through injury.


0756: Now taking the flame is British cycling legend Tommy Godwin, who won two track cycling bronze medals in 1948 - the last time the Olympic Games were held in London - in the 1km time trial and team pursuit.

Tommy, who is now 91, was coach to the GB Cycling team for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

A very big smile from him as he takes the flame.

(extracts from #bbctorchcam live-text commentary on the BBC Torch Relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day44) Page.)

[KnightOwl]

July 1st: Kenilworth

Managed to see the torch twice today! Very tricky to get a good view though - the crowds were huge...!

Started in Kenilworth, close to the castle - managed to get a couple of glimpses of the torchbearer, though you'll have to look close to spot him!



http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7481533840_a6e0bb35cf_z.jpg


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8014/7481537238_25a17a107d_z.jpg

[KnightOwl]

July 1st: Coventry

After this we dashed back to the car - bumping into our next door neighbours on the way, which seemed a bit bizarre - then headed back over to Coventry. Took a while finding somewhere to park, and virtually ran to the road the torch would be going along - arriving moments before it came past - I completely failed to get a decent photo at this point, but I think Dave got one (when he gets round to getting them off the camera!)

We then headed through the park and spotted the torch again as it went along the road at the other side, before it was carried into the park for the evening ceremony. We gradually wormed our way through the crowds as people wandered away leaving little gaps, and eventually got fairly close to the front.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7268/7481564798_5820ce7d2e.jpg
Lighting the Cauldron

Next there was a weird presentation about the history of Coventry, with paper cut-outs of various descriptions, followed by a lady who sang a song all about Coventry - you can see some of the paper cut-outs behind her - all rather surreal :)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/7481576160_7ee74655cc.jpg
Singing about Coventry

[KnightOwl]

We finally managed to get fairly close to the front, just as it all came to a close! Did manage to get a shot of the Flame being put back into one of the lanterns just before they extinguished the Cauldron, though...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7265/7481582910_06a9e76d94.jpg
Night night Flame - sleep tight!

[Sallydaisy]

Those cauldrons would make classy BBQ's!!!
:pirate:

Thanks for the photos and news!
Sounds a bit manic zooting between Kenilworth and Coventry.

What was the reaction to it amongst the crowd?

[VamosVixs]

What happens to these cauldrons?

[-J-]

its a cauldrons conundrum

[KnightOwl]

What was the reaction to it amongst the crowd?

It was brilliant! You don't realise til you're actually there just how much "traffic" is involved!

First there are loads of police motorbikes, one or two at a time, a few minutes apart. Then you get a police car, one of the yellow Olympic cars, a couple of cyclists, a van or two and a bunch of ordinary looking people in cars - no idea who they were, but they must have been official as the road was closed to normal traffic - every single bike, car and van got a huge cheer as it went past!

A few minutes later the sponsors open-top buses go past - a big blue Samsung one blaring music, then a red Coca-Cola one and finally a green Lloyds TSB one - all with people on top dancing & waving - again accompanied by huge cheers and lots of flag-waving!

Finally, you catch sight of some of the security chaps running, and the lone torch bearer comes into view - it takes seconds for him to come past while you madly try and take a photo or two between waving flags & arms, then it's all over!

Kenilworth is a fairly small town, and yet there were people crowding every street the torch went along - and in Memorial Park in Coventry the crowds were truly immense - the place was jam-packed and everyone seemed to be loving it! I was really impressed at the turnout.

[VamosVixs]

Been watching nearly everyday bits of the torchcam, I am very impressed with the torch security team. What a fantastic job they are doing. I hope they will be involved in the opening ceremony when the flame is brought into the stadium.

[RoastLamb]

Your photos are brilliant!!! :clap:

[KnightOwl]

There was one more brilliant moment as we left the park and headed back to find the car - but you'll have to wait til Dave gets the photo off his camera before we tell you what it was :big grin:

[davech]

On the way back to the car, we discovered one of the Olympic torch runners (post run) letting people have photos taken holding the torch. I persuaded KnightOwl to get in the queue, and here she is:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7122/7481984532_d0357e5261.jpg

[RoastLamb]

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!! Two of our members have been able to hold it. Brill.

[VamosVixs]

Nice one! :thumbup:

[davech]

Here are a few more photos from Sunday in Kenilworth and Coventry:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8150/7497121752_8753b6cd7c.jpg
Waiting for the Flame in Kenilworth

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7497124650_ecb2a2d767.jpg
Still not here!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7257/7497185068_2d754c2288.jpg
There it goes - somewhere in there!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7497129234_116de9704f.jpg
Coventry Flame girl Chanel Carter

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7497130168_ae9e5f6feb.jpg
Evening Olympic Celebration in Coventry

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7497131256_6aeff83e3c.jpg
Evening Celebration with cardboard cutouts

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7121/7497133142_e1e197dcf6.jpg
Lighting the Lantern

[davech]

Monday morning in Coventry:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7503368640_63fd5cd8e9.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/7503370490_df68ef4247.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7503371800_2540d48ab9.jpg
"The Olympic Flame is 6 minutes away!"

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7135/7503373112_311dafbf3c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7246/7503374166_f62272bf2b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/7503376100_10453dc162.jpg
Aly Wren

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7503377622_589796d14d.jpg
Aly Wren 2

[Sallydaisy]

July 2nd: Coventry to Leicester
... nicking the torch? Not likely lads ...

http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/images/smileys/olympics.gif

Coventry Cathedral was an early stop. While in the city, two youngsters were foiled in an attempt to grab the torch. Among the 135 torchbearers was Jim Redmond, who famously helped his injured son Derek finish the 1992 400m Olympic semi-final.

Here's a photo of the Coventry torchbearers after completing their duties!
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61293000/jpg/_61293727_coventrytorchbearers.jpg

After leaving Coventry the relay visited Rugby, Dunchurch, Northampton, Wellingborough, Isham, Kettering, Geddington and moved on to Corby, Dingley, Market Harborough, Lubenham, Foxton, Kibworth Harcourt, Oadby and finally Leicester.

The first torchbearer of the day was 18-year-old Ali Abdillahi (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=ali-abdillahi-5748/index.html), who was fostered by a family from Warwick when he came to the UK from Somalia as a 13-year-old asylum seeker and has recently signed for Coventry City Football Club's academy.

Triathlete Tim Don carried the torch at the City of Coventry Stadium, one of six venues around the country that will host the Olympic football tournament. on is the only Briton to have competed in all three Olympic triathlons since the event's inception at Sydney in 2000. His career highlights include winning the 2006 world title in Lausanne but he was passed over for selection for London 2012.

The relay visited Rugby School, where it was paraded through the grounds.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSJ_4czhTrclo0RJadwNSs9yv0WF0Km-dt4Pp_tCUU6NaDzuCHwvw

At lunchtime it stopped at Althorp House, final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales and the family home of Earl Spencer. The trip was what is known as a "spider event", which means it happens separately to the main relay. Althorp has been hosting an Olympic-themed sports day for 10 small rural schools in the villages surrounding the estate.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIy9kCRLLP9nbfRemLEPk0Q3HqnYVF2 hAVUjKc90nqcVtVpI_3wQ

http://knoji.com/images/user/althorp031[1].jpg (http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIy9kCRLLP9nbfRemLEPk0Q3HqnYVF2 hAVUjKc90nqcVtVpI_3wQ)


Crowds in Northamption
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61295000/jpg/_61295827_northampton1.jpg

Northampton is the historical home to the British shoe industry. From a village of 500 dwellings at the time of the Domesday Book, Northampton has grown into a large town with more than 200,000 citizens. It is, in fact, the third largest community in the UK not to be granted city status.Its many sporting links include being the birthplace of cricketer Graeme Swann and runner Derek Redmond. On the entertainment front, it is also the home town of comic Alan Carr and presenter "Whispering" Bob Harris.

Jim Redmond carried the torch in Kettering, evoking memories of the Barcelona Olympics when his son Derek suffered a hamstring injury and collapsed on the track. Determined to finish the race, he got up and hobbled around before his father came out of the stands to help.

And that's a Wimbledon brolly among the watching crowds in Kettering!
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61299000/jpg/_61299610_kettering.jpg

BBC 2012's Michael Hirst in Kettering reports: "The Salvation Army brass band is keeping spirits up in the market square before the sponsors' cavalcade pulls in blaring out Beyonce's Crazy right now and dishing out free drinks to keep the kids' sugar levels up."

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61299000/jpg/_61299612_kettering2.jpg

The torch in Kettering ........
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61304000/jpg/_61304828_45italy1.jpg

And the torch was later taken on a canal boat at Foxton Locks, a series of 10 locks on the Grand Union Canal.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61312000/jpg/_61312516_45locks.jpg

Despite wet weather, crowds up to six rows in depth packed the five-mile stretch of the A6 from Oadby to Leicester's Abbey Park, where the evening celebration took place and the cauldron was lit by Phil Fuller.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61316000/jpg/_61316586_45cauldron.jpg

(extracts from the BBC local news page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18665062) and torch relay page for day 45 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day45))

[Sallydaisy]

July 3rd: Leicester to Peterborough
... by jet pack and that man who advertises crisps!!!

:olympics:

Yet another first for the Olympic flame relay - a trip up the side of a building propelled by jet-pack.
Not just any old building - but our National Space Centre.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61321000/jpg/_61321157_jetpack.jpg

... and not just any old torch bearer!!!
Jet Pack Man is stuntman, Nick Macomber, who had lift off using a jet pack before handing the flame to the day's first torchbearer, Kevin Davies. In a special intergalactic-themed community event, Tuesday's relay began amid scenes reminiscent of the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18026605) when Mr Macomber took off with the torch strapped to his body.

The 23-year-old who is originally from Alaska but now lives in San Diego has been flying for a year and has just over 100 flights to his name.The American used a hydrogen-peroxide powered jet pack to travel 1,500 feet across the Royal Gorge near Canon City in Colorado, USA in 2010 and secured a world speed record in 2009 in Scotland by reaching a speed of 68mph ... maybe that's the reason for the escort of stormtroopers!


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61319000/jpg/_61319838_stormtroopers.jpg

After that stunning start to the day it was down to earth with a soft bump before the torch was handed to the first ground runner Kevin Davies who was nominated through the public campaign for his determination to carry on with his life after he became a tetraplegic following a motorbike accident in 2008.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61319000/jpg/_61319840_jetpack.jpg

Today sees the flame travel 78 miles from Leicester to Peterborough. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day46)

There's a feast of transportation modes in store for today, with two train journeys and a boat trip along the route. The flame will be taken by train from Leicester to Quorn on the Great Central Railway (http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/) - the UK's only double track, main line heritage railway. Later it will travels on the Nene Valley Railway (http://www.youthsporttrust.org/) - a steam engine and diesel locomotive heritage attraction. Other highlights include visits to the Sir Dennis Rooke Building at Loughborough University, Burghley House and the Cathedral Gardens in Peterborough.

The route today goes north from Leicester to Quorn, Wymeswold and Loughborough before heading south-west to Melton Mowbray (pork pies), Langham, Oakham, Whitwell harbour (not on the sea!), Stamford and onto Peterborough. At 19:20 BST the last torchbearer of the day, Natasha Applegate, will carry the flame into the evening celebrations on the River Embankment site. Natasha was selected through the Coca-Cola campaign for her dedication to playing and coaching football.

One of the early torchbearers through Leicester was none other than Gary Lineker who was proud to carry the flame through his home city.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61321000/jpg/_61321300_garyliner226282.jpg

The flame left the Leicester by train, travelling to Quorn on the Great Central Railway (http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/) the UK's only double track, main line heritage railway. In Quorn, the flame was carried by Baroness Sue Campbell, the Chair of the Youth Sport Trust, (http://www.youthsporttrust.org/) an independent charity devoted to changing young people's lives through sport.

At Loughborough University torchbearer Audrey Cooper, who represented GB in the inaugural Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament in the Atlanta 1996 Games, was greeted by members of the current Team GB.

Ms Cooper has also coached the GB Women's Indoor Volleyball Team and will be supporting them to compete in the London 2012 Games. She works for Volleyball England as the Community Development Coach Manager.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61321000/jpg/_61321166_uni.jpg


Also in Loughborough, the flame was carried by Paralympic athlete Richard Whitehead, who holds the world record for athletes with a double amputation, in both the full and half marathon. He will compete for GB at London 2012.

At 14:57 BST the flame will be carried on a boat travelling across Rutland Water from Whitwell Harbour. About two-and-a-half hours later the relay will visit the grounds of Burghley House, (http://www.burghley.co.uk/) which is regarded as one of the finest Elizabethan houses in the country and is the home of the Cecil family. At the front of Burghley House the flame will be passed between torchbearers David Thompson and Susan Probst in the presence of Miranda Rock, the granddaughter of former Olympic hurdler David Cecil (Lord Burghley) who won a gold medal at the 1928 Games, and London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe. If you've watched Chariots of Fire the Nigel Havers character was based on Lord Burghley.

(extracts and photos from the BBC London 2012 page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/2012/) and the daily torch relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day46))

[RoastLamb]

Didn't know Britain had a space centre. Learn something new...

[Sallydaisy]

Just finished posting up torch relay notes for Monday July 2nd.
:olympics:

[davech]

I've posted a few more photos from Sunday in Kenilworth and Coventry here (http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?1010-Olympics-London-2012-Olympic-Torch-Relay&p=77167&viewfull=1#post77167). I'll post a couple more from Monday later tonight.

[Sallydaisy]

July 4th: Peterborough to Norwich
... forget the Cromer crabs, there's a bunny in buggy!!!

:olympics:

The Olympic flame will visit Sandringham House, the Norfolk country retreat of The Queen, on day 47 of the torch relay as it travels from Peterborough to Norwich. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day47) Also along the day's 127-mile route, a torch will be carried on to Cromer Pier, which was opened in 1901. An evening celebration will take pace at at Chapelfield Gardens in Norwich.

The day began at 07:10 BST at the Guildhall Square in Peterborough and Wednesday's route takes in Peterborough, Market Deeping, Thurlby, Bourne, Spalding, Moulton, Whaplode, Holbeach, Long Sutton, King's Lynn, South Wootton, West Rudham, East Rudham, Fakenham, Holt, Cromer, Aylsham and Norwich.

One of the highlights will come at around 14:15 when Paul Tudor will carry the flame through the Norwich Gates into Sandringham House, (http://www.sandringhamestate.co.uk/) which has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61337000/jpg/_61337184_sandringham.jpg

At about 16:40 the flame is due to be carried on to Cromer Pier (http://www.cromer-pier.com/default.asp). The current pier is 111 years old but there has been a jetty or a pier in Cromer since 1391.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSsl8Z-5D0bf-Znkod354YpmOQLKnUx0UmQPphLpNdrwwnKIe9


Two more Olympians will run with the flame on Wednesday. Goldie Sayers, who is the British record holder for the javelin and just missed out on a medal when she came fourth in Beijing four years ago, will run with the torch in Bourne just before 09:00 BST.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/imagelibrary/Client Images/Client00004/ResizeCache/00287000/00287443 - 449x299.jpg

And in Norwich, the flame will be carried by Kate Walsh, who will be playing in her third Olympics this summer. She has been captain of the Great Britain and England hockey teams for eight years.

Some snazzy hats this morning!
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61348000/jpg/_61348894_torch-melvyninholbeach.jpg

here's the buggy!
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61349000/jpg/_61349242_rabbit976549.jpg

and here's the 'Olympic' bunny after it hitched a lift (complete with Olympic rings T-shirt) on the Torch bus in Peterborough.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61346000/jpg/_61346575_rabbit.jpg


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/60420000/jpg/_60420492_torch_culdrose_getty.jpg

(information and images from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18691353) and torch relay pages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay))

[davech]

My photos from Monday morning in Coventry are here (http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?1010-Olympics-London-2012-Olympic-Torch-Relay&p=77649&viewfull=1#post77649).

