Olympic Torch Visits the Juniors

Today we were visited by Roy Stratton, one of the Olympic Torch Bearers with his wife Beryl. Mr Stratton brought his Olympic Torch with him and told us all about the process and what exactly he had to do.

Anyone who wanted to be an Olympic Torch Bearer had to be nominated and Mr Stratton was nominated by ‘ UK Athletics’ as he has spent nearly 60 years working in all sorts of areas related to Athletics.

Mr Stratton, now 75 years old, was the oldest person to carry the torch in Waltham Forest where he has lived for the past 45 years and he carried it from Hoe Street, through Walthamstow Bus Station and into Selbourne Walk where the flame was passed on to the next Torch Bearer. A total of 145 people carried the torch on Saturday 21st July and Mr Stratton was number 138 and they all had to carry it for 300metres and even though it is not too heavy at first, Mr Stratton said that it did make his arm ache after a while.

All of the children at our Junior School were able to touch the Olympic Torch and Mr Stratton answered some questions from the children and we all learnt some interesting facts which are listed below.

Mr Stratton and his wife were heavily involved in the Olympics and spent a lot of time helping out in the Olympic Stadium where he was able to congratulate Mo Farah on coming first in the 10,000m race and he also met Johnnie Peacock who also came first in the Paralympic 100m.

It was great to hear from one of the Olympic Torch Bearers and a shame to see him leave as the Olympics has had such a big impact on everyone in the area, maybe you have some pictures of what you saw that you would like to appear on the website? If so, please email them toben.trehern@chingfordcofe-jun.waltham.sch.uk and we will open up a page in the Gallery for them all!

Mr Stratton’s facts:

• The Olympic Torch has 8000 holes in it to represent the 8000 bearers and the 8000 miles it travelled to get to the Olympic Stadium
• The Gas canisters that were in the torches were taken out at the end of each leg so that the torch could never be re-lit
• There was a yellow Olympic BMW that followed the Torch for its entire journey
• Torch Bearers could buy the torch after they had carried it for £199 but Waltham Forest paid for it for those that were residents of the area
• Mr Stratton was part of the group that were the first to carry the torch through London