35,000 cheer Olympic torch through Warrington

1:55pm Thursday 31st May 2012 in London Olympics 2012 - Latest News

Emily Woodward Emily Woodward

THIRTY five thousand people packed the town centre streets to see the London 2012 Olympic torch make its way through Warrington.

The torch arrived at around 1.24pm - running around 25 minutes late with Sue Stout taking up the first leg along Liverpool Road.

Brazilian basketball star Oscar Schmidt took up the flame outside the Town Hall and played up to the crowds of school children who were there to take part in Olympic style events.

The 6ft 8in former basketball player held the torch high into the air as office workers hung out of windows to see the torch make its way down Sankey Street.

He said: “I loved it here. The streets were packed and there were a lot of children.

“I loved seeing their faces. Everyone could see it was something special.

“It is difficult to compare to playing but you could definitely enjoy it more and take it in.”

Oscar passed on the flame to John Paul Smith at the top of Bridge Street by the Guardian statues and the Olympic flame was serenaded by Warrington Male Voice Choir.

Stev Deakin was the next torch bearer to carry the flame down the streets of Warrington.

Seventeen-year-old Jason El-kaleh then took part in the famous 'kiss' procedure where the flame passes from one torch to the next to continue on the route towards The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Representing the children of St Peter's Catholic Primary School in Woolston, head teacher Helen Lea was the next person to carry the flame.

Ben Cowgill was the next in line as the Olympic flame headed down Winwick Road to carry the flame and he was supported on the way by using a crutch to help him.

Next up was Alex Bown who was cheered on by school children from across the town who had lined the route.

And from their Brian Norris was given the task of taking it on towards Orford Jubilee Park.

Now the torch has arrived for a lunch time stop at Orford Jubilee Park, the town's Olympic legacy, with 12-year-old Emily Woodward the final torch bearer taking it to the £30million development which was opened by the Queen two weeks ago today.

Council leader Clr Terry O'Neill (LAB - Burtonwood and Winwick) said: "The day will live long in the memory and will leave a real Olympic legacy at Orford Jubilee Park."

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Comments(30)

cookie1974 says...
2:13pm Thu 31 May 12

Think maybe 35000 is a bit of an over exaggeration!!

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Jazz73 says...
3:09pm Thu 31 May 12

another joke of a massive event by Warrington Council. The folks designated to hold people back near the Town Hall simply allowed people to move further into the road thus obstructing everyone else's view - including the school children. Then fgor some obscure reason, the 'chief's of the bus interchange saw fit to stand by the mini roundabout so at least they got a decent glimpse of this once in a life time experience. On to Orford Park, where whoever it was introducing the flame, thought so much of his own voice, that the poor young girl who brought it on had to tell him over the microphone several times who she was, and even then, the mayor got her name wrong after that - a shambles Warrington. This thing happens once, and yet you still manage to **** it up with idiots. The only saviour of this, at least Kerry Katona didn't carry it!

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Jazz73 says...
3:15pm Thu 31 May 12

another joke of a massive event by Warrington Council. The folks designated to hold people back near the Town Hall simply allowed people to move further into the road thus obstructing everyone else's view - including the school children. Then fgor some obscure reason, the 'chief's of the bus interchange saw fit to stand by the mini roundabout so at least they got a decent glimpse of this once in a life time experience. On to Orford Park, where whoever it was introducing the flame, thought so much of his own voice, that the poor young girl who brought it on had to tell him over the microphone several times who she was, and even then, the mayor got her name wrong after that - a shambles Warrington. This thing happens once, and yet you still manage to **** it up with idiots. The only saviour of this, at least Kerry Katona didn't carry it!

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MikeJT says...
3:32pm Thu 31 May 12

"THIRTY Five thousand people packed the town centre streets to see the London 2012 Olympic torch make its way through Warrington".........
...35,000...nope!...
and doesnt it only become the LONDON Olympic torch when its "handed over" at the opening ceremony? Thank god I had to work out of town today.