[Sallydaisy]

Thanks Dave, you got some excellent shots considering how quickly the torch relay moves along!!!
:thumbup:

[Sallydaisy]

July 5th: Norwich to Ipswich
... Fenland, Forest, Ports, Resorts, Broads, Beaches and Benjamin Britten

:olympics:

A speedboat ride and a visit to the UK's most easterly point, Ness Point, are among the highlights of day 48 of the torch relay as it travels from Norwich to Ipswich. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day48)

British swimmer Giles Long, who has won 20 major championship medals, including three Paralympic golds, will start the day's relay when his torch is lit in front of Norwich Castle's battlements. Retired swimmer Long's greatest achievement was setting a world record to win gold in the 100m butterfly at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney

There was a spectacular backdrop to the start of the relay today as 5 people abseiled down Norwich Castle releasing trails of smoke in the Olympic colours of Blue, Yellow, Black, Green and Red.


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61371000/jpg/_61371916_norwich2.jpg



After leaving Norwich Castle the flame will head towards the Norfolk Broadland villages of Acle and Filby, which is famous for its Britain in Bloom contributions (http://www.filby-in-bloom.org.uk/home.html) before heading to the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth and fishing port of Lowestoft. It then heads south down the North sea coastline to Southwold (home of Adnams Ale and bright beach huts) and Aldeburgh with it's shingle beaches.


http://www.escapeandexplore.co.uk/galleries/images/southwold beach huts.jpg

Flame 'kiss' in front of beach huts at Southwold, 5/7/2012
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61393000/jpg/_61393219_southwold464261.jpg



This is the area of our country which most inspired Norfolk born composer Benjamin Britten (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Britten) to write his well known operas (Peter Grimes, Billy Budd etc) and other music and he lived out his life near Aldeburgh (pictured below).
http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/front/aldeburgh312.jpg



The relay then travels inland again towards Ipswich via Wickham Market, Melton, Woodbridge and the port of Felixstowe. When the relay reaches Foxes Marina, torchbearer Shane Hull will board a speedboat and carry the flame along the River Orwell to Ipswich Marina. Mr Hull is Chair of the Hethersett Olympic Events Committee, a working group set up to galvanise the local community into engaging with the Olympics. An evening celebration will take place at Christchurch Park in Ipswich (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipswich) featuring entertainment from rock band Morning Parade and dance act Twist and Pulse.

This is an intriguing part of the UK.

It combines historical ports which have long traded with mainland Europe and vast tracts of countryside rarely visited. It's home to dense forests hiding strategic air force bases and the Broads (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Broads) which dominate the landscape of the fens, dotted with windmills and sails on the inland waterways. Its been at the forefront of a few invasions and testament to that are the Martello (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martello_tower)Towers that still remain as well as some unexploded bombs in the potato fields!!! There are numerous pretty villages with classic 'Suffolk Pink' cottages (http://www.britain-magazine.com/features/history/suffolk-style/) and huge tracts of agricultural land.

It's most unique characteristic is the 'flatness' of it's landscape.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Norfolk2.jpg/220px-Norfolk2.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/How_Hill.jpg/220px-How_Hill.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/Muttonsmill.jpg/220px-Muttonsmill.jpg
Yachts on the Norfolk Broads, How Hill (i.e. how is there a hill in that photo!) and Muttons mill,
one of the many historic drainage windpumps on the Norfolk Broads.

And a couple of Suffolk Pinks ..........

http://www.picturesofengland.com/img/M/1149174.jpg http://www.lovealdeburgh.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/baytree-holiday-cottage-aldeburgh-suffolk.jpg



One of the reasons I know the area is that I worked at a hotel near Orford Ness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orford_Ness) for a few months in 1976 prior to a serious car accident. I used my spare time to explore the area and quite liked the remoteness of it. Anyone else remember that hot summer that began on 1st June???


(extracts and photos from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/2012/)and wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Anglia))

[RoastLamb]

This is one place in the UK I have never been to and want to visit. Love those wee beach huts.

[Sallydaisy]

July 6th: Ipswich to Chelmsford
... a flag bearer becomes a flame bearer today

:olympics:

The Olympic Flame edges ever closer to London on it's journey around Great Britain. Today it travels past a few 'estuary' towns via Colchester (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchester) (oldest recorded Roman town in England, River Colne), Hatfield Peverel, Heybridge, Maldon (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=maldon&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CHUQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMaldon% 2C_Essex&ei=aKv2T_L6EZCk0AXbooHJBQ&usg=AFQjCNHY0fXLOCfWwX18SuWQdLvcmDVTFA&cad=rja)(Blackwater Estuary), Rayleigh, Southend-on-Sea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southend-on-Sea) (erm, Thames estuary!), Hadleigh, Basildon, Greys (north Thames), Herongate, Brentwood and on to Chelmsford (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelmsford) in Essex. It ends the day with celebrations at Hylands Park estate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylands_Park).

Along the 117-mile route from Ipswich to Chelmsford, (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day49) the flame will visit the London 2012 mountain bike venue.

http://www.london2012.com/mm/Photo/spectators/Venue/01/23/22/86/1232286_M02.jpg
Hadleigh Farm, London 2012 venue, photo from the Locog website

This morning began, at Christchurch Mansion House in Ipswich (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Mansion), with the flame being carried by promising young athlete Emily Rogers, a member of the West Suffolk Athletics Club who has had success at Suffolk county level and in the English schools competition.She handed it over to Paralympian Kevin Curtis, who won a sailing gold at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games. He also won gold at the World Disabled Sailing Championships in Barcelona.

And that former flag bearer? None other than swimming legend Mark Foster who led Team GB into the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Five-time Olympian Foster will carry the flame in Southend, where he began his swimming career, around 11:30 BST. Foster, who won the world championship six times and is the short course 50m freestyle world record holder, is among 138 torchbearers on Friday.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00788/opening_ceremony508_788182c.jpg

Other highlights of the day include relay stints from Franklyn Keith Musto (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=franklyn-musto-2175/index.html), a British sailor who won silver in the Flying Dutchman class at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and Tim Mears, the father of British diver Chris Mears. In 2009, Mr Mears maintained a bedside vigil, together with his wife Katy, when Chris suffered a serious training accident while competing for Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney. Chris was placed in intensive care and diagnosed with a ruptured spleen. He has made a full recovery and will compete at the 2012 Games in the 3m Springboard and 3m Synchro (with Nick Robinson-Baker).


Members of the ancient Colchester Watch are already on guard.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61397000/jpg/_61397653_colchestertownhall.jpg


(extracts and photos from the BBC 2012 webpages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/2012/) and todays torch route (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day49) unless otherwise indicated)

[cazza99]

BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18645207)- Olympic torch: Security team gain fame


The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has taken responsibility for the TST as traditionally the Olympics host city's police force provides torch security.

The TST has a staff of 70 unarmed officers, all doing a range of jobs, but it is the 35 "runners" who are the most noticeable despite their demure attire.
.......
The runners were whittled down from an initial 664 applicants in an eight month selection process.

They then underwent a gruelling 18 months of training to make them fit enough to run up to 20 miles a day, while managing the relay torchbearers and crowds.

Aged from 26 to 50, runners' day jobs vary from homicide command and domestic violence to aviation security and transport patrol.

They are tasked with ensuring the continuity of the Olympic flame, so as well as running alongside torchbearers, so-called "flamettes" protect a mother flame in a lantern during the day, while officers take turns to sleep with it in their rooms overnight.

[dewster99]

coming past my pub on sunday morning. 80 people booked in for breakfast :/ lucky I'm off. Finish a shift with police at 3am and have to be up for it by half 7 though. Gonna be knackered but not missing it

[Sallydaisy]

July 7th: Chelmsford to Cambridge
... the only way is Essex!

:olympics:

The Olympic flame will visit the venue for the 2012 canoe slalom on the 50th day of the torch relay from Chelmsford to Cambridge. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day50) Lee Valley White Water Centre was the the first London 2012 venue to open to the public before the Olympics and will be the first to reopen after the Games.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61424000/jpg/_61424374_leevalley.jpg

The torch relay starts in Chelmsford before heading through the communities of Harlow, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, Hertford, Ware, Bishop's Stortford, Stansted Mountfichet, Newport, Saffron Walden, Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket, finishing its journey at Cambridge.

At around 18:50 former 400m sprinter Iwan Thomas will run the last leg of the day taking the flame onto Parker's Piece and lighting the cauldron. The Welshman won silver in the 4x400m relay at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and gold in the same event at the 1997 World Championships.

Saturday's 117 bearers include chef Jamie Oliver who will carry the flame in Newport. The chef was chosen for inspiring people to enjoy spending more time in the kitchen - and even start growing their own food. His Jamie Oliver Foundation is a charity whose aim is to empower, educate and inspire people to love and enjoy good food, and ultimately fight against the global epidemic of obesity.

Other highlights of the day include the following torchbearers:


British former swimmer Suki Brownsdon, who competed at four Olympics - the first when she was just 14
Former GB hockey player Bernard Cotton, who played at the 1972 Summer Olympics and went on to be GB's assistant manager at the 1988 Summer Olympics, where the team won a gold medal
David Morgan, one of the most successful British weightlifters of all time - a five-times Commonwealth Games champion who also represented GB at three Olympics

The relay was delayed for 20 minutes outside Chelmsford when two motorbikes unconnected to the relay collided in front of the convoy vehicles. The accident blocked the A414 in Essex shortly after 07:30, when two motorcyclists who were approaching the torch relay collided. Both came off their bikes and were treated by the convoy doctor. Ambulances and a fire engine were called before the convoy was able to proceed. A torch relay spokesman said: "The Olympic torch relay convoy stopped temporarily on the outskirts of Chelmsford to allow treatment to some people who had been involved in an accident on the opposite carriageway."It did not involve any people or vehicles from the convoy."

The torch being carried down the rapids - and staying dry!
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61424000/jpg/_61424628_team_torch_rapid.jpg




(extracts and photos from the BBC torchcam relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day50))

[Genbrit]

Got up at 1:00am this morning to watch this go through my mum's neighborhood and saw a large saltire flying on someone's fence!!!!

It didn't escape the blog either:

0954: Massive Saltire tied to the roadside hedges.
Is that early support for Andy Murray in his first Wimbledon final on Centre Court tomorrow right there?

:cheer:

[dewster99]

loads of people all waiting for ages in the rain.......an unknown woman walked past holding a torch for 30 seconds and that was it. Massive anti-climax! The build up was better

[Sallydaisy]

July 8th: Cambridge to Luton
... just messing about on the river (OK, a punt)

:olympics:

The Olympic flame has been punting on the River Cam on day 51 of the torch relay from Cambridge to Luton. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day51)
The flame travelled through the communities of Cambridge, St Ives, Huntingdon, Bedford, Cotton End, Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and Luton.
An evening celebration was held at Popes Meadow Park in Luton with entertainment from Young Guns and dance act Twist and Pulse.

Hundreds of people braved torrential rain to line the banks and bridges of the River Cam to catch a glimpse of the flame at the start of the day. Local man Mr Roberts, 26, held the torch aloft as he was punted past historic St John's College and the ornate Bridge of Sighs.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61434000/jpg/_61434357_punt.jpg

Meanwhile Queens Park Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes ran as a torchbearer in Huntingdon.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61442000/jpg/_61442078_tonyfernandes.jpg


Also among the day's 131 torchbearers on the 197-mile route was wheelchair badminton champion Gobi Ranganathan who carried the torch through Stevenage. He handed over to two-time Olympic sailing gold medallist, Sarah Gosling. Gosling, who competed under her maiden name of Webb, was one of Great Britain's "three blondes in a boat" along with Shirley Robertson and Sarah Ayton, who won gold in Athens. Ayton and Webb were then joined by Pippa Wilson to repeat the success in Beijing.

In the afternoon session the flame paid a visit to the Jacobean estate of Hatfield House - home of the seventh Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury and their family.Jack Gatehouse, 12, from Hemel Hempstead, carried the flame on the Hatfield leg of the relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-18706306). Jack has Down's Syndrome and epilepsy and can have up to 50 seizures a day.

Rifleman Michael Swain from 3 Rifles, who lost both legs in an IED explosion in Helmand Province in 2009, carried the torch through St Albans.Rifleman Michael Swain from 3 Rifles, who lost both legs in an IED explosion in Helmand Province in 2009, carried the torch through St Albans.

Wheelchair basketball and tennis player Ellie Beaumont, from Berkhamsted, took her turn in Hemel Hempstead. Ella is part of Team GB for both sports and has competed in the World Championships at wheelchair basketball. A man was arrested after he tried to enter the security bubble around the Olympic flame in the town. The relay continued uninterrupted following the incident.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/60716000/jpg/_60716826_torchtop464.jpg

(extract and photos from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day51))

[Sallydaisy]

July 9th: Luton to Oxford
... saying hello to Mandeville

:olympics:

The Olympic flame meandered it's way across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire today passing through Dunstable, Milton Keynes, Bletchley, Buckingham, Winslow, Whitchurch, Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville, Waddesdon, Bicester, Kirtlington, Woodstock, Kidlington (often featured in Inspector Morse!) and finally to Oxford.

Day 52 began in St George's Square, Luton, with F1 driver Lewis Hamilton (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-18674994) in pole position. He told BBC Three Counties Radio: "I've had such a great reception, they made it even more enjoyable. "I am so incredibly honoured to have the opportunity to do this, not many people get to do this. "I have to thank God every day for the wonderful opportunities and blessings that I am given."

http://news.images.itv.com/image/file/59043/article_ec1693874c8a6994_1341815603_9j-4aaqsk.jpeg


Hamilton was initially asked to carry the torch through his home town of Stevenage, but plans were changed because the flame was there while he was competing in Sunday's British Grand Prix (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/18759733) at Silverstone, in which he finished eighth.

Olympic badminton silver medallist Gail Emms later carried the flame through her home town of Milton Keynes. Emms was runner-up in the mixed doubles with Nathan Robertson in the 2004 Games in Athens. She also won gold medals at the 2006 World Championships in Madrid, 2004 European Championships in Geneva and the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Gail Emms and a torch 'kiss'
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61444000/jpg/_61444963_gail.jpg

Youth Olympic rowing gold medallist Georgia Howard-Merrill (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/8923068.stm) also carried the flame in Milton Keynes. Oxford-based Howard-Merrill won the medal at the first Youth Olympic Games in the Women's Pairs in Singapore in 2010.

Later in the morning Jessica Stalley, from Bedford, took the flame into Bletchley Park - which laid on an ancient-Olympics themed welcome! This was the site of Britain's main decryption centre during World War II and now home to the National Codes Centre and the National Museum of Computing.

Bletchley Park - Olympic welcome
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61446000/jpg/_61446154_iainstandenpic.jpg

Torchbearers also carried the flame through the birthplace of the Paralympic Games, Stoke Mandeville (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14896776). Stoke Mandeville Hospital was the site where pioneering neurologist Professor Sir Ludwig Guttmann staged the forerunner of the Paralympic Games in 1948 - the International Wheelchair Games. The Games were repeated at Stoke Mandeville four years later before the first official Paralympics took place in Rome in 1960. There will be a separate Paralympic lighting ceremony at the site in Aylesbury, as part of the Paralympic Torch Relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14896781) on 28 August.

