The Olympic torch 2012

The excitement of the Olympic Games came to Bourne in the summer of 2012 as the official torch passed through the town on its nationwide journey to the XXX Olympiad which was due to begin in London on Friday 27th July.

The flame had begun its 70-day tour of the United Kingdom on May 19th and was carried by a total of 8,0000 runners all nominated by local people and each completing a particular stretch. By Wednesday 4th July, the torch had arrived at Peterborough, the 47th day of the relay and ready for the journey to Bourne.

The roads in the area were closed from 8 am to 9.40 am to allow the torch and accompanying cavalcade pass through and by early morning, crowds of people lined the streets of Market Deeping, Thurlby and Bourne to watch the event.

The time table was as follows:

MARKET DEEPING (8.08 am - 8.12 am): The torch reached Lincoln Road before moving into Church Street with four people carrying the beacon through the town. The four runners were:

Shirley Waller, 78, a blind charity worker from Market Deeping who was accompanied by her guide dog Alfie.
Sam Hills, 14, a young sportsman from Lowestoft.
Nick Rickett, 44, a community group co-ordinator from Baston.
Carl Garner, 41, a youth football coach from Peterborough.

THURLBY (8.25 am - 8.49 am): The beacon was carried through Thurlby at 8.25 am along Peterborough Road and then moved into High Street and then The Green and Northorpe Lane before leaving the village. Eight people had been been chosen to carry the flame. The eight runners were:

Natalie Spires, 26, of Stamford, inspirational fund-raiser and co-founder of the charity Coppers for Cancer.
Emma Fulwood, 27, a charity fund raiser from Stamford, Natalie Spires, 26, from Stamford, who co-founded charity Coopers for Cancer.
Rob and Will May, twins aged 14, from Brigg.
Sarah O’Brien, 31, from Spalding, who regularly runs marathons for charities.
Tracy Nicol, 48, a foster carer from Spalding.
Bo Haywood, 15, a charity fund raiser from Lincoln.
Paul Pester Hunter, 48, from Norwich.

BOURNE (8.53 am - 9.17 am): The torch reached Bourne at 8.53 am and was carried along South Road and into South Street, into Abbey Road and then down Spalding Road and on to Spalding. The eight runners were:

Goldie Sayers, 29, of London, Great Britain No 1 women’s javelin thrower aiming for gold at London 2012.
Oliver Handley, 13, pupil at the Charles Reade Academy at Corby Glen, who was chosen for demonstrating Olympic values in his daily life.
Victoria Ganley, 26, from Lincoln, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 16 and has since ran for charities that support those with the condition.
Oliver Mas, 16, a young volunteer from Cambridge.
Olivia Warwood-Hart, 12, a young athlete living in Germany whose grandparents live in the town.
Richie Goodsell, 53, a former RAF officer of Lindsey Close, Bourne, who runs circuit classes in the area.
Nicholas Robinson, 19, from Sevenoaks, Kent.
Daniel Dillon, 31, a charity fund raiser also from Kent.

Despite intermittent rain, an estimated 10,000 people lined the streets of Bourne as the torch was carried through. Pupils from all four schools joined the crowds on the pavements, including the Bourne Abbey C of E Primary Academy as the runner made his way down Abbey Road. “We have been counting down to the arrival of the Olympic flame ever since we came back from the summer holidays in September and we are all so excited the day is finally here", said headteacher Cherry Edwards.

With the torch carriers came an assortment of vehicles in tow, mainly owned by sponsors such as Lloyds TSB, the British Heart Foundation, Samsung and Coca Cola. There was also a spell of street entertainment including several ladies riding motorised shopping trolleys, trick cyclists and a large number of police motor cyclists riding past very slowly and shaking hands with many of the spectators. The Bourne-based BRM racing team also completed several laps of the route before the roads re-opened and during the run through the town, ringers completed a quarter peal on the bells of the Abbey Church.

PHOTO ALBUM
The change over of runners in South Street.
The torch enters Bourne town centre along South Street carried by Oliver Mas (above) and down Abbey Road with Richie Godsell (below) followed by an assortment of vehicles and people out to have fun.
The torch passes through Thurlby, carried by Natalie Spires.

WRITTEN JULY 2012