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Jazz73 says...
3:35pm Thu 31 May 12

I got really excited about this. When the Commonwealth games were in Manchester, I took 2 weeks off work to go to as many events as possible, but this was a council farce all over. A massive let down.

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Jazz73 says...
3:51pm Thu 31 May 12

and the girl singer in Orford Park couldn't sing!

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moleogod says...
6:02pm Thu 31 May 12

no way fire on a metal stick. never seen that before

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jdow says...
6:11pm Thu 31 May 12

NEVER EVEN GOT A MENTION ON GRANADA REPORTS

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jdow says...
7:07pm Thu 31 May 12

NEVER EVEN GOT A MENTION ON GRANADA REPORTS

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Geoff71 says...
7:35pm Thu 31 May 12

Moan moan moan
Welcome to Warrington Town of the moaners !

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jdow says...
7:57pm Thu 31 May 12

Not moaning thousand of people turn out and warrington never got mention like when the queen came to warrington granada never mention it just sayin

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Jazz73 says...
8:01pm Thu 31 May 12

Geoff71 wrote:
Moan moan moan Welcome to Warrington Town of the moaners !
and buffoons who make suggestions like this. Geoff, did you stand out in the rain for a couple of hours today to see that once in a lifetime moment? The school kids did, in the cold and wet - we are a race entitled to our opinions, if you don't like it - move.

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jdow says...
8:06pm Thu 31 May 12

Jazz73 wrote:
Geoff71 wrote:
Moan moan moan Welcome to Warrington Town of the moaners !
and buffoons who make suggestions like this. Geoff, did you stand out in the rain for a couple of hours today to see that once in a lifetime moment? The school kids did, in the cold and wet - we are a race entitled to our opinions, if you don't like it - move.
Thank you well said

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Reader says...
8:47pm Thu 31 May 12

The torch didn't "arrive in Warrington at 1.24pm - running around 25 minutes late" at all !!!

It arrived at the Crossfields island near Liverpool Road at just before 12.50 so it was definately on time, infact it was early early. The coke convoy etc went through and everyone got excited and then for some stupid reason they then let cars etc through too which blocked the whole road and delayed the first bloke runner setting off to light the lady's torch near the lights. Still good to finally see it though but the atmosphere had been lost and everyone was saying it was a shambles at the start.

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willy wonka says...
9:13pm Thu 31 May 12

Unfortunately the guy presenting the event liked the sound of his own voice too much. The children dancing sat there freezing in the cold and wet and in the end their performance was cut short thanks to the bloke singing his own song, which seemed like forever. One school never even got to dance and the kids were visibly upset. There was no build up to the torch arriving on stage and everything became an anti climax. The mayor sounded liked he had no real interest in the event and what could be said for the awful Amy B. very poor throughout.

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exwarringtonian says...
10:18pm Thu 31 May 12

Reading all of the above comments I think I made a good move moving to Chinnor.

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warrington_biker says...
1:11am Fri 1 Jun 12

35,000? At least we know how many in the town are unemployed or retired! Cut their benefits!

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Flash says...
7:28am Fri 1 Jun 12

If there really was the estimated 35,000 people in attendance as suggested here it doesnt suprise me a number of people didnt see the torch. Reality check moaners I wonder how many people saw the torch along the relay route without issue? And Jazz73 i take it you fail to see the irony is asking Geoff71 to move if he doesnt like your opinion for merely expressing his?

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cookie1974 says...
8:03am Fri 1 Jun 12

And who was that brazilian numpty who was cvlearly holding everyone up but didnt give a ****, you can see on the video above he pushed the person out of the wasy when he was supposed to be passing the flame to the other person, tes it must have been an amazing experience but really to do what he did, only in Warrington!

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Jazz73 says...
8:36am Fri 1 Jun 12

Flash wrote:
If there really was the estimated 35,000 people in attendance as suggested here it doesnt suprise me a number of people didnt see the torch. Reality check moaners I wonder how many people saw the torch along the relay route without issue? And Jazz73 i take it you fail to see the irony is asking Geoff71 to move if he doesnt like your opinion for merely expressing his?
Yes! - I just thought Geoff71 might have got it first!

