Upholding the honour of the torch

HAND prints from residents in Royal Wootton Bassett will be lining the route when the flame passes through the town.

The community has been printing copies of their hands to mark the occasion, which will also see hundreds of residents and schoolchildren cheering the torchbearers on.

Schools confirmed to be lining the route include Noremarsh Junior School, Old Court Pre-School, All Sorts Pre-School, St Bartholomews Primary School, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, Longleaze Pre-School and Primary School, and Learning Curve Day Nursery.

Alison Bucknell (Con, Lyneham) said: “We need people to turn up and animate the route. It is not just for the people of Royal Wootton Bassett, it is for anybody who wishes to be there and be part of history.

“It may well get quite busy, so we are asking any groups who would like to come along and do something lively and special to let us know in advance, so that we can make sure there is a space for them.”

A spokesman for the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade area board said: “We are aiming to have people all along the route. We want people to decorate the front of their properties with bunting or flags, which would add to the occasion.”

The torch arrives in Royal Wootton Bassett at 12.32pm on May 23

12.32pm: Noremarsh Road, then right turn to Station Road, then right turn to High Street, then continue to Marlowe Way The torch then leaves by convoy for Swindon

Carrying the torch through Royal Wootton Bassett are:

Daisy Barker, 13, of Chippenham; Kate Hincks, 33, of Cirencester, and Luke Shipway, 22, of Calne

SWINDON from 1.10pm, May 23

A MEDLEY of dance, samba and gymnastics will welcome the Olympic Torch into Swindon town centre on May 23.

The relay’s eagerly-awaited visit to Wharf Green, site of the Big Screen, will be celebrated with an action-packed schedule of events.

Among the local groups gearing up for the day is Swindon Dance, which is putting together a piece called Going for Gold.

Emma Langhorne, dance education and development manager, said: “Swindon Dance is delighted to be involved in the very exciting torch relay event. We have a group of talented dancers aged between 14 and 18 who will be going for gold with their new show-stopping urban dance piece, choreographed by nationally renowned artist Kwesi Johnson.”

Festivities will start at 11.30am with a wheelchair basketball exhibition match.

Primary schools will be on parade from the cenotaph near the Town Hall to the live site at midday, Espirit gymnastics will be performing at 12.05pm, there will be a samba band and stilt walkers at 12.15pm, Swindon fencing club will perform at 12.25pm, and Swindon Dance will be on show at 12.45pm.

Acrobatics and aerial artists will be entertaining the crowds at 1.15pm and there will be exclusive Olympic film footage and interviews at 1.30pm. The torch is estimated to arrive at 1.37pm, followed by Bollywood dancing.

The day will have extra resonance for Esprit Gymnastics as one of their members, Jade Faulkner, will be competing at the Games in group rhythmic gymnastics.

The school’s chairman, Mark Howes, said: “Our head of display Cherie Skeats has choreographed an Olympic-style gymnastics-based piece specifically for the event.

“It’s a great honour for us and the day will provide a platform for some of the hugely talented children who practice gymnastics in Swindon.

“We have one of our own gymnasts competing at the Games and our head coach, Deb Howes, will be one of the officials working at the gymnastics events in Wembley Arena. With strong links to the Olympics, we are striving to give the town a look at what we do.”

A compere and VIP speaker, both to be confirmed, will address the crowd at Wharf Green before the procession of school children, led by a samba band, reaches the site.

Swindon Fencing Club will also take part in the day. President Neil Bromley said: “We will be giving a display of fencing and allowing people to have a go.”

Wharf Green is one of 22 Live Sites nationally which will show all the action live from the capital.

The torch arrives in Swindon at 1.10pm on May 23

1.10pm: Kingshill Road Bath Road, turn left to Victoria Road, veer left to Crombey Street, turn right to Curtis Street, turn right to Commercial Road, turn left to Market Street

WHARF GREEN celebrations 1.35pm-1.40pm

From Market Street, left to Commercial Road, veer left to Princes Street, veer right to Clarence Street, turn left to Groundwell Road, turn left to Drove Road, across the Magic Roundabout to County Road, turn left to Great Western Way, turn left to North Star Avenue Then torch then travels by convoy to Gypsy Lane, arriving at 3.15pm 3.15pm: Gypsy Lane, Bridge End Road, then turn right to Swindon Road The torch then leaves by convoy for Cirencester

All timings are estimataed and are subject to change on the day

SAM HUTT, 17, of Cricklade

Tennis star Sam Hutt will hang up his racket to join sport fans taking part in the Olympic Torch Procession.

