Halton Join in Local Sport 2012 Booklet - Halton Borough Council

14
2012 Olympic Torch Relay
The Olympic Torch hit Halton on Thursday
31 May and despite the weather,
thousands of people lined the route to
catch a glimpse of it. Spirits remained
undampened throughout the torch’s visit
as the waiting crowds were entertained by
street performers, including samba
bands, stilt-walkers and jugglers.
Children lined the streets with flags, and
red, white and blue hats and costumes
and dignitaries enjoyed music and drama
staged by young people at The Brindley
before going to watch the procession. The
Olympic party arrived in Runcorn shortly
after midday with 13 year old Aiden Collins
the first to get his hands on the torch. He
was nominated because of his Facebook
campaign to encourage people to sign
the organ donor register when his
nephew Ethan, who has since died,
needed a double transplant operation
after being born. Other torch bearers in
Runcorn included Adam Green, Runcorn’s
inspirational anti-loan shark campaigner
Carl Highton and marathon running fire
fighter Gavin Hanson. David Hardwich
took the flame on to the Silver Jubilee
Bridge before handing over to Doo Young
Yoo, an executive of event sponsor
Samsung.
Once over the Bridge, the torch passed to
Christine Ponsford and then Ashley Swain,
three times a national pole vault
champion unable to go the Olympics after
a serious back injury who led the
procession to the Ted Gleave Sports
Ground In West Bank, Widnes. The
ground was host to a sporting celebration
of its own to mark the day. Halton
Borough Council’s Sports Development
Team was providing multi-sport activities
for Year 6 pupils from every school in the
Borough, helped by Widnes Vikings,
Cronton College, West Bank Rugby Club
and other local sports club volunteers.
Climate change campaigner Caitlin
Hudson carried the torch around the
ground before passing it to James Carew,
who underwent an operation to remove a
stage four brain tumour he took it though
West Bank and on to Ashley Way. Finally
Gracie Gannon completed the Halton
stage of the relay before the flame was
popped into the lantern.