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ffsgetalife says...
8:40am Fri 1 Jun 12

well done to all the flame bearers - it must have been quite intimidating having cameras pushed in your faces! Special respect to STEVE DEAKIN who well deserved to have this once in a lifetime moment. As for everyone saying about WBC messing up - why are you surprised? They are not very organised are they? They have had so long to prepare, if it was a shambles, they should hang their heads in shame.

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MikeJT says...
9:18am Fri 1 Jun 12

My wife and daughter have had the pleasure of seeing the Olympic torch. personally I wasnt bothered. My wife spoke to a group of school kids that she knew and they loved it.


What REALLY spoils these kind of events is when officals try to big things up just to show "how good they are". When they fail it justmakes them look stupid. The course was previously estimated to be 2.2 miles long = approx 3900 yards. 35,000 people would equate to 9 people EVERY yard of the course. Come on, get a grip.

As for the Brazillian, he was a basketball player I believe. Now call me pedantic but wasnt the whole purpose of the nomination procedure to give people that give soemthing back to their communities etc the limelight. Errrrr...what has he done for the communities of Warrington. Forgive me if he has doen loads that has not been pointed out but on the back of other celebrities doing legs it seems this whole ideal has gone out the window.

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gerrumonside says...
1:34pm Fri 1 Jun 12

could not care less about this ridiculous "once in a lifetime event". even more so when Someone Like Steve Prescott was not given the chance to do it but Didier Drogba was.

a shockingly bad taste event with one or two deserved exceptions......

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frank100 says...
5:30pm Fri 1 Jun 12

its probably on ebay now.

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papab62 says...
6:35pm Fri 1 Jun 12

Stop all the moaning. The kids all enjoyed it and the people carrying the torches had there moments to savour and enjoy. Yes it could have been a let down for the adults but I was with my son who had a great time and enjoyed following the torch upto tesco.

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moleogod says...
6:51pm Fri 1 Jun 12

35,000 people. north west tonight said 10,000 in london at the mo. dont belive 35k in warry

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OneLastTime says...
9:11pm Fri 1 Jun 12

I watched the torch go past the Halliwell Jones and i had a great view off the torch. I didn't see what was going on in the centre but it was pretty packed but I enjoyed it and thats all that matters to me.

If your all complaining about how WBC are disorganised, I personally thought it was well handled and most off the organisation is done by the London Olympics people.

The stewards were ignorant but the Police handled it very well and allowed everyone a great photo opportunity. I think that is the most Police I've ever seen in Warrington! Didn't think Cheshire Police had that many, even though some were from the Metropolitan Police and those ones were quite ignorant and distanced from the Public compared to the Cheshire Police.

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Melslea says...
10:12pm Fri 1 Jun 12

Enjoyed seeing the torch but I know now why so many people say that Warrington's events are never much cop. In Sankey Street we had no info as to what was happening and who the runners were. A bloke with a tannoy would've been good. First saw someone with an unlit torch which confused people and then when runner did come no-one knew who he was. Found myself waving to some woman on an open top bus who obviously had something to do with it all. My mum was in a West Lancs village today and said it was great and was mentioning various vehicles with people on and things going on. Another reason for me wanting to move back to a village.

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Wire Mum says...
8:42am Sun 3 Jun 12

I just want to say how proud I am of my sister Helen Lea, she carried the torch in Warrington on thursday, she is a Head Teacher in Warrington, All of our family took holidays to be there to see her today and I know lots of people had taken time off to see the torch. For most people it was a once in a life time chance to see an Olympic torch and yes we all stood in the cold wet weather for several hours to get a good view and I can tell you it was well worth it!!!

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SickAndTired2 says...
8:57am Sun 3 Jun 12

gerrumonside wrote:
could not care less about this ridiculous "once in a lifetime event". even more so when Someone Like Steve Prescott was not given the chance to do it but Didier Drogba was.

a shockingly bad taste event with one or two deserved exceptions......
You usually talk utter crap so I am finding it difficult to accept that I agree with you 100% on this.

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