The 17-year-old, who currently ranks in the top 100 of world juniors, was nominated to carry the torch by Cricklade Town Council after representing the area on the international sporting stage.

He started playing tennis when he was five, at the Delta Tennis Centre, West Swindon, and now takes part in competitions across the world.

A pupil at Bradon Forest School, Sam won the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire’s Young Sportsman of the year at 14. Since then he has worked to encourage and coach other young players at local sports clubs.

NICKY PARKER, 45, of Swindon

Olympic volunteer Nicky Parker will use her time carrying the torch to raise the profile of Swindon Down’s Syndrome Group and encourage its youngsters to take up sport. The group offers sporting sessions with specialist coaches, including swimming and tennis as part of its work.

Nicky, who chairs the group, said this was especially important for people with Down’s Syndrome. “It keeps them fit and makes sure they are a healthy weight. It’s good to find a way of getting them out of the house and socially interacting,” she said.

A mother of three, Nicky has two sons with Down’s Syndrome – 22-year-old Luke and 16-year-old Zachery – who will both be there to watch on the day. “I don’t know if I want to walk or run because if I run it’ll go by in a flash,” said Nicky.

“I think it’s so great that they’re going all over the country and getting communities involved.”

Kathryn Groarke-Oliver, 13, of Royal Wootton Bassett,

A WOOTTON Bassett schoolgirl was overwhelmed when she was picked to carry the torch through Swindon.

Kathryn Groarke-Oliver, 13, of Royal Wootton Bassett, nominated herself online for the role.

The teenager, who is a pupil at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, said: “I am really excited. I nominated myself on the Coca-Cola website because I do Wootton Bassett life-saving with the Otters swimming club, but I didn’t think I would get it.

“They rang my house phone to say I was in the final round, but my mum didn’t know anything about it. She thought it was a joke. I will be really excited on the day, it’s amazing that I have got the opportunity to do it.”

TONY LEE, 47, of Eldene

Tony Lee transformed himself from being overweight to a marathon man – and his next moment of athletic glory will be when he carries the torch on May 23.

The sales manager has shed six stone and turned his life around since he was told he was walking into an early grave. He said: “I travelled the world living in hotels, eating the wrong meals and taking no exercise. I was killing myself and my doctor confirmed this. Fortunately I changed in time and now running is a huge part of my life.”

Tony started by going for walks and cutting out junk food . Within a month he was feeling better and losing weight.

He said: “I got the running bug and it made my life so much better. Now I try and give it to everyone else. I’m thrilled to be a torchbearer and hope my story will make more people realise you can stop and change.”

Dominique Nicholls, 37, of Upper Stratton

Dominique will have no problem running 300 metres on the day of the procession – she ran the London Marathon only last month to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

She has been nominated for her dedication to helping people with dementia and for overcoming mental health problems.

Members of Dominique’s running club, the Slinn Allstars, will cheer her on as she carries the torch. She praised the group and said they were a real encouragement to her. She said: “We go through some really difficult times together. I am nervous but I know all my friends and family will be there.”

Dominique’s family are also travelling to see her take part, her grandmother coming from Cambridge and her aunt coming from London.

THE full list of people carrying the flame through Swindon on May 23 are:

Alistair Hubbard, 37, of Bristol Dan McNaughton, 34, of Swindon Dominique Nicholls, 37, of Swindon Enzo Liguori, 34, of Napoli Gaelle Brigaud, 36, of Aulnay Sur Mauldre Gareth Williams, 40, of Abingdon Ian Lowe, 45, of Higham Jane Baly, 44, of Marlow Kathryn Groarke-Oliver, 13, of Royal Wootton Bassett Kay Wilson, 39, of Newbury Louis Gill, 17, of Cheltenham Mark Chard, 44, of Cheltenham Nicky Parker, 45, of Swindon Paul Bennett, 32, of Bracknell Sally-Anne Brookes, 55, of Cheltenham Sam Hutt, 17, of Cricklade Stephen Ratcliffe, 48, of Cheltenham Tony Lee, 47, of Swindon