Here's Mandeville ..........
http://www.london2012.com/mm/Photo/aboutus/General/01/23/94/69/1239469_M02.jpg


Torchbearers ready to roll in Aylesbury
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61451000/jpg/_61451582_aylesbury_torchbearers.jpg

During the afternoon the flame also visited the stately home of Blenheim Palace, where Sir Winston Churchill was born.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61465000/jpg/_61465038_patpearceap.jpg

The Prime Minister joined in the Olympic torch relay and met the cancer sufferer whom he nominated to carry the flame. David Cameron met Clive Stone in Woodstock, West Oxfordshire, as the relay went from Luton to Oxford. Mr Stone, 64, has campaigned for access to cancer treatments and was instrumental in the creation of the Cancer Drugs Fund.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61461000/jpg/_61461968_cameron.jpg

and finally into the City of Dreaming Spires ...

http://d3soxcs9eo85xz.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/poster/oxford.jpg


(extract and photos from the BBC[/URL][URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day52"]website for Da (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day51)y 52)

[Sallydaisy]

July 10th: Oxford to Reading
Busy day today with a hello from the Queen, a couple of flame carrying Knights, Michelin starred chefs, local Olympican heptathlete Denise Lewis and a horseback trip with Frankie Dettori.

:olympics:
From the city of dreaming spires, the torch travels to Eton Dorney, the Games venue for rowing, canoe sprint and Paralympic rowing, finishing in the Madejski Stadium, home of Reading FC and London Irish rugby club.

It all begins in Oxford before heading south to Abingdon and on through Wallingford (very important in the Middle Ages), Crowmarsh Gifford, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, Bisham (home to one of the LTA tennis centres), Maidenhead, Burnham, Slough, Windsor, Egham, Ascot, Bracknell, and finally into Reading. The relay will travel 87 miles from Oxford to Reading (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day53) during the day.

The day started at 07:05 BST at Iffley Road Stadium in Oxford, where Sir Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes, in a time of three minutes, 59.4 seconds on 6 May 1954. He carried the torch at the track before handing it over to Nicola Byrom, 25, who will ran a lap.

http://www.knowleanddorridgerunningclub.org.uk/asset/Event/6013/roger-bannister.jpg http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61469000/jpg/_61469275_bannistertwitpic.jpg

Wallingford might be recognisable by many of us who follow Midsomer Murders. The town's website (http://www.wallingford.co.uk/) tells us that ITV's series is filmed in the area and that fictional Causton is based on Wallingford. Queen of crime writers Agatha Christie also lived in here and based some of her characters and stories around local landmarks. Pilots from nearby RAF Benson are due to make a flypast as the flame arrives. Others are gathered in the town centre.

The torch was carried by chef Raymond Blanc, who tweeted on Tuesday morning: "Proud to carry the Olympic torch. I am in Wallingford, close to Oxford. Wearing a white and gold track suit. I simply feel Olympian!"
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSOvPyXob7Ya3Uxe3czGNgq8nUnqepaQ Ve3C2Jcanuj9l2zWuzJ

Sir Steve Redgrave, who won five gold medals at consecutive Olympic Games, will carry the flame on a boat on the Thames at Henley. He will cross the river to his boat club, Leander, just after 09:30 BST.

Sir Steve Redgrave (and team GB) celebrated his 5th Olympic Gold Medal win at Sydney 2000.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61481000/jpg/_61481054_redgrave.jpg

A male streaker with "Free Tibet" written on his backside ran across the front of the torch convoy while it was going through Henley.

Later in the morning, the Olympic flame visited Eton Dorney Lake (http://www.dorneylake.co.uk/), the venue for rowing and canoe sprint at London 2012. There, it will be carried by Sarah Winckless, who won bronze in the double sculls at Athens 2004 with her rowing partner Elise Lavericat.

Dorney Lake, Olympic venue
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/torchrelay/day_images/passthrough/day53_morning.jpg

The torch will visit Windsor Castle (http://www.royal.gov.uk/theroyalresidences/windsorcastle/windsorcastle.aspx) in the afternoon, at about 14:45 BST. It will be carried past St George's Chapel and into the quadrangle, to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Also there will be people who took part in the Games in London in 1948, including gymnast George Weedon, torchbearer Michael Adams and volunteer Pamela Cook.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09udb1Q4j856y/439x.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/06/11/article-1192386-054F9448000005DC-617_306x284.jpg

Crowds lining the 'mile' leading from Windsor Castle down the Home Park.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61481000/jpg/_61481343_windsor.jpg

Heston Blumenthal with the Olympic flame running from Burnham towards Slough.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTm6Dc63_PYDvPPpzAXg052qdLNrn_2r ywz3HbhvcagKncWJXvp_w

The Olympic torch now being carried by Raymond Colin Wilkins MBE, 55 - more commonly known as Ray. He is a former midfield footballer, from the 1980s, and played for Chelsea, Manchester United, Milan, Queens Park Rangers and Rangers. He then moved into managing, most recently as assistant manager of Chelsea until the end of 2010. The manager at the time, Carlo Ancelotti, wrote about Wilkins that "Chelsea flows in his veins ... without him we wouldn't have won a thing". He also works as a television pundit.

http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/sbres/14.$plit/C_67_article_2116727_body_articleblock_0_bodyimage .jpg?10%2F07%2F2012 16%3A32%3A32%3A550


Later on Tuesday afternoon, it was carried at Ascot by Sydney 2000 heptathlon gold medallist and Atlanta 1996 bronze medallist Lewis. She also won European and Commonwealth gold who passed the flame on to Dettori, who will be on a horse. The 1994, 1995 and 2004 champion jockey made history at the course in 1996 when he won all seven races in a single day.

http://media.tipsimages.it/medianews/thumbnails/PHS00380046.jpg http://www.clydeandforthmedia.co.uk/output/300/img/2012/07/10/franklow.jpg

The day's last torchbearer will be Quentin Gunderson (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=quentin-gunderson-6430/index.html) who works for a charity-run school for pupils in educational crisis and has challenged himself to run the equivalent of 40 marathons in his 40th year to raise funds. He will carry the flame into the evening celebration and light the cauldron at the Madejski Stadium in Reading, where the city's football club, just promoted back to the Premier League, and Premiership rugby union club London Irish play.

(extracts and photos from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18770614))

[Sallydaisy]

Sir Steve Redgrave is carrying the torch on a boat being rowed down the River Thames at Henley right now. Notes from the BBC torchcam livefeed:


The crew of the boat carrying the flame includes two rowers from each of Leander Club, Upper Thames RC and Henley RC - the three clubs on the Henley reach.

As if he wasn't already impressive enough, Sir Steve Redgrave is rowing with one hand and carrying the torch in the other. The media boat has had to tell the crew to slow down!

Cox of the eight is Garry Herbert, who won Olympic gold with the Searle brothers in 1992 and is the BBC rowing commentator. Greg Searle has made a comeback in this Olympiad. and, now aged 40, is aiming to win his second Olympic gold, 20 years after his first.

The Torch Security Team is following in a motor launch named Enchantress which was involved in the 1948 Olympic regatta, which was run over the Henley course. Two of the three surviving medallists from the last Olympic regatta in the UK were part of a reunion of over 170 rowing Olympians and the Henley Royal Regatta (http://www.hrr.co.uk/feed/read.php?itemid=672) a fortnight ago.

I'm watching the torch relay quite a lot today as it passes about 5miles from where I live. Unfortunately, it's going to mostly be in convoy mode so I've decided not to go and find a space roadside 'cos space will be limited.
I reckon I'll see far more watching it on the BBC!!!

[Sallydaisy]

I think today is the first time the flame has visited a tennis related place. Apart from anything else it's near to Marlow, one of my favourite local towns, only 15mins drive from my home and it's fun watching the relay in places I know so well.

Bisham Abbey (http://www.bishamabbeynsc.co.uk/) is the Sport England National Sports Centre. home of England Hockey, GB Canoeing and the English Institute of Sport. It's also an LTA Tennis Academy (run by Win Tennis) and I've recently met some of the youngsters who train there. The Abbey itself was once home to Henry VIII and Elizabeth I; it's a rather splendid place for a wedding!!!
http://www.bishamabbeynsc.co.uk/Bisham_Abbey/resource/image/2c909132-90b2-4d6f-8897-d974e1e44384

National Governing Bodies based at Bisham Abbey

Bisham Abbey, as one of Sport England’s National Sports Centres, is home to a number of National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs). We work closely with these NGBs to support Sport England’s Grow, Sustain, Excel strategy for sport.

To contact any of these NGBs, or associations simply follow the links below:-



Amateur Swimming Association (http://www.britishswimming.org/)
Amateur Rowing Association (http://www.ara-rowing.org/)
British Canoe Union (http://www.bcu.org.uk/)
British International Rowing (http://www.ara-rowing.org/gb-rowing)
British Athletes Commission (http://www.britishathletes.org/)
England Hockey (http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/)
England Football Association (http://www.thefa.com/)
English Institute of Sport (http://www.eis2win.co.uk/)
Lawn Tennis Association (http://www.lta.org.uk/)
British Olympics Association (http://www.olympics.org.uk/)
Rugby Football Union (http://www.rfu.com/)
Football Association (http://www.thefa.com/)
Sport Coach UK (http://www.thefa.com/)
UK Sport (http://www.uksport.gov.uk/)
UK Athletics (http://www.uksport.gov.uk/)
WIN Tennis (http://www.wintennis.com/)
Bisham Abbey Sailing School (http://www.bishamabbeysailing.co.uk/)
Careers in Fitness (http://www.careersinfitnessltd.co.uk)
British Olympic Medical Institute (http://www.olympics.org.uk/boa)
Reactivate Bucks (http://www.buckssport.org/SITEFORUM?&t=/Default/gateway&i=1172035124225&application=menu&l=0&active=no&ParentID=1221032779179&intro=1&xref=http%3A//www.google.co.uk/search%3Fq%3DREACTIVATE+BUCKS%26sourceid%3Die7%26r ls%3Dcom.microsoft%3Aen-US%26ie%3Dutf8%26oe%3Dutf8%26redir_esc%3D%26ei%3Dq h0OTJHYH9iI4gbdlI3EDA)
Fab Football (http://www.fabfootball.co.uk/)
Football Showcase (http://www.footballshowcase.net/)
Pass and Move soccer School (http://www.passandmove.net/)
Netball South (http://www.netballsouth.co.uk/)
England Netball (http://www.englandnetball.co.uk/)

Bisham Abbey provides a state of the art sporting and non-sporting facilities including:


Football pitches
Synthetic hockey pitches
90 Station Fitness Suite (New equipment April 2011)
Workout classes
Squash courts
Tennis courts (hard and clay)
Abbey Clinic (sports rehabilitation)
Bisham Abbey Sailing and Navigation School


Tennis coach to torch minder .....

Gordon Lott ‏@gordonlott (https://twitter.com/gordonlott)
At Bisham on ‪#torchrelay‬ (https://twitter.com/search/%23torchrelay), 20yrs after coaching tennis here; now with TeamGB hockey ‪#torchrelay‬ (https://twitter.com/search/%23torchrelay) ‪#teamgb‬ (https://twitter.com/search/%23teamgb) pic.twitter.com/AQE3xXwR (http://t.co/AQE3xXwR)

https://p.twimg.com/AxbrbTmCIAIZ2_g.jpg

[Sallydaisy]

Fiction becoming fact? Not without a broomstick ...

Harry Potter game Quidditch marks Olympic torch relay
Quidditch - the game made famous by the Harry Potter stories - has been "played" in Oxford ahead of the arrival of the Olympic torch. Teams from Australia, France, United Kingdom and the US took part in the two-day tournament.

The final, which was won by the US team, was part of Oxford's Olympic torch relay celebrations in South Park.


Local children were also given a chance to learn the sport in a "kidditch" match.


More here. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18742566)

[Sallydaisy]

July 11th: Reading to Salisbury
... Winchester Cathedral, you're bringin' me down
You stood and you watched as my baby left town
(anyone else remember this hit from The New Vaudeville Band?)

:olympics:
The flame is travelling from Reading to Salisbury (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day54) today covering 105 miles with 120 torchbearers
.
After starting in Reading, the torch makes its way through Theale and Thatcham before heading to Newbury, Basingstoke, Kings Worthy, Winchester, Andover, Ludgershall, Tidworth, Amesbury, The Winterbournes and finally to Salisbury where the evening celebration will be at Hudson Field.

Crossing the river in Reading - and torches ready for action later in the day!!!


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61494000/jpg/_61494356_amykatereadingbridge.jpg http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61496000/jpg/_61496365_baldingtorches.jpg



Landmarks along the way are Winchester Cathedral, England's former capital, the longest medieval cathedral (http://winchester-cathedral.org.uk/) in Europe and final resting place of Jane Austen.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/WinCath30Je6-4836wiki.jpg/250px-WinCath30Je6-4836wiki.jpg http://www.fcm.org.uk/opencms/opencms/Find_Cathedrals/England/Cathedrals/images/Winchester/04_Winchester_Nave.jpg




From Wikipedia - Winchester Cathedral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Cathedral) and Winchester (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester)

The Saxon street plan laid out by Alfred the Great (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great) is still evident today: a cross shaped street system which conformed to the standard town planning system of the day – overlaying the pre-existing Roman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Britain) street plan (incorporating the ecclesiastical quarter in the south-east; the judicial quarter in the south-west; the tradesmen in the north-east).
Winchester Castle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Castle) houses a 'round table' likened to the one used (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Table#Winchester_Round_Table) (allegedly) by King Arthur.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/WinchesterCastle.jpg/260px-WinchesterCastle.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Winchester_RoundTable.jpg/220px-Winchester_RoundTable.jpg



In Basingstoke the relay will follow the same route as the 1948 torch relay. Hampshire County Council said when the relay route was announced that the series of rolling road closures would be the biggest since the Tour de France visited the county in 1994.

The first torchbearer of the day was Lee Umpleby, 34, from Reading, at Caversham Court Gardens at 07:50 BST. He was nominated by Reading City Council for his work as a community police officer.

Group picture of the first batch of torchbearers at Caversham Court - and an Olympic busload!

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61492000/jpg/_61492759_cavershamcourttorch.jpg http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61508000/jpg/_61508545_damien.jpg



Other torch bearers today include George Weedon, 92, who was a gymnast in the 1948 Olympic Games, coming 12th out of 16 nations after participating in the men's individual all-around, team all-around, floor exercise, horse vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar, rings, and pommell horse. He competed his stint on the outskirts of Reading and passed the flame to Richard Phelps who won bronze in the modern pentathlon at the Seoul Olympics 1988.

BBC Sport presenter Clare Balding is carrying the flame in Newbury. She is from the Hampshire/Berkshire border area and is a patron of Riding for the Disabled and the British Paralympic Association.


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61496000/jpg/_61496369_clarebalding.jpg http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61501000/jpg/_61501063_baldingcloseup.jpg



Busy Basingstoke! And the flame 'kiss' in front of Winchester Cathedral.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61503000/jpg/_61503453_basingstoke.jpg http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPr5DEa2fZ2Xt4WiJGEQiuPn8ax8PS4 FoJjRuP2hYRY76Jrvwq



As well as its mighty cathedral, the final resting place for Jane Austen and numerous Anglo-Saxon Kings, the town has two imposing statues - one of Alfred the Great outside its historic Guildhall and a horse and rider statue outside the city's law courts, by the noted sculptress Dame Elizabeth Frink.
The city was also the boyhood home of deadpan comedian Jack Dee



(extracts and photos from the BBC webpage (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day54))

[Lizzim]

Hopefully I'll get to see the torch tomorrow!

