In Pictures: Special reception for 1948 Olympic Torchbearers

I was delighted to join fellow torchbearers, their friends and family at Lynnsport this afternoon to see the end of the 1948 Olympic Torch Trail and to recieve a medal and certificate from West Norfolk mayor Geoffrey Wareham for taking part. The 170-mile relay started on Saturday morning at Lynnsport and College of West Anglia pupil Tom Scott walked over the finish line at the King's Lynn leisure centre at 4pm - much to the delight of a small crowd which gathered to cheer him on.

I had carried the iconic torch from North Wootton to Castle Rising on Saturday morning but made sure I was updated on how it was getting on as some 170 other torchbearers on foot and cycle carried it through 80 town and villages around West Norfolk over the next four days. Olympian Paul Evans and Ray Harding, chief executive of West Norfolk council, started the 1948 Torch relay after leaving Lynnsport at 9.15am on Saturday before handing over to me in North Wootton.
After I handed it over in Castle Rising, the torch made its way to Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe, Snettisham, Heacham, Hunstanton, Sedgeford and Docking before finishing the day in Burnham Market.

Picture by Matthew Usher

On Sunday the torch went through the Rudhams, the Massinghams, Marham and Boughton before finishing in Stoke Ferry. The torch was then carried through Methwold, Feltwell, Southery, Hilgay and Denver on Monday before arriving in Downham Market to lead the annual carnival parade through the town at 1pm and ended the day in Upwell.

Torchbearers left Upwell at 9.30am today and carried the torch through Elm, Terrington St John, the Walpoles, Clenchwarton and West Lynn before arriving back at Lynnsport at 4pm.

After the torch arrived at Lynnsport, there was a special reception for the 170 torchbearers at the King’s Lynn leisure centre where we received our medals and certificates before enjoying a display by Alison’s Street Dance Club, music from the Delta Pilots and a hog roast!

My shiny commemorative medal

My commemorative medal and "certificate of appreciation"

@Gary_McGuinness, who ran the penultimate leg from West to South Lynn , and me showing off our medals

VIDEO: Me carrying the 1948 Olympic Torch during tour of West Norfolk

It was just after 9.30am when I was given the 1948 Olympic Torch by Olympian Paul Evans and Ray Harding, chief executive of West Norfolk council, to carry it between North Wootton and Castle Rising today. I carried it with West Norfolk council cabinet member Elizabeth Nockolds and it was a truly amazing experience. We ran one of the longest legs of the 170-mile relay around West Norfolk AND it was all uphill so not as easy as I thought it was going to be when I got up this morning.



Picture by Matthew Usher

When I arrived at the handover point at around 9.15am, there weren't too many people but as Paul and Ray handed over the torch to us, there were plenty of people who had come out to cheer us on. There were also plenty of people who lined the route to see us and take our pictures. After the torch left us, it was carried through Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe, Snettisham, Heacham, Hunstanton, Sedgeford and Docking before finishing the day in Burnham Market.

Overall it was incredible to take part in this event. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime event and I feel very privileged that I was asked to take part and to run the second leg. I really felt a sense a pride when the torch was in my hand and I feel like I've taken part in something very special. There is no doubt in my mind that it will bring communities together across West Norfolk in the coming days and I'm looking forward to meeting some of the other 170 torchbearers on Tuesday for a special medal ceremony at Lynnsport after the torch returns.

The below video of me carrying the torch was shot by @DanielVipond. You will need to skip to one minute and 20 seconds after watching the first 25 seconds.

West Norfolk Olympic torch relay starts tomorrow: Come out & cheer me on!

The official 2012 Olympic torch is currently making its way around the country and I may have missed out on carrying it but tomorrow I'll get my hands on an iconic Olympic torch when I take part in a four-day torch relay across West Norfolk using one of the torches used for the 1948 Olympics - the last to be held in London.

The torch, on loan from Loughborough University, will be carried into more than 80 villages ahead of the London Olympics and will start and finish at Lynnsport in King's Lynn.

Norfolk Olympian Paul Evans, who competed at the 1992 and the 1996 Olympic Games, will start the relay just after 9am tomorrow before handing over to yours truly in North Wootton. I will then run from the All Saints Drive junction with Alban Road to Black Horse Pub in Castle Rising.

Some 170 torchbearers on foot and cycle will then carry the torch over the four-day event. These people, who range in age from 14 to 98, have been nominated by their local communities.

I really think the torch relay will bring a feel-good factor to the area ahead of the Games and I am delighted to be taking part. The Olympics is only six weeks away and there won’t be too many people from here going down to London to watch the action but I think this is bringing the Olympics to West Norfolk and is really kick starting a summer of great sport

To see the Olympic torch trail route click here