[Sallydaisy]

July 12th: Salisbury to Weymouth
... Stonehenge to Sailing

:olympics:

http://sobreinglaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/stonehenge.jpg


Michael Johnson (http://www.bbc.co.uk/labuk/articles/compete/michaeljohnson.html) has carried the Olympic flame on a dawn visit to Stonehenge (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/)
before the start of day 55 of the torch relay on Thursday.

https://p.twimg.com/AxlisgmCIAAzawe.jpg



The sprint legend took his torch to the World Heritage Site as the sun rose. He will start the relay proper at 07:49 BST from beautiful Salisbury Cathedral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salisbury_Cathedral) before it travels across Dorset to the fossil mecca of the Jurassic Coast and through the Wiltshire villages of Barford St Martin, Fovant and Ludwell, where it will pass the famous chalk regimental badges cut into the hillside.


http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ5iE-Sof5U0Q2rf6WSoYol410ETJ_Pc92NgHjSa6qLFXrwTr9UuQ http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSKz2BmmvsHPtgVFTGeXUPQJIaGMB_8T yzXLsEbE-ei1RW42f3taw



On entering Dorset, it will travel to the hilltop town of Shaftesbury and be carried down Gold Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Hill,_Shaftesbury) - the steep cobbled street made famous in Hovis adverts of old.


http://www.standard.co.uk/incoming/article7939121.ece/ALTERNATES/w380/torch-8.jpg



The flame will then cross the heart of Dorset, taking in the towns of Blandford Forum and Dorchester as well as the "Thomas Hardy country" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hardy's_Wessex) villages of Fontmell Magna, Iwerne Minster, Stourpaine, Winterborne Whitechurch, Milborne St Andrew, Puddletown and Winterbourne Abbas.

The relay heads seaward at the old seaport of Bridport before heading along the Jurassic Coast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic_Coast) - a World Heritage Site - and visiting Chideock, romantic Lyme Regis, Burton Bradstock, Abbotsbury (with its famed Swan hatchery), Portesham, Chickerell and Wyke Regis.


http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSbeEN9ezHvCyZQtLTDKxe44X5uf6LEz H9W5nDmHd5QTiEjIn5P http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsGnSoHGleYlsfX2SE4JcrF8WWmbde1 Kpw1m8v7B2XRBbix-zAOw



The flame will then visit Lyme Bay, before heading round to Portland Bay, home of the London Olympics sailing events (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/sports/sailing). At Portland Harbour, local girl Katrina Hughes will present the flame to 1968 Olympic Games gold medal winning yachtsman Rodney Pattisson who will sail with it into the bay. The flame will then pass to 20-year-old Ryan Hope to be rowed in a gig to its destination for the evening, Weymouth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weymouth,_Dorset)beach.


http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGQUn2rBlMtnVrsBtZPm6_QF0yjmzxm vrbmFggz_A6MYfYDDynpg



A total of 116 runners will carry the torch on a 107-mile route


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61519000/jpg/_61519393_weymouthtest464261.jpg



Sadly, it wasn't beach weather in Weymouth last night!

http://news.images.itv.com/image/file/61230/image_update_101e48209202a1cf_1342111458_9j-4aaqsk.jpeg


(extracts and photos from the BBC webpage (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18802568) and torch relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay))

[Lizzim]

My blogette - mostly pictures from the torch relay this morning:

http://randomdaysout.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/olympic-torch-relay-12th-july-2012.html

[VamosVixs]

Great pics Lizzim! :thumbup:

[VamosVixs]

Meet the TST who do a fantastic job! :thumbup:

The TST Runners (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.372850616105250.84896.260012884055691&type=3)

[cazza99]

Thanks Lizzim.

[Sallydaisy]

Meet the TST who do a fantastic job! :thumbup:

The TST Runners (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.372850616105250.84896.260012884055691&type=3)

That's a really nice piece but did you see some of the comments underneath?
Why are people so rude? Especially since children might be reading about TST.
:grrr:

[Sallydaisy]

July 13th: Portland Bill to Bournemouth
... Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside ...

:olympics:
Starting at Portland Bill the torch travels through Southwell, Weston, Easton, Portland, Fortuneswell, back into Weymouth, Preston, Osmington, Winfrith Newburgh, Wool, Corfe Castle, Swanage, Stoborough, Wareham, Sandford, Lytchett Minster, Upton, Hamworthy, Poole, Ashley Cross, Branksome, Wallisdown and Bournemouth.
:phew:

Along the 76-mile route, the relay will also pass the house where Commander Bill Collins planned the 1948 relay on East Street in Corfe Castle. Durdle Door and Chesil Beach on Dorset's Jurassic Coast feature on day 56 of Olympic torch relay as it travels from Portland Bill to Bournemouth. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day56)


The first of the day's 147 torchbearers kick things off at 07:05 BST at Pulpit Rock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulpit_Rock_(Isle_of_Portland)), Portland Bill.


http://www.dorsetphotos.co.uk/image/1,Pulpit-Rock-Portland,050709_6333.jpg


Leaving Portland Bill (lighthouse) ....................... The Olympic flame above Chesil Beach




http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT2OtewZICrXCx9OysAUU9TTeBmB6S1-FprVYqdmDHynks78R8q http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRmd5ddgD1w1YtQxVomfkwsruqFWdiJ2 7lT03wZ5iZsHZnRgnsy

Pity the runner who took the flame up and down to Durdle Door!
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61549000/jpg/_61549719_durdledoor.jpg http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT_BqSBFIX1nSsSgraif-14A0LAuTr0g-cBHIjJJF4jfZw_5mOw
Corfe Castle.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQJ5eGTR0W8kDWdOWVrYMrwvPSqdW0aY R2tVuZOFaG_fx2TQzxEuQ



Among the day's torchbearers are:


British sailor Giles Scott, will carry the Flame in Weymouth. Scott, 24, has won World Championship bronze and European Championship gold
Bournemouth Girls School, who have a team of 10 carrying the flame in Bournemouth
Great Britain judo player Sophie Johnstone, who will carry the flame in Fortuneswell. Sophie is a two-time British Champion, has represented GB at two World Championships and won numerous World Cup and European Cup medals


Branksome Park, Bournemouth ready for the flame to arrive


http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJ6Atm3qx2MEYMnjNh3wBfmzWTKuQ2D VLJ4StJmVtl2jTgnPOKOw http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTBGNCUbeJ_1LSKXHTcCmirXV8T48vQd taFB4cOKTRPQpZxYkeCBw



(extracts and photos from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18812188)and daily relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day56))

[VamosVixs]

That's a really nice piece but did you see some of the comments underneath?
Why are people so rude? Especially since children might be reading about TST.
:grrr:

I know, I was disappointed with some of the comments. :sad:

[Alis]

There were a lot of positive ones though.

[KnightOwl]

Loved the dawn pic of Michael Johnson with the torch at Stonehenge - fantastic!

[Sallydaisy]

July 14th: Bournemouth to Southampton
... Dame Needles Cowes ...

:olympics:
Dame Ellen MacArthur (http://Blue Peter Olympic event moved to Bournemouth Blue Peter presenters Blue Peter is touring the UK with a series of live programmes ahead of the OlympicsA Blue Peter Olympics event has been moved to Bournemouth after the Isle of Wight venue where it was to be held became waterlogged.The Big Olympic Tour event, planned for Osborne House on Saturday, has been moved to Kings Park.Executive producer Karen Gregory apologised for any "disappointment and inconvenience".People with tickets for the 30-minute live show at 09:00 BST can use them at the new venue.Blue Peter's Barney Harwood and guest presenter Naomi Wilkinson will present the programme.It is also possible to attend the main part of the event, which runs until 16:00, by turning up on the day.Aimed at children aged six to 12, the free event features a range of Olympic and sports-based activities.) will carry the Olympic flame in East Cowes when day 57 of the torch relay travels through the Isle of Wight on its journey from Bournemouth to Southampton (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day57).

The day will begin at Bournemouth Pier at 07:05 BST and the 59-mile route will include a stop at St Mary's Stadium, the home of Southampton football club. Scottish Olympic gold medal winning sailor Shirley Robertson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Robertson)will carry the flame in Newport. The day will end at Mayflower Park, Southampton.

The flame will travel through 12 communities on Saturday: Bournemouth, Boscombe, Christchurch, Lyndhurst (New Forest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Forest) - and home of the NF ponies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Forest_pony)), Brockenhurst, Lymington, Totland, Yarmouth, Carisbrooke, Newport, East Cowes and Southampton.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Beaulieu_river_at_longwater_lawn.jpg/284px-Beaulieu_river_at_longwater_lawn.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/FlaxenChestnutNF.jpg/220px-FlaxenChestnutNF.jpg

At midday it will be carried on a ferry to the Isle of Wight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Wight)in Lymington.

And fittingly, it is there that sailor Dame McArthur will join the relay, in a part of the UK famous for its week-long regatta. Cowes has hosted the sailing event since 1826 and it is now the largest of its kind in the world.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT2PFKqN_PzCG7HKxUAz0O28nKpyTZ4s fOh8GMqN1zsO-Jet02D http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRiX-DBmfk2IBqRwrD7ILqgXcYcDJ4Nf3PMxcPAvMKHjUuG5-8BiQ
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTlhl5-Vj9y7ClNGMolF1-LzeilZq6lmJ8EJKbxiNGWn0j8RPmWRQ http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSB1Zox2pDs8wktrqFygy8NEiMwtMa3r wQeMgMAMzIJiOF_9I_F

Other highlights of the relay's journey on the Isle of Wight include visits to Osbourne House (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/osborne-house) which was built as a summer residence and retreat for Queen Victoria, who died there in 1901, and Prince Albert.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRoc8qQnathowHqX3xwHKRmkw2tBw2o8 VgYpRhbbkyJBHdqRG4L9A

There's also trip for an intrepid torchbearer on the Needles Chair Lift, (http://www.theneedles.co.uk/chairlift.php) travelling down to Alum Bay beach.
http://www.iwcp.co.uk/files/images/m33_newsimg_0f710773-640f-4fad-9398-d6191aa50a0b.jpg?width=411&height=219

The flame will leave the island at about 16:30 and arrive in Southampton just over an hour later. In Southampton the flame will be exchanged, by the side of the pitch at St Mary's Stadium, between Alice Constance, 29, from Chepstow and Nicholas Nuttall, 53, from Southwater.

The evening celebration at Mayflower Park (http://www.southampton.gov.uk/news-events/events/allevents/mayflower-park.asp) will include performances from Wretch 32 - a dance troupe who will provide a unique fusion of street performance, theatre and sport - and dance act Twist and Pulse.

(extracts and photos from BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day57))

[Sallydaisy]

A Blue Peter Olympics event has been moved to Bournemouth after the Isle of Wight venue where it was to be held became waterlogged.

The Big Olympic Tour event, planned for Osborne House on Saturday, has been moved to Kings Park in Bournemouth because the Isle of Wight venue, where it was to have been held, became waterlogged. Executive producer Karen Gregory apologised for any "disappointment and inconvenience".



People with tickets for the 30-minute live show at 09:00 BST can use them at the new venue. Blue Peter's Barney Harwood and guest presenter Naomi Wilkinson will present the programme. It is also possible to attend the main part of the event, which runs until 16:00, by turning up on the day. Aimed at children aged six to 12, the free event features a range of Olympic and sports-based activities.

[Sallydaisy]

July 15th: Southampton to Portsmouth
... and a hop to Hev's home

:olympics:

The Olympic flame has stopped off in Guernsey (home of Heather Watson) and Jersey - its southernmost destination - as the relay travels from Southampton to Portsmouth (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day58).

During Sunday's relay, the flame was carried by 82 torchbearers on the 48-mile route and travelled through seven communities including Southampton, Guernsey, Jersey, Fareham, Bridgemary, Gosport and Portsmouth.


2 different modes of transport on the Channel Islands

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSpDYjm19PPvT813GC6iw5HJ1ls8JNZI I_8SMf8cSd4PyYwll-c http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61580000/jpg/_61580923_van.jpg


At 07:22 BST the flame departed Southampton Airport for the hour-long journey to Guernsey. There the first torchbearer was retired surgeon Roger Allsopp (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-14716970), 71, who carried the flame on the South Esplanade in St Peter Port. He was nominated for his Channel swim last year, which put him in the record books for being the oldest person to have completed the crossing. While in Guernsey local athlete Jamie Bichard, 27, who is a Special Olympics cycling gold medallist, carried it to the front of Guernsey Lighthouse.


Jersey torchbearers
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61581000/jpg/_61581026_palmer.jpg
Richard Collinson, 69, was the first torchbearer in Jersey. He was nominated for dedicating his life to sport and providing football coaching for young people. Up to 400 people saw the start of the relay from Bel Royal before the flame was carried along the seafront to St Helier with crowds two or three deep, waving flags and cheering the torchbearers.



On the ferry to Portsmouth - home of the wonderful ship HMS Victory

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61583000/jpg/_61583654_flame.jpg http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/57060000/jpg/_57060612_001353310-1.jpg


Once back in Southampton the torch was carried in Fareham and will go to Bridgemary and Gosport, before being taken by ferry from Gosport to the dockyard in Portsmouth. Mazie Watson, 12, will carry the flame from the jetty at the dockyard to HMS Victory where she will hand it to Colette Hayes, 18, who was nominated by the British Olympic Association for her commitment and dedication to coaching gymnastics.

She won the 2011 British Gymnastics Young Volunteer of the Year Award.
Other torchbearers on the day included:



Heather Lambert, 48, from Totton, who carried the flame in Southampton. She is a foster carer who has dedicated her life to looking after the foster children.
Roger Sherliker, 53, from Southampton, who carried the flame in his home town. He has spent nearly 20 years volunteering as an athletics coach.
Charlotte Samson, 18, from St Lawrence, who carried the flame in St Helier. She is currently part of the UK Lifesaving Team selected by England to compete at the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships

When the flame arrived in Portsmouth there was an evening celebration on Southsea Common and the final torchbearer of the day was Jonathon Bamber, 26.


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61586000/jpg/_61586068_015319724-1.jpg

(extracts and photos from BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day57))

[Sallydaisy]

July 16th: Portsmouth to Brighton
... lots to see today!

:olympics:
The torch sets off from Portsmouth and through West Sussex, where the 12th century Chichester Cathedral and 11th century Arundel Castle contrast with the modernism at Cass Sculpture Park, Goodwood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwood_House), on it's way to Brighton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighton_and_Hove).

Here's the itinerary ....... Portsmouth (see below), Petersfield, Rogate, Midhurst, Easebourne, Tillington, Petworth (House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petworth_House)), Duncton (Wood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncton_Wood)), Chichester (Cathedral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichester_Cathedral)), Goodwood (Circuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwood_Circuit)), North Bersted, South Bersted, Bognor Regis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bognor_Regis), Woodgate, Westergate, Arundel (Castle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundel_Castle)), Worthing (A handbag (http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:te6btO5VG64J:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Importance_of_Being_Earnest+importance+of+bein g+earnest+worthing&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk)), Lancing, West Blatchington, Brighton and Hove (Albion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighton_%26_Hove_Albion_F.C.)).


Pompey Football Ground, where the torch set off from today.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61589000/jpg/_61589125_pompey.jpg


Linvoy Primus, one of the Portsmouth players carrying the torch in Petersfield.


http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/torchrelay/day_images/passthrough/day59_morning.jpg


Former Olympian Sally Gunnell with the torch in Woodgate before it went on to Arundel and the Castle
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61600000/jpg/_61600100_sally_.jpg http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRm06FIDuOJcSz40r4CW3W7LDUs1bPoT aElAWkYSqBKqWXRBbJ9



And a trip along Brighton beach
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Brighton_Pier%2C_Brighton%2C_East_Sussex%2C_Englan d-2Oct2011_(1).jpg/300px-Brighton_Pier%2C_Brighton%2C_East_Sussex%2C_Englan d-2Oct2011_(1).jpg

Before ending the day at Sussex County Cricket Ground
http://www.gscene.com/artman2/uploads/2/WEB.378.olympic-torch-.jpg




http://www.ooklnet.com/web/scaleimg.php?width=320&image=/files/383/383471/small.jpg


(extracts and photos from BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day57))

[Sallydaisy]

July 17th: Brighton and Hove to Hastings
... where's Harold?

:olympics:

One of today's route’s most famous landmarks is Battle Abbey, built on the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. But before that we have to move off the beach and past the Pavillion and head out of town inland to Crawley, Gatwick, East Grinstead, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Lewes (almost back in Brighton) and along the edge of the South Downs to Eastbourne. From there it's along the coast via Pevensey (Castle), Bexhill, St Leonards and finally to Hastings.


http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/torchrelay/day_images/passthrough/day60_morning.jpg


http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmHVBJopZeAmhBzfisut5MYRFSF4jqC 5E_iwyI5XA5k1HwoxOICQ http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDB9e40bqY8mEgOlWon3UgcteqcbP_b PDwXMmMz38wmb3mnf3XBw

The torch will also pop to Tonbridge Castle, away from the 109-mile route.
Dame Kelly Holmes, who won Olympic gold in the 800m and the 1500m at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and Frank Verge, who was a torchbearer in the 1948 torch relay, will carry the 2012 flame in the castle grounds just after midday.



Castles - Lewes on the left and Pevensey on the right
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVCg5XeRJvd0Q9b_y2A55xmYuSaW8JF JG1jaHC5lHbRtP7VkaHvA http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSLGjzVSoxM_B-wsvdbp99FWXlZ9fcOp3gYEwdNWVcpPbiI3Ih3

The Seven Sisters
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61600000/jpg/_61600102_cliffs.jpg

Eddie Izzard will be a torchbearer in Bexhill-on-Sea in recognition of the
43 marathons he ran in 51 days for Sport Relief in August 2009.

Eastbourne - and memories of Davis Cup tennis 2 years ago July 2010.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS-LnioByw8j6KyxbABq-p0WBZWIXs2-XfvBbkx4EuvcFilxZQe http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQQHoh5maSA9qmXMLpi_OEO5mt39f8s5 hiNMn2ol69ZiSi1VaEjEQ

There will be a number of celebrations in Hastings to mark the torch relay visit.
In Grosvenor Gardens, at the western end of the seafront, there will be
community events including golf putting, bowling competitions and bike rides.
And in Warrior Square, another community day has been organised.

There will be a ticketed event on The Stade Open Space in Hastings Old Town.
Performances will come from Rizzle Kicks and the Hastings Philharmonic Choir.



(extracts and photos from the BBC torch cam webpages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day60))

[Linda]

Went to see it during my lunchhour yesterday, at Sainsbury's near Chichester. Got absolutely drenched. Didn't know who either of the torch bearers were.

[Sallydaisy]

July 18th: Hastings to Dover
... a trip along the Cinque ports (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=cinque ports&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CFsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FCinque_ Ports&ei=mdYHUKrKAcq_0QXbt-H-BA&usg=AFQjCNEmCB0wCidQjCZ0OjksEtj1I3IkXg&cad=rja) ...

:olympics:
Welcome to today's leg of the relay - travelling 57 miles from Hastings to Dover.

Lots of exciting adventures for the flame today - starting, after a photo opportunity at Battle Abbey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Abbey), with a trip on a funicular railway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Hill_Cliff_Railway) in Hastings. A torch will also be held at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel while the day will end overlooking the White Cliffs of Dover
before sailing on a tall ship past the White Cliffs of Dover day 61 of the torch relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day61).


The flame started the day at Battle Abbey, on the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, before travelling through Hastings and on through Rye, Hamstreet, Romney, Ashford (Chunnel stop), Hythe, Sandgate, Folkestone, Samphire and finally Dover. (Sandwich is the 5th Cinque Port but not on today's relay)


The Cinque Ports are the basis the route of the flame today; the White Cliffs of Dover.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRrwCBuzjSC2nUlWiFQeboiyX2Fag-IfktkhEdVr8PrdyPX0Rv_58Fnt69P http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRklRTwNS5epTPzMC7gGSoL7t6MN3jzj 75l_FuDb5R1wGbmlc9x

Hastings funicular railway ... and a town crier at Battle Abbey.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/East_Hill_Cliff_Lift_1.jpg/220px-East_Hill_Cliff_Lift_1.jpg http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61646000/jpg/_61646668_towncrier.jpg

Romney marshes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romney_Marsh) setting for many spooky tales ...
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ351XmcFIS-O463numEdH-VL5l1ebHqM_GY7h8Zz53-IVgZ_Pu http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXYEJdVHWbPJ4HqlTXSx0gZ-Ck697QjPdi_96ArKqFw2bNtYDLFw

A RNLI lifeboat dinghy taking the flame from Samphire Hoe out to the tall ship. It was then due to be switched to a second lifeboat but bad weather prevented the handover and the tall ship had to struggle into harbour. A security officer held the flame on board a lifeboat when the official torchbearer became seasick.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61668000/jpg/_61668645_lifeboat.jpg

The Olympic flame arriving at a rather damp Dover Castle. Better by night ...
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61669000/jpg/_61669287_hi015339257.jpg http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/events/images/2012/125_dovernight.jpg

To celebrate, the castle stayed open late for visitors. It was then illuminated with floodlights and fireworks, set off from Admiralty Lookout to coincide with an evening celebration at the seafront. Neil McCollum, English Heritage's general manager at Dover Castle, said: "Dover Castle is one of the great castles of England and we are delighted to welcome the symbol of the Olympics to it."

The 97th torchbearer of the day, Graeme Faber, who was present at the 1948 Olympic opening ceremony in London as a small boy, lit the cauldron within view of the town's famous white cliffs.


The 76-year-old, who has climbed mountains, cycled across Mongolia, trekked in Nepal, run marathons and triathlons and raised funds for Water Aid and MacMillan Cancer Care, still runs every day.


A fine way for the flame to travel ........
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61668000/jpg/_61668559_tallship2.jpg


(extracts and photos from the BBC torchcam webpage (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day61))

[Sallydaisy]

July 19th: Deal to Maidstone

... and a bonny Scottish tennis player takes the flame ...

:olympics:
Bally will be carrying the Olympic torch around 11.30am this morning.
Here she is ready and raring to go in her torchbearer kit and an excited tweet!

https://twitpic.com/show/large/a98zn4
from twitter http://twitpic.com/a98zn4 (http://t.co/Q4VHun82)


Elena ‏@ElenaBaltacha (https://twitter.com/ElenaBaltacha) morning everyone,what a gorgeous morning in Ramsgate! will be running with the torch in a few hrs..sooo excited #whatanhonour (https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23whatanhonour) xx



Back to todays proceedings - as the flame edges ever closer to London.
:olympics:

The torch relay begins today from Deal (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=deal&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CHIQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDeal%2C _Kent&ei=jNIHUKq_PJKLhQfq--zKAw&usg=AFQjCNFxOI82oJ4eDp5fT73m_EVP8HvAIA&cad=rja)Pier and follow the coast around to Margate before heading inland thru' Canterbury and on to Maidstone. The flame will also visit Sholden, Sandwich, Great Stonar, Cliffs End, St Lawrence, Ramsgate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsgate), Broadstairs (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=broadstairs&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CGIQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBroadst airs&ei=JdIHUNepKoeq0AXh7pn3BA&usg=AFQjCNF9ulmB0MoXb_GYbW3_QkcDDHO2GQ&cad=rja), St Peters, Cliftonville, Margate (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=margate&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CGkQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMargate&ei=ttIHUKvDLKqs0QWExJTeBA&usg=AFQjCNH3nE7S_ONTiKIgHw9At-3JOhs2jw&cad=rja), Westgate-on-Sea, Birchington-on-Sea, Upstreet, Sturry, Thanington, Faversham and Harrietsham.


Deal Pier

http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Kent-Piers/Deal_1957-PC-01.jpg




The Olympic flame will be carried through the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_Cathedral) shortly before 17:00 BST, before it moves to Maidstone where the evening celebration will take place at Leeds Castle. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_Castle)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Canterbury_Cathedral_-_Portal_Nave_Cross-spire.jpeg/250px-Canterbury_Cathedral_-_Portal_Nave_Cross-spire.jpeghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Leeds_castle.JPG/300px-Leeds_castle.JPG




Steve Backley, a javelin star at four Games from 1992 to 2004, will carry the flame at Ramsgate harbour.

Backley will feature shortly after 10:00 BST. A former javelin world record-holder, he won two silver medals and a bronze at Olympic Games from 1992-2000 and finished fourth in 2004, during a career that also brought four European and three Commonwealth titles. Speaking to BBC Kent, he joked: "There's a few people nervous I'm going to throw the torch, but I promise you I won't even be tempted."
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61677000/jpg/_61677166_backley.jpg

Tracey Emin, artist, will take the torch at the Turner Gallery in Margate, before it moves on to visit Canterbury Cathedral. Emin graduated in fine arts from the Maidstone College of Art in 1986 and was on the short list for the Turner Prize in 1999. She is one of 12 artists who have created posters (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15577818) for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, for display at Tate Britain in London.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61677000/jpg/_61677985_traceyemin.jpg


Other torchbearers on day 62 include:


Charlie Hedges, 25, who presents the Kiss FM breakfast show and is an ambassador for the Prince's Trust. He is carrying the flame in Challock.



Melwyn Moore, 67 from Maidstone, who has run 21 London Marathons in as many years, raising money for the local community.



Joseph Smith, who made worldwide news when he became the oldest Briton to swim the English Channel at the age of 65. He is now 78.




(extracts from the BBC Olympics webpage (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18891849) and daily torchcam relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day62), follow links to read more)

[Sallydaisy]

Nice gentle jog from Elena with the Olympic flame!
https://yfrog.com/ny5gcegj:iphone

This is what she had to say ahead of her leg today - from the torchcam live text (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day62)

1139: Serving up the torch now is Team GB Olympic tennis player Elena Baltacha. (http://www.elena-baltacha.com/) The former British number one, who will represent Britain in the Games singles (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18597753) competition at Wimbledon, told BBC Sport she was looking forward to both that and today's run with the torch. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18597753)

She said: "It was always going to be a big honour to carry the Torch but, let's face it, if I had carried it knowing that I probably wasn't going to be able to compete then I think I would have felt a bit sad. Now I can really celebrate and enjoy the moment and I hope lots of people turn out to watch and cheer."
Elena reached the second round of this year's Wimbledon Championships and is currently ranked number 100 in the world and fourth in Britain.

Can you spot her on the bus???
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61678000/jpg/_61678098_karenpickering.jpg

[xenon21]

Am hoping I can catch Bally online or something as I was at work during the relay. Any idea how I can find out what time any will be carrying the torch on Monday? I start work at 1 and wouldn't mind going there first if Andy is on early...

[millypops]

I have just looked at the Torch Bearers for Monday and Tim Henman is down as a Torch Bearer but not Andy, was it Monday 23rd he was suppose to be carrying the torch.

[Sallydaisy]

I have just looked at the Torch Bearers for Monday and Tim Henman is down as a Torch Bearer but not Andy, was it Monday 23rd he was suppose to be carrying the torch.
Andy has said he'd be carrying the flame on the 23rd which is Monday.

This is taken (http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/wimbledonnews/9827636.Merton_set_for_Olympic_torch_parade/) from local paper, Merton Guardian, published at 4.30pm today.

The Olympic torch finally arrives in Merton next week after its 8,000-mile journey across the UK and Ireland.

Andy Murray, Sue Barker and Lisa Snowdon will be among the more famous of the 30 torch bearers taking part in the parade on Monday, July 23, but organisers did not manage to find a single Merton resident to feature in the showpiece publicity stunt.
From about 3.20pm, the torch will be passed from Sutton to Mitcham via Bishopsford Road, where TV presenter and tennis champion Sue Barker will carry the flame into the Tooting and Mitcham Community Sports Club.

British tennis star Andy Murray will then carry the torch on to Centre Court at the All England Club, which will host the Olympic tennis event, the first time he will have visited Wimbledon since his defeat to Roger Federer in this year’s Wimbledon final.

The Islington Gazette says Tim will be the final torch bearer of the day - so presumably he'll light the cauldron on Tooting Common.



On Monday, July 23 the flame will go from Lewisham to Wandsworth, and will make a stop at Albert Square in EastEnders when character Billy Mitchell carries the torch.

Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, will carry the flame at the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Centre.
Marlon Devonish will take the flame on a lap around Crystal Palace Stadium.

Television presenter Sue Barker will take the torch to Tooting & Mitcham Community Sports Club, and the flame will also visit Centre Court at Wimbledon. Tennis player Tim Henman will be the final torchbearer of the day.

[Sallydaisy]

I think it's great that Andy will be taking the Olympic flame on to Centre Court on Monday!


Stuart Fraser ‏@stu_fraser (https://twitter.com/stu_fraser) Lookin forward to 1st glimpse of Olympic Torch- seems like it's been in UK forever - on Monday when Andy Murray carries it onto Centre Court



These are the scheduled timings - they vary a bit on the day.


17:07 Church Road
17:10 Somerset Road
17:10 Wimbledon Court Pathway
17:13 All England Lawn Tennis front doors
17:19 Promenade Steps
17:21 Henman Hill Steps
17:27 The Championship Wimbledon Garden Sign
17:27 Wimbledon pathway
17:29 Church Road

[KnightOwl]

I think it's great that Andy will be taking the Olympic flame on to Centre Court on Monday!

That's so cool - just sorry I'll be at work, so won't be able to watch :sad:

[cazza99]

BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18917991) - Elena Baltacha column: Emotion of carrying Olympic torch

[Fina]

RE: Torch Relay
On the BBC website for Monday, the street-by-street agenda gives the torch 17 minutes inside Wimbledon eg at the front doors; Henman Hill steps etc. http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day66
Is this where Andy will be? Does anyone know if this means that Andy won't actually be running along the street with the torch? Is he just within Wimbledon?
I was really hoping to go and give some vocal support.

[Sallydaisy]

Hi Fina

It seems as though Andy will be doing a session with the Olympic flame inside the grounds at Wimbledon. See my post here (http://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?1010-Olympics-London-2012-Olympic-Torch-Relay&p=84104&viewfull=1#post84104) and others relating to this above ^^^.

Throughout the course of the torch relay there's been 'special site' visits where the torch has made an appearance but away from the spectators e.g. Stonehenge so it's possible Wimbledon is being treated the same. I imagine this is for a number of reasons including:-
- as an Olympic venue there will be necessary work being done in readiness for 28/7/12
- there will be players around on the practice courts so security could be an issue
- maybe there was concern for his safety if Andy ran on public roads because he's one of the highest profile athletes to carry the flame especially after his Final exploits just 12 days ago

Someone will be running the route outlined in my post above so it might be worth going down to watch and as near to the Wimbledon gates as possible! If you live locally perhaps you can find out more from the press?

[Sallydaisy]

July 20th: Maidstone to Guildford

... before being locked up in the Tower of London!

:olympics:

The Olympic flame will be on the start line at Brands Hatch on day 63 of the Olympic torch relay as it travels 105 miles from Maidstone to Guildford. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day63)

Mote Park, (http://www.visitmaidstone.com/things-to-do/mote-park-p12581)where the relay has just started, is Maidstone's largest park with more than 450 acres of mature parkland and a 30 acre lake. During the 'run' through the town the flame was carried on a boat at Maidstone Rowing Club and crossed the River Medway.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61697000/jpg/_61697913_davidboyle.jpg

Throughout the day the flame will be carried through Maidstone, Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester, Higham, Gravesend, Brands Hatch, Borough Green, Seal, Sevenoaks, Riverhead, Godstone, Bletchingley, Redhill, Reigate, Dorking, Westcott, Shere, Chilworth, Godalming and Guildford. An evening celebration will take place at Guildford's Stoke Park, where a cauldron will be lit and entertainment will come from Rizzle Kicks and Twist and Pulse.

Just before 10:00 BST, there was an incident in Gravesend when a man ran at speed out of the crowd (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day63#pid=p00t69fy&t=9h56m48s) and tried to take the torch from bearer Anna Skora. Torch security team officers grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground - they don't muck about do they?

In Gravesend the torch paid a visit to the Gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship. Other snippets about Gravesend:-
"Pocahontas died in Gravesend". "The poet Thom Gunn was born here"
"The town has the world's longest surviving cast iron pier which was built in 1834"

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61697000/jpg/_61697919_gravesend2.jpg

Among the day's 140 torchbearers will be Olympic medallist Roger Black. A hugely popular athlete during the 14 years he represented Great Britain, Black won silver in the 400m and in the 4x400m relay at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and a bronze in the 4x400m relay at the 1992 Barcelona Games. He will carry the flame in Godalming, which is the penultimate of 21 communities the relay will travel through on Friday.

Other highlights of Friday's relay include stints from:


British judo player Gemma Howell, who is hotly tipped to win a medal at the Games
British hockey player Ashley Jackson, who is the International Hockey Federation's World Young Player of the Year and will compete for GB in London
Tim Lawler, the CEO of SportsAid, an organisation that supports young British sportsmen and women during the early years of their careers
Cha Bum-Kun, a former South Korean footballer who played for his country 121 times and was given the title Asia's Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics
Olympian Fiona May (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=fiona-may-6965/index.html) competed in athletics in the long jump for Great Britain for nine years, winning a bronze medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, before competing for Italy in 1994. She won two world titles and two silver Olympic medals competing for Italy, with her Games successes coming in 1996 and 2000. She also once appeared on the BBC programme Superstars. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/superstars/profiles/3101244.stm)

The final torchbearer of the day will be 82-year-old Austin Playfoot, who was a torchbearer when the Games were last held in London. Austin carried the flame on 29 July, 1948 from the Horse & Groom pub in Merrow to the Municipal Offices in Guildford, a distance of 1.8 miles. Last June, Austin helped launch the new torch design under the Olympic rings in St Pancras International station.

http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/sport-smileys/Olympics.gif

The flame will not be staying in Guildford overnight as has been the norm so far. Instead, it will be taken to London by helicopter and be abseiled into the Tower of London (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18854465) at about 20:00 BST - should be quite a spectacle!!!. It will then be locked in the vault with the Olympic medals before the 200-mile London section of the relay starts from Greenwich on Saturday.

One week to go!!!

:olympics:
(extracts and photos from the BBC torchcam relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day63))

[Sallydaisy]

Shameless plug from the BBC ...
;)


If you have been following the progress of the Olympic flame around the UK over the past nine weeks - then make sure you don't miss the torch relay highlights programme 'Britain's Olympic torch story' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01l938x) at 19:30 BST next Wednesday.

[Fina]

Sorry for posting elsewhere, didn't know this thread existed.
:thanks: for the info, sally. No, I don't live locally, but have the day off on Monday, so not sure.

[Sallydaisy]

Sorry for posting elsewhere, didn't know this thread existed.
:thanks: for the info, sally. No, I don't live locally, but have the day off on Monday, so not sure.
:no worries:
The torch relay is quite a unique event in itself so we thought it deserved a separate thread.
A few forum members have witness the torch relay at first hand and posted photos/news so if you do go on Monday it'd be great if you could relate your experience here.

[Sallydaisy]

20.12 ... and the flame has abseiled into The Tower of London.



http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61719000/jpg/_61719279_abseil.jpg



After dispensing with his abseiling contraption


http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDhtFfvtLRAXWdx0l-ucqCMs12tUXrwluOw2y6mnPiSNzCxVnf http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTWPhXNUpHTabeFyxSfRz0cSog0Sb26_ ImzF5nmXE6wAmxSl6SWAQ


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/21/article-2176677-1425F70D000005DC-3_964x628.jpg

[Sallydaisy]

July 21st: London, day 1 - Greenwich to Waltham Forest

... Dizzee Day!

:olympics:
The torch begins a week long trip around London's 33 boroughs (all of them!). Here's the map and today the torch visits Greenwich (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=greenwich borough&source=web&cd=9&sqi=2&ved=0CJEBEBYwCA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FRoyal_B orough_of_Greenwich&ei=Lt0KUIWKFMPQ0QX0pKSmCg&usg=AFQjCNGvZ8_ADY3Logy4T3CHuena2dXbHQ&cad=rja), Newham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Newham)(the area which includes the Olympic Park), Tower Hamlets (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=borough tower hamlets&source=web&cd=11&ved=0CKYBEBYwCg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FLondon_ Borough_of_Tower_Hamlets&ei=q90KUM6CNtGS0QX98OToCg&usg=AFQjCNGZ8b6rPXv-W033HftglxwfuKCSTw&cad=rja), Hackney (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=borough hackney&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CGgQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FLondon_ Borough_of_Hackney&ei=8N0KUOHfKYOp0QXJvuypCg&usg=AFQjCNH6nfbonzlgt9IHf5c3jiv49btwig&cad=rja) and Waltham Forest (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=borough waltham forest&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CJEBEBYwBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FLondon_ Borough_of_Waltham_Forest&ei=090KUM2-KKKT0QWIyNmwCg&usg=AFQjCNFmjWBEaUSUFSsv1sI2S6G1Zjde0A&cad=rja) . Needless to say the route is fairly circuitous, goes over the river and around the houses and parks of East London.


http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/images/londoncouncils/boroughmap.gif?height=398&width=500







The flame started in the sunshine at the Royal Greenwich Observatory - and home to Greenwich Mean Time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Mean_Time) (GMT). It travelled through Greenwich Park past large crowds into the London 2012 equestrian arena, before going past the Queen's House and the Old Royal Naval College. Continuing with the nautical theme, a few minutes later Sir Robin Knox-Johnston - the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world - carried the flame on a lap around the newly-restored Cutty Sark.


http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61723000/jpg/_61723102_natashasinha.jpg http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSQsEcu2HIyB8iQtoV9YQimyRndi8n-3l4Ea0lju8hU-h8sDfqmeQ






Sir Robin Knox Johnson and Cutty Sark and Greenwich Naval Base, Observatory in the background.





http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHb3QmK1WTtPl_f9mwHA3pjXuSE06e1 sEn0-AMj6Ihsy17xC_EoA http://web.orange.co.uk/images/ice/news/bskyb_image_8507849_1_1_400x240.jpg





Shortly before 10:00 BST legendary gymnast Nadia Comaneci - winner of five Olympic gold medals and the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 - met ex-basketball star John Amaechi on the roof of the North Greenwich Arena (aka O2), where they exchanged the flame. The arena is the venue for the London 2012 gymnastics events and basketball finals.
http://www.france24.com/en/files/imagecache/aef_ct_wire_image_lightbox/images/afp/photo_1342882690869-1-0.jpg?1342883295






When it arrived in Woolwich, Jaco Van Gass, a soldier with the First Parachute Regiment, carried the flame. The 25-year-old was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while serving in Afghanistan, resulting in the loss of his left arm, a collapsed lung, punctured internal organs, loss of muscle and tissue from the upper left thigh, multiple shrapnel wounds and a fractured knee, fibula and tibia. In 2011, Mr Van Gass was one of four injured servicemen in the Walking With The Wounded team who set a world record by walking to the North Pole. He took the flame at Woolwich and walked his stint flanked by riders of the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery in their ceremonial dress. From Woolwich the flame was taken across the River Thames to begin it's trip through Tower Hamlets.
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT3FPVXGH_6N96n6oLXq6kvO9GNMi7pr FL2qitrxMlISNzYlPXD http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61723000/jpg/_61723704_woolwich.jpg


In Newham, British javelin legend Tessa Sanderson-White carried the flame. She won gold at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and is the only British woman to have done so in an Olympic throwing event. Hackney-born singer Paloma Faith also carried the flame in the borough, wearing red high heels and having customised her white torchbearer's tracksuit.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61725000/jpg/_61725237_sanderson.jpg http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61725000/jpg/_61725230_palomafaith.jpg




Centenarian Fauja Singh also carried his torch in Newham. The 101-year-old started his career as a marathon runner at the age of 89 and has now completed nine marathons. And Philips Idowu carried the flame into the new Westfield shopping area very close to the Olympic Park.

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQkHIHeSGg98PYHvqDeMG0ZyqzDSIpcC xfoAWwBwiFCKsRxBM9N http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXJ9Sd2xYpi421tAo39Jr_R7NrwmRJn zbcDMtdMXKz6II0puMGFg



Dizzee Rascal and flame
http://news.images.itv.com/image/file/65711/article_60c282e60315c24b_1342884311_9j-4aaqsk.jpeg

Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba has carried the Olympic flame as it made its way from Greenwich to Waltham Forest on day 64 of the torch relay. The 24-year-old had a cardiac arrest in March and collapsed on the pitch during a game against Tottenham. He has not ruled out a return to football, and jogged with the flame before lighting the evening celebration's cauldron.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61730000/jpg/_61730414_jex_1473466_de33-1.jpg

(extracts and images from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18923697))

[Sallydaisy]

July 22nd: London, day 2 - Redbridge to Bexley

... Eye, Eye!!!

:olympics:

The Olympic flame will get a bird's-eye view of host city London on Sunday when it takes a trip on top of the London Eye. Amelia Hempleman-Adams, who at 16 became the youngest person to ski to the South Pole, will hold a torch on top of one of the wheel's capsules.

And here she is .........
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61732000/jpg/_61732295_jex_1473543_de27-1.jpg
Former heavyweight world champion boxer Lennox Lewis and classical pianist Lang Lang are among the 163 torchbearers.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61730000/jpg/_61730127_eye.jpg http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQj0Ls9WWZPrv4Zq6uTXkp4ojJpFTBTE 7eiIQH6yMsK8SfcNl79wg

Day 65 of the relay starts in Redbridge and ends in Bexley (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day65).
The flame travels through 4 more London boroughs today - Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Bexley. Communities visited include Ilford, Romford, Rainham, Dagenham and Upminster before crossing the Thames to land at Erith Yacht Club and then travelling on to Bexley.

The second-day of a week-long tour of the capital will begin about 07:20 BST at Redbridge Cycling Centre, which was built at a cost of £4.5m and will be used as a Games training venue. And the sporting theme will continue shortly afterwards with a visit to Fairlop Lake, where the flame will be taken by boat, accompanied by London Youth Games sailors. The torch will visit another Games practice venue; the Mayesbrook Park Training Centre is being used by specialists in athletics throwing disciplines.

Just before mid-day, Britain's Got Talent-winning street dance troupe Diversity carried the flame onto the stage at the Dagenham Town Show.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61737000/jpg/_61737114_diversity.jpg

At about 14:30 Lang Lang - who has performed with leading orchestras around the world - carried the torch onto the stage at Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. And at about 15:30, promising sailor Aaron Reynolds, 18, carried the flame across the Thames in a London Fire Brigade boat, accompanied by a flotilla of small craft. That took the flame into the borough of Bexley where it was to be celebrated with an event in Bexleyheath.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61738000/jpg/_61738653_aaron.jpg


Former boxer Lennox Lewis, who was born in Stratford, east London, will be the day's final torchbearer. The star, who won Olympic gold for Canada - where he lived as a teenager - in Seoul in 1988, will light a cauldron with the Olympic flame at an evening celebration in Danson Park, Bexleyheath.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61740000/jpg/_61740997_015370735-1.jpg


(information and images from the BBC 2012 webpages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/2012/))

[cazza99]

Mike Dickson ‏@Mike_Dickson_DM

Sounds like Andy Murray tomorrow will be carrying the torch only within All England Club, away from the public, which is a shame.


I am quite certain Andy Murray would much rather carry torch through the streets than around deserted All England Club. Ridiculous.

[KnightOwl]

Andy's not the only tennis star carrying the torch today...


And a volley of tennis stars are served up when Andy Murray, Venus Williams and Sue Barker carry the torch and Tim Henman lights the cauldron in Tooting.

(extract from BBC Torchcam (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day66) page)

[Helen40]

Don't quite get why an american is carrying the Briitish torch.

[Sallydaisy]

July 23rd: London, day 3 - Lewisham to Wandsworth

... anyone for tennis???

:olympics:
Some 187 torchbearers will carry the flame as it visits the boroughs of Lewisham, Bromley, Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth on its third day in London and 66th overall.

The day started at 07:21 outside the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (http://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/), in Deptford (and only a mile or so from Greenwich where it began on Saturday), where Ceinwen Giles was the first torchbearer. At 07:46 Doreen Lawrence took the flame and carried it to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Centre, which she set up to offer a base for community learning and development.


Dancing to start the day ... the flame being handed to Doreen Lawrence (right)



http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61743000/jpg/_61743057_dancing.jpg http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61743000/jpg/_61743841_doreenlawrence.jpg



The relay then passes into Bromley, home of the Crystal Palace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crystal_Palace) athletics stadium where 4x100m Athens Olympic gold medallist Devonish will take a lap of torchbearing honour. The final torchbearer before the relay is beamed up for lunch in Croydon will be actor Sir Patrick Stewart, renowned for playing Star Trek Captain Jean-Luc Picard and numerous Shakespearean roles.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Crystal_Palace_General_view_from_Water_Temple.jpg/340px-Crystal_Palace_General_view_from_Water_Temple.jpg

Marlon Devonish with the olympic flame on the Crystal Palace track
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0bu0demh06crl/500x350.jpg?fit=scale&background=000000

spotted near Crystal Palace ...
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61749000/jpg/_61749185_torch.jpg



The day's torchbearers include:


Stephen Ireland, 40, who will carry the flame in his home area of Sutton. He was nominated for fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care
Capital FM breakfast presenters Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon, who are supporters of a range of charities and will run in Merton
Fred "Skip" West who at 85 has devoted his whole life to scouting and will carry the flame in Croydon
Volleyball player Jordan Dalrymple, 18, from Kennington who will run in Wandsworth

There's also a raft of well known sporting people involved today:-

Mid-morning, sprinter Marlon Devonish will run a lap of Crystal Palace stadium with the flame. Later, in a one-off visit, footballer Michael Owen will take the flame at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battersea_Dogs_and_Cats_Home) The former England footballer is the owner of the four rescued dogs and is a supporter of the home's work. After lunch tennis player turned BBC presenter Sue Barker takes the flame to the Tooting and Mitcham Community Sports Club.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/Battersea_Dogs_%26_Cats_Home_logo.png http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b9/Wimbledon.svg/150px-Wimbledon.svg.png



In the afternoon the Olympic flame pays a visit to Wimbledon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Championships,_Wimbledon), which is hosting the tennis event, where it'll be carried onto the Centre Court by our very own Andy Murray!!! He'll hand the torch on to Venus Williams a triple Olympic Gold medal winner before it heads out of the Wimbledon gates and across Merton towards Tooting.

The day's relay will be brought to a close by Tim Henman who took doubles silver with partner Neil Broad at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The former British number one, who retired in 2007 after helping GB to a Davis Cup victory over Croatia, will light the cauldron at Tooting Bec Common.

That's not all .......

After the relay has ended, the Olympic flame has one more task - to be carried by Billy Mitchell (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15717509), played by Perry Fenwick, in a special episode of EastEnders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EastEnders) from 21:00 BST in which a seven minute segment will be broadcast live. This not the first time the Olympics and EastEnders have crossed paths. The Olympic Park (shown above the 't' in the image below) has been given the same E20 postcode as fictional Walford in the soap.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/s2EKHygfy1s/0.jpg




(extracts from the BBC webpage (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18945821)and torch relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day66))

[Sallydaisy]

July 23rd 2012
Full details from London2012 (http://www.london2012.com/media-centre/article=day-olympic-flame-visit-battersea-dogs-cats-home-and-wimbledon-its-journey-from-lewisham-wandsworth.html) of Andy's stint with the Olympic flame and other tennis stars involved

London Borough of Merton
3.34pm – The Tooting & Mitcham Community Sports Club: TV presenter and former tennis professional, Sue Barker is set to carry the Olympic Flame into the Centre. Sue has been the BBC’s Athletics Presenter for the past four Olympic Games and is also a member of the BBC’s team to deliver coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games. During her tennis career, she won the women's singles title at the French Open and reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 3.

5.18pm - Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club: Tennis ace and British No.1 Andy Murray will carry the Flame through doors onto Centre Court for a special photo opportunity with the Young Games Maker volunteers from the local boroughs who are the Ball Boys and Girls for the London 2012 Olympic Tennis tournament. London 2012 will be Andy’s second Olympic Games and he is set to compete in both the Men’s Singles and Doubles competition that starts on 28 July 2012.

Andy will then carry the Flame to Henman Hill where he will hand the Flame on to five times Wimbledon Ladies singles and five times Ladies Doubles champion Venus Williams for a second photo opportunity at the Olympic Tennis venue. Venus has won three Olympic gold medals to date and is set to compete in the London 2012 Olympic Tennis Women’s Double competition with sister Serena.

London Borough of Wandsworth
6.50pm – Tooting Bec Common: Final Torchbearer of the day Tim Henman will carry the Olympic Flame on to the stage to light the celebration cauldron. Tim is best known for his Wimbledon appearances, where he drew huge support from the British crowds and captured their hearts with his inspiring performances. He retired from tennis in 2007, after helping Great Britain to a Davis Cup victory over Croatia. Tim competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, where together with partner Neil Broad they won a silver medal which remains Great Britain’s last Olympic tennis medal to date.

Watch live on the BBC Red Button or later here http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay

[KnightOwl]

5.18pm - Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club: Tennis ace and British No.1 Andy Murray will carry the Flame through doors onto Centre Court for a special photo opportunity with the Young Games Maker volunteers from the local boroughs who are the Ball Boys and Girls for the London 2012 Olympic Tennis tournament. London 2012 will be Andy’s second Olympic Games and he is set to compete in both the Men’s Singles and Doubles competition that starts on 28 July 2012.

Definitely going to try and get home from work in time to watch this - I thought it was going to be earlier in the day, but I should just about manage to make this :big grin:

[Sallydaisy]

The big question will be whether any of us see what happens inside the grounds of Wimbledon. Torchcam hasn't so far managed to follow the flame into any of the 'special' areas because they're mostly being used for PR photos. So, I'm rather doubtful of us seeing Andy 'live' with the torch or a torch 'kiss' with Venus Williams when she takes over.

[Sallydaisy]

Great. Torchcam has gone off leading up to the point where Sue Barker is due to carry the torch.
:grrr:

[Sallydaisy]

Ooooh, missed seeing Sue Barker but currently running with the torch is Sergei Bubka!!!
:olympics:

There are loads of tennis players already at Wimbledon practising today so perhaps they'll form a guard of honour? Maybe just a photo opportunity.

[Sallydaisy]

quick update - the torch relay is due to work it's way towards Wimbledon from 5.10pm onwards, outside Wimbers about 17.15 andn then inside.

[Sallydaisy]

Right on cue - live coverage has disappeared!!!
I knew this would happen!!!
:grrr:

That is - no live coverage on the BBC website, or on the red button or on the London2012 site either.

[Sallydaisy]

Coverage is back on BBC Red button, website and on the London2012 website below.
http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/video/live.html

About 7mins to Wimbledon AELTC

[KnightOwl]

Hurray - I got home in time - now just got to decide whether to watch on the website or the red button...

[Sallydaisy]

You might like to load up BBC torch cam AND the BBC online News Channel 'cos the latter has cameras inside Wimbledon grounds apparently but torchcam probably won't go in there.

WIMBLEDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sallydaisy]

Bbc news channel has andy with flame right now

[Sallydaisy]

Big smiles from Andy!!!
There he is on Centre Court by the net for a photo opportunity.
On BBC red button and on the BBC news channel and London2012

[KnightOwl]

Watching on BBC News 24 at the moment...!

[Sallydaisy]

Folks, if you want to see Andy with torch you'll need BBC red button, BBC News Channel and keep livecams going as well. Andy walking up through courts 18 and 19 right now.

[KnightOwl]

He's just running up the steps at the side of Henman Hill to pose in front of the Olympic Rings flower bed, which replaces the usual Wimbldon logo one - just handing over to Venus Williams now....

[Sallydaisy]

Handing over to Venus Williams now!

[Sallydaisy]

Lovely smiling Andy with the flame!


Aya Hussein ‏@AyaHussein (https://twitter.com/AyaHussein) ANDY CARRYING THE TORCH WITH A BIG SMILE. @judmoo (https://twitter.com/judmoo) http://twitpic.com/aaxvey (http://t.co/O2s0LAhZ)


https://twitpic.com/show/large/aaxvey

[Sallydaisy]

https://p.twimg.com/AygDuAKCcAA1Ntu.jpg

[Katie]

Thanks for the info about the BBC News channel Sally, I'd have missed Andy totally had I not seen your post. :) Andy looked so happy carrying the torch, so pleased he got the chance to carry it. Nice that Venus got the opportunity too.

[Sallydaisy]

From Neil Harman on twitter
https://p.twimg.com/AygDq8GCAAAAJdC.jpg


From Stu Fraser on twitter

https://p.twimg.com/AygGwGzCUAAcb5B.jpg



Karen Robinson ‏@kflood (https://twitter.com/kflood) http://pic.twitter.com/j6GBAJ1y (http://t.co/j6GBAJ1y)



And a hug between Nole and Andy after their practice today (taken by Dani I think)
https://twitpic.com/show/large/aax5mh

[Sallydaisy]

1712: And inside Wimbledon, on Centre Court, the flame pases to a man who needs no introduction, he's cemented his place in British sporting history this summer by reaching the men's singles Wimbledon final, taking the opening set from champion Roger Federer.
Andy Murray (http://www.andymurray.com/) is the British number one, world number four and will play again at Wimbledon not next year, but next week, in the Olympic tennis tournament.
1713: Rapturous applause for Andy, who is well used to wearing all white on Centre Court. He sets off for Henman Hill.
1718: Here comes Andy. Looking fit and strong as he runs up that hill. Can he swap the gold of his torch for a gold in the tennis at London 2012? Let's hope so.
1719: "I don't want it to catch my hair", says the next torchbearer Venus Williams as she accepts the flame from Andy. Venus, who is wearing some spectacular braids, manages to accept the flame without incident. The former world number one is a five-time Wimbledon champion and seven-time grand slam winner.
1725: Venus has exited Wimbledon now and is on the road outside where she will pass the flame to Susan Williams.
1726: The pair kiss torches and that is game, set and match for the flame's time at Wimbledon.

[cazza99]

For anyone who has just missed it, it is possible to go onto the BBC live stream and rewind it a bit.

[KnightOwl]

Andy & the Torch on Centre Court

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7631075766_04d2bedcfb_b.jpg
Photo courtesy of BBC Torchcam (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day66) page.

[KnightOwl]

Andy passes the flame to Venus

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7120/7631076234_2ba5b5df71_b.jpg
Photo courtesy of BBC Torchcam (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day66) page.

[Sallydaisy]

https://twitpic.com/show/large/aaxtka

Beyond The Baseline ‏@SI_BTBaseline (https://twitter.com/SI_BTBaseline) Good stuff. RT @TheSliceTweets (https://twitter.com/TheSliceTweets): The Olympic rings, Andy, Venus and the @London2012 (https://twitter.com/London2012) torch at @Wimbledon (https://twitter.com/Wimbledon) http://twitpic.com/aaxtka (http://t.co/UhJwWXHd)

[ljs]

wow , great pics of Andy with the flame .
So close now , I love the olympics , and am so excited for it all to start !!!

[Sallydaisy]

quick recap on the BBC now with some of Andy

[cazza99]

Neil Harman ‏@NeilHarmanTimes

Watching Andy get the torch http://pic.twitter.com/UE2x7WFH
https://p.twimg.com/AygDj7aCcAAKJP0.jpg
picture from twitter

Mike Dickson ‏@Mike_Dickson_DM

Nice touch from Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych, broke off practice and were bystanders to see Murray get the torch.

Neil Harman ‏@NeilHarmanTimes

What a happy bunny! http://pic.twitter.com/LipyrwsE
https://p.twimg.com/AygE-8FCUAAUtBR.jpg
picture from twitter

Neil Harman ‏@NeilHarmanTimes

Wait for it, WAIT FOR IT!!!!!!! http://pic.twitter.com/BTRslP3f
https://p.twimg.com/AygGQOrCYAAK8zo.jpg
picture from twitter

[KnightOwl]

Beyond The Baseline ‏@SI_BTBaseline (https://twitter.com/SI_BTBaseline) Good stuff. RT @TheSliceTweets (https://twitter.com/TheSliceTweets): The Olympic rings, Andy, Venus and the @London2012 (https://twitter.com/London2012) torch at @Wimbledon (https://twitter.com/Wimbledon)



Great pic Sally - I was hoping we could find some better ones as the ones from Torchcam can be a bit fuzzy - whoever took the one you posted must have been standing right next to Venus's mum I reckon - you can see her right in the front of the big group of people taking photos :)

[Sallydaisy]

Great pic Sally - I was hoping we could find some better ones as the ones from Torchcam can be a bit fuzzy - whoever took the one you posted must have been standing right next to Venus's mum I reckon - you can see her right in the front of the big group of people taking photos :)
This one is pretty awesome too ...........


Aya Hussein ‏@AyaHussein (https://twitter.com/AyaHussein) ANDY CARRYING THE TORCH WITH A BIG SMILE. @judmoo (https://twitter.com/judmoo) http://twitpic.com/aaxvey (http://t.co/O2s0LAhZ)

[cazza99]

judy murray ‏@judmoo

"@NeilHarmanTimes: Andy M with the Olympic torch http://pic.twitter.com/Vt99MLV5" awwwww :)

judy murray ‏@judmoo

"@WimboGroundsman: Murray passes the flame to Venus Williams http://pic.twitter.com/wepFJ1HT" oh my. Pass me the tissues please :)

[cazza99]

The Slice ‏@TheSliceTweets

A day for the memory books! The Olympic flame on @Wimbledon's Centre Court & Andy's never smiled wider #London2012 http://twitpic.com/aay77o
http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/623053572.jpg?key=610406&Expires=1343066604&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIYVGSUJFNRFZBBTA&Signature=d6YXJR8YacdXJt5844-urG-YM14MfVdKjV-flqpbPFfxhh9XIljU1AU-rJ6C0yBHhiwhtwW8gogw-Llfo9~g9h5BVV4u3xhvBI41uEJKHplWQuXYSSPkHgVgD-Uu7micQ2xUEfLEZv7aZ0Q6q7xMZKt5wqeGzLx3yvTRGBv0BJg_
picture from twitter

[Sallydaisy]

Tim Henman running with flame and lighting cauldron!

[Sallydaisy]

There's an EXTREMELY SHORT video of Andy taking the Olympic flame onto Centre Court on ITV.
http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-07-23/andy-murray-returns-to-wimbledon-with-olympic-torch/

[Sallydaisy]

BBC video (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18962835)of Andy going onto Centre Court, with Venus and a short interview.
+ a segment showing Tim Henman lighting the cauldron ...

[JAMES4578]

Have seen the video and a bit about on BBC Scotland tonight. It certainly seemed to mean a lot to Andy, would've been a good atmosphere at Wimbledon! Interesting that Andy was back at Centre court a few days after the final.

[VamosVixs]

Disappointed with Eastenders that it wasn't the real TST. :sad:

[ljs]

Have seen the video and a bit about on BBC Scotland tonight. It certainly seemed to mean a lot to Andy, would've been a good atmosphere at Wimbledon! Interesting that Andy was back at Centre court a few days after the final.

I found that interesting too James . Was he trying to put it all into perspective ? Trying to put that loss behind him with the olympics so close ?

[KnightOwl]

Some more of today's Torchbearers




Michael Owen and friend at Battersea

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8289/7632570496_d4d7a713cb.jpg
Photo courtesy of LOCOG (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay)


Sue Barker in her torchbearer tracksuit

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7632570848_d8e97fb486.jpg
Photo courtesy of Your Local Guardian (http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/topstories/9831541.Olympic_torch_comes_to_SW_London/)

[cazza99]

TeamGB (http://www.teamgb.com/news/murray-brings-torch-centre-court) - Murray brings Torch to Centre Court

[KnightOwl]

Sir Patrick Stewart OBE may be a famous Shakespearian actor, but he's best known to most of us as Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise :)

Here he is carrying the Olympic Flame through Croydon.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7632403872_4b50e6fa86.jpg
Photo courtesy of Your Local Guardian (http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/topstories/9831541.Olympic_torch_comes_to_SW_London/)

[KnightOwl]

And just to finish off with, one of Tim lighting the cauldron at the end-of-day celebration in Tooting, and another lovely one of Andy :)



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8294/7632570000_b0fa75c3d1.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/7632571242_b3f395f9d3.jpg


Photos courtesy of LOCOG (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay)

[Sallydaisy]

This'll probably sound really soppy but I've rewatched Andy doing his bit about 6 times already 'cos it's so good to see him smiling so much.
:shamed:

[ljs]

I have too Sally , so nice to see him looking so happy and proud !!!!

[Sallydaisy]

July 24th: London, day 4 - Kingston to Ealing

... let's hope the Underground will be working OK ...

:olympics:
The Olympic flame will take a ride on the London Underground on Tuesday as it travels from Kingston to Ealing (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day66).

The flame will visit Kew Gardens, Brunel University, Richmond, Ealing's Northala Fields and Walpole Park. A total of 144 torchbearers will carry the flame on day 67 of the relay as it travels 43 miles through the London boroughs of Kingston upon Thames, Richmond, Hounslow, Hillingdon and Ealing.

Service Operator John Light, 64, will take the flame along the District Line from Wimbledon to Wimbledon Park in a train adorned with the Olympic rings (this is where we all have our fingers crossed that there aren't any signal failures, breakdowns or leaves on the line!).
;)

Torchbearers include James Cracknell, skeleton racer Adam Pengilly, skier Chemmy Alcott and cyclist Eileen Gray. Double Olympic gold medallist and adventurer Cracknell, 40, will start the day's relay when he carries the flame at the Hook Community Centre in Kingston shortly after 08:20 BST. Double Olympian Pengilly, who won silver at the 2009 world championships and was elected by his fellow Olympic athletes to the International Olympic Committee Athletes Commission, will carry the flame in Kingston.

At Kew Gardens around 11:00 BST, Oli Golding will carry the flame from the Palm House to the Orangery and the Olympic Rings flower display (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17752850). The 18-year-old from East Twickenham was the youngest junior British number one tennis player, the 2011 US Open Boys' champion, and is a Youth Olympic Games gold medallist.

The torch will cross Richmond Park - and maybe see some of the deer herd.

At around 14:45 BST, singer Katy B and Grammy and Brit-award winning producer Mark Ronson will carry the flame at Brunel University. Shortly before 16:00, Michael Vaughan - statistically England's most successful cricket captain of the modern era - will carry the flame to the front steps of Hillingdon Leisure Centre. Also running with the torch in Kingston will be 92-year-old Eileen Gray CBE, a former mayor of Kingston who pioneered women's cycling in Great Britain, being one of the first three women to cycle for Britain. Thirty-year-old Alcott - a triple Olympian and seven-time competitor in World Championships, will carry the Olympic torch in Ealing.


(extracts from the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18959017) and torch relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day67))

[hfwardhouse]

:thanks: for all the great pics! It was lovely to see Andy on the news tonight!

[cazza99]

Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/olympicsvideo/9422058/London-2012-Andy-Murray-carries-Olympic-torch-at-Wimbledon.html) - London 2012: Andy Murray carries Olympic torch at Wimbledon
includes short video interview

Yahoo (http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/14346998/murray-brings-olympic-torch-wimbledon/) - Murray brings Olympic torch to Wimbledon

Olympic site (http://www.olympic.org/news/olympic-torch-visits-iconic-olympic-tennis-venue-on-day-66/169135)- Olympic Torch visits iconic Olympic tennis venue on Day 66
great piccy of Andy but the peeps in the background all look like they are leaning and with one push would fall down like dominos.

[xenon21]

Is so lovely to see ANdy so happy and smiling. Awesome pictures! Andy looks like a real Olympic idol model if that makes sense posing there :)

Can't wait tll wednesday when the torch comes to wembley and I can hopefully see it!

I will probably check on here for your previews to see who is going where and decide where to stand lol!

I actually have a few things to do tomorrow like get cosport tickets, sort some things out... but doubt I will be in that part of central london tbh

[Genbrit]

Was great seeing Andy with the flame today and I watched it many times as well!!!!! Managed to see it at work on Torchcam, so happy they showed inside as I really didn't think they would. :olympics::cheer:

[Lou]

This'll probably sound really soppy but I've rewatched Andy doing his bit about 6 times already 'cos it's so good to see him smiling so much.
:shamed:

Me too - isn't it lovely :clap:

[Sallydaisy]

I missed out another tennis player who'll be carrying the Olympic flame today ...
Amanda Carreras is currently ranked 423 and is GB#11 - bio on Wikipedia here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Carreras)


Steven ‏@GBtennis (https://twitter.com/GBtennis) Torch relay today - GB tennis players: @oli_golding (https://twitter.com/oli_golding) @ Kew c. 11am http://l2012.cm/QuzKur (http://t.co/umQyRNzh) & Amanda Carreras @ Ealing http://l2012.cm/QuzqvR (http://t.co/WAzUuio3)



BBC London's Anjana Gadgill who is at Kew tweets (http://twitter.com/AnjanaGadgil/status/227695101831421952/photo/1): "The blue carpet's been rolled out in anticipation of rising tennis star and torchbearer Oli Golding."
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61771000/jpg/_61771417_carpet.jpg

WEBCAM won't be showing Oli's run unfortunately .....


1048: The torchbearer has now gone into Kew where they will be having a photo opportunity inside the Palm House. The torch relay vehicles are waiting around the other side of the complex while this plays out inside.
Kew's Palm House was constructed between 1844 and 1848 and is considered by some experts as the most important surviving Victorian iron and glass structure in the world.
Its curvaceous exterior and steamy interior were designed to accommodate exotic palms being collected and introduced to Europe in early Victorian times.


1050: Out of #bbctorchcam's view John Harding (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=john-harding-3551/) will take the flame before handing it to Oli Golding (http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/torchbearers=oliver-golding-5870/index.html), who will carry the flame to The Orangery and the Olympic Rings flower display. Oli is a Youth Olympic Games Gold medallist, having won gold in the Boys' Doubles event in tennis at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Torchcam and the crew are then scheduled to take a 20-minues break - what a lovely spot for it.

[VamosVixs]

@Becker_Boris


Very honoured to hold Olympic torch today around 5pm!

[VamosVixs]

Didn't get to see Boris run as torchcam was off at the time. :sad:

[Sallydaisy]

Didn't get to see Boris run as torchcam was off at the time. :sad:
Here you go Vixs!
https://twitpic.com/show/large/abbo81


C Note ‏@FortyDeuceTwits (https://twitter.com/FortyDeuceTwits) FENTON! FENTOOOOOON! MT @TheSliceTweets (https://twitter.com/TheSliceTweets): Great shot of Becker carrying the torch today through the Ealing http://twitpic.com/abbo81 (http://t.co/tg4NN8zE)


And down in the middle of those incredible Olympic rings is Oli Golding with the torch!

http://news.images.itv.com/image/file/66902/article_b1224c2f97b9e9d5_1343128991_9j-4aaqsk.jpeg




oliver golding ‏@oli_golding (https://twitter.com/oli_golding) http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-07-24/kew-gardens-celebrates-olympic-torch-with-floral-tribute/ (http://t.co/Xl33h2wB)



And bringing up the rear in ..... - here is Amanda Carreras (the girl with blonde hair in the middle).
She's the only Gibraltarian EVER to carry the Olympic torch.
http://www.chronicle.gi/images/photos/OLYMPIC-FLAME-BEARERS.jpg
(Photo from the (http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=25512) Gibraltar Chronicle)

Steven ‏@GBtennis (https://twitter.com/GBtennis) Apparently GB no. 12 Amanda Carreras will be the 'first Gibraltarian ever to participate in any Olympic occasion' today http://bit.ly/LL529V (http://t.co/xxqikHvu)

[cazza99]

Wimbledon (http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2012-07-24/201207241343129044620.html)- Murray and Williams carry Olympic torch at Wimbledon
by Alex Willis

[xenon21]

Is there any proper schedule for tomorrow's route like previous times? Like who's running at Wembley where? Wondering where to go and stand in the route!

[Sallydaisy]

Go to the BBC website, click on London2012 tab at the top and on July 25 in the dropdown - or load the 2012 page up and find tomorrow from there. Once you've done that you can click on the list of streets being visited. It never allocates a runner per street.

If you click on ANY of the links in the accreditation at the bottom of every day's post that'll also take you there but just click on the day you want.

[VamosVixs]

This will give you a list of torchbearers for tomorrow.

http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/day=2012-07-25/index.html

[Sallydaisy]

This will give you a list of torchbearers for tomorrow.

http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/day=2012-07-25/index.html
But they're only listed alphabetically aren't they rather than be listed in order of when they'll run.

Xe if you're looking for someone in particular keep an eye on twitter or on the webcam livefeed 'cos they often announce that sort of information there. Also, if you go BBC>News>England then scroll to bottom and click on London you'll find a summary of the next day with any celebrities etc listed.

[xenon21]

Thanks. WIll check it out! I think Rupert Grint and Gordan Banks are running a leg but am not sure

[VamosVixs]

But they're only listed alphabetically aren't they rather than be listed in order of when they'll run.


Yes but it will give you an idea of the area they are running in.

[Sallydaisy]

July 25th: London, day 5 - Harrow to Haringey
... Wemberley, Wemberley

:olympics:

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61789000/jpg/_61789055_wembleygetty.jpg

The Olympic flame will visit Wembley Stadium as sporting icons and a Harry Potter hero get their hands on the torch on day 68 of the relay. England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks and badminton Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson are among those taking the torch at the Stadium. Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film, will collect the flame at Middlesex University. And decathlete Daley Thompson will light the cauldron at Alexandra Palace.


In between, nearly 150 other torchbearers will carry the flame as it travels 30 miles through the London boroughs of Harrow, Brent, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey.

Just after 11:00 BST the flame is due to reach the Wembley Arena, where the Olympic badminton competition will be held. Suitably, it will be passed by Inderjit Bhalla - who won gold in badminton at the British Transplant Games - to Robertson, who won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics with former mixed-doubles partner Gail Emms. Robertson missed out on qualifying for London 2012 and has since announced his retirement from the sport. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/badminton/18331547)

Still at Wembley, Banks, England's greatest goalkeeper, should ensure the torch is in safe hands as he carries it along Olympic Way outside the new Wembley Stadium. Now 75, he was part of England's famous team that won the World Cup in 1966 at the original stadium, and he also played in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, when England reached the quarter-finals.

The flame will be carried to the lunch break by 100-year-old Diana Gould, (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18910208) the oldest female torchbearer of London 2012. Diana, who still runs exercise classes at the retirement flats where she lives in north-west London, will meet London Mayor Boris Johnson at Middlesex University.

Grint, 23, will be the first to carry the flame after lunch, handing over to Harriet Cooper, who at 15 is considered an outstanding swimming prospect, having won gold at the 100m backstroke in the 2011 European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey

(extracts and images from BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18974903) and torchcam relay page (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay))

[millypops]

My friend and I went to Uxbridge yesterday to see the torch, lovely Carnival atmosphere

[Sallydaisy]

My friend and I went to Uxbridge yesterday to see the torch, lovely Carnival atmosphere
That sounds great - Do you have any photos you could share? I was tempted to go 'cos it's normally only 15mins for me to Uxbridge but I had a couple of appointments during the early afternoon and tbh it was tooooooooooo hot out there.

If you've been following the torch relay there's a TV programme about it tonight and an online summary.
BBC1
19.30: Britain's Olympic Torch Story*

BBC online: a 5 minute round-up of the torch relay featuring Andy on Centre Court and ending with Oli Golding at Kew Gardens dwarfed by the Olympic rings.
http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/sport-smileys/Olympics.gif

[traveller7]

I come from Enfield and my parents went to see the torch relay today a lovely sunny day for it!

[Genbrit]

I come from Enfield and my parents went to see the torch relay today a lovely sunny day for it!

I watched it this morning as I was born in Barnet and grew up and went to school in Enfield. I have to say it has been fun watching this go throughout the country and seeing places that I have lived or visited in the past.

[millypops]

That sounds great - Do you have any photos you could share? I was tempted to go 'cos it's normally only 15mins for me to Uxbridge but I had a couple of appointments during the early afternoon and tbh it was tooooooooooo hot out there.

If you've been following the torch relay there's a TV programme about it tonight and an online summary.
BBC1
19.30: Britain's Olympic Torch Story*

Unfortunately I didn't manage to get any photos Sally it was a bit crowded there.
I watched the progarmme the Torch Story and was in tears watching it was so moved by some of the people that carried the torch

[Sallydaisy]

July 26th: London, day 6 - Camden to Westminster
... inner London boroughs and iconic landmarks

:olympics:
Our runners have a lot to cover this morning - what with all that extra traffic for the Olympics! Camden, Islington, City, Southwark, Lambeth and Wandsworth in the morning ... and a hop over the river in the afternoon via Chelsea Bridge to duck in and out of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and finally Westminster with a party in Hyde Park to end the day.

This is the final full day of torchbearing for the 70-day relay (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18981376) before the flame is taken to the Olympic Park on Friday for the opening ceremony. It has been on an incredible journey around Great Britain.

Some of today's landmarks:-
Camden Roundhouse (music) and Market
Regents Canal (and a barge trip for the flame)
St Pancras Station
St Pauls Cathedral
London Wall and Museum of London
Millenium Bridge
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Stamford Bridge (home of Chelsea FC)
BBC's White City building which is on the site of the stadium used for the 1908 Olympics (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7355664.stm).
Oxford Street (on an open top London bus)
Oxford Circus
Regent Street
Theatreland
Gielgud Theatre - which is currently staging Chariots of Fire
Trafalgar Square
Downing Street
Birdcage Walk, St James Park
Buckingham Palace (approx 18.35) to be greeted by the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry
Constitution Hill
The Serpentine (where a few people might be cooling off with a dip!)
Hyde Park

And a some 'stars' amongst todays cast of runners:-

Team GB's deputy Chef de Mission Clive Woodward was the first torchbearer of the day at Camden's Roundhouse. He's the former coach of the England rugby union team between 1997 and 2004, leading them to glory in in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61817000/jpg/_61817358_woodward_roundhouse.jpg

Luke Corduner, 32, from Camden who was nominated for being "a great PE teacher", ran through the station arcade, climbed the Great Glass Stairway and posed for a photograph by the statute of John Betjeman and a Eurostar train.

David Walliams, comedian and sports fund raiser, wlll take the torch in Islington. He swam the English Channel in 2008, the Strait of Gibraltar in 2008 and he cycled from John O'Groats to Land's End in 2010. Last year, he swam the length of the River Thames and in total has raised £8.5m for Comic Relief and Sport Relief.

At St Paul's Cathedral there will be a performance from Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (http://jalc.org/).

At the Millennium Bridge, wheelchair basketball Paralympian Ade Adepitan will be a torchbearer.

At White City, Sir Bruce Forsyth will pass the flame to Antoine de Navacelle, the great grand-nephew of Baron Pierre de Courbetin, the father of the modern-day Olympics.

Vangelis, who composed the original score for Chariots of Fire, will play music to accompany its progress.

At Trafalgar Square, Patrick Kane, 15, from Camden, will carry the flame. He is a double amputee and was the youngest person to be fitted with an advanced bionic hand prosthesis.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will run with the torch around Parliament Square.

Shortly afterwards, service-woman Kate Nesbitt, who was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in 2009, will take the flame into Downing Street, handing it over to Florence Rowe, 81, outside Number 10.


At 18:33, the flame will travel along Birdcage Walk to the front of Buckingham Palace where Wai Ming-Lee, 38, from Hemel Hempstead, will carry it into Buckingham Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will see the "torch kiss" between Wai and the next torchbearer John Hulse who will then carry it out of the palace and will be joined by members of the Household Cavalry as he travels along Constitution Hill.


At 19:10, the last torchbearer of the day Tyler Rix will light a cauldron at a torch celebration event in Hyde Park.
Performers include Dizzee Rascal, The Wanted, Mark Ronson, You Me at Six and Katy B.


http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/images/londoncouncils/boroughmap.gif?height=398&width=500
Day 7 in London will see the Olympic flame complete it's journey around Great Britain.
It'll be borne on Gloriana down the River Thames from Hampton Court Palace to the City of London. Instead of torch bearers there will be a cauldron alight on the boat so it can be seen. Just 7 torch bearers will be involved in riverside journeys along the route. It's expected at City Hall around 13.00hrs and will then disappear until the climax of the opening ceremony.

(extracts and images from the BBC 2012 pages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18982374)and torchcam relay page for day 69 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day69))

[Sallydaisy]

Absolutely Fabulous!!!
:dance:

Yep, it's Edina and Patsy!!!
One way to light a fag ...

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61823000/jpg/_61823732_jj.jpg

Laurence Dallaglio carried the flame into Chelsea FC.

[Sallydaisy]

Torchcam is now in a helicopter showing the Olympic flame going along Oxford Street in an open top bus! The streets are absolutely mobbed! People must be soooooooooo hot down there.
http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/seasons-smileys/hot.gif

[Sallydaisy]

Nice to see you, to see you - NICE
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61823000/jpg/_61823734_bruce.jpg

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61831000/jpg/_61831469_oxfordstreet.jpg

[VamosVixs]

It was lovely to see the TST form a guard of honour for the last torchbearer of the night. I have got used to seeing them everyday so will miss them on the torchcam especially my fave member. :sad:

Credit to them all, they have done a fantastic job! :clap::clap::clap:

[Sallydaisy]

July 27th: Hampton Court to the Tower of London
... and on to the Olympic Stadium to end it's journey in London.

:olympics:
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61841000/jpg/_61841834_pinsent_.jpg

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61842000/jpg/_61842167_boat.jpg

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/61841000/jpg/_61841838_claire.jpg

Day 7 in London will see the Olympic flame complete it's journey around Great Britain.

It'll be borne on Gloriana down the River Thames from Hampton Court Palace to the City of London.

Instead of torch bearers there will be a cauldron alight on the boat so it can be seen easily.
Just 7 torch bearers will be involved in riverside journeys along the route.
It's expected to arrive at Tower Pier around 13.00hrs and will then be taken to City Hall for a 'rest' until the climax of the opening ceremony.

It's been an incredible journey - and there's an incredible evening ahead!.

(extracts and images from the BBC 2012 pages (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18982374)and torchcam relay page for day 69 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day69))

[patmoren]

Well done Sally you have done an amazing job, following the Torch round GB. You should get it published!!

[Sallydaisy]

Thanks Pat - t'was mostly Knightowl's idea though to have the separate thread.
:thumbup:

I heard my local church bells ringing this morning!
Will miss a lot of the live coverage as I've a meeting to go to right now.
But that golden barge going up the Thames with a lit cauldron on the front is one heck of a sight!!!

PS. Sorry about the forum technical problems this morning - we're doing all we can to sort it out.
Your posts ARE going through.

[RoastLamb]

Yes, I've really enjoyed reading all the updates. :thanks:

[-J-]

so glad this nonsense is over with, now lets get the real show on the road

[Sallydaisy]

so glad this nonsense is over with, now lets get the real show on the road
I think it's been a brilliant lead in to the 'serious' stuff of the 16 days of sports to come!
:dance::dance::dance:

[Genbrit]

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. Have really enjoyed it and watching the torch go through the UK. Makes me feel a little closer to home. :thanks:
Now, looking forward to the games. :olympics::swingin: