It’s the mayoral flame for Devizes (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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It’s the mayoral flame for Devizes
2:00pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in Local By Lewis Cowen
Devizes mayor Kelvin Nash, aboard Bojangles, with the Olympic torch
Devizes may have missed out on the Olympic torch relay but mayor Kelvin Nash made sure a torch did come to the town last Friday.
The town council had organised its own games on The Green, originally intended to coincide with the end of Devizes School’s sports day.
Though sports day was postponed because of wet weather, Coun Nash made the event special by bringing an official Olympic torch, care of one of his colleagues.
He said: “One of my friends ran the relay in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire and he has very kindly allowed me to bring his torch along today.”
Coun Nash offered people at The Green the chance to be photographed holding the torch for a small donation to his Mayor’s Appeal, which is supporting Kennet Gateway Club, Devizes Friday Craft Club for visually impaired people and Devizes Opportunity Centre.
Another icon at Friday’s event was the Atlantic rowing boat Bojangles, which Andrew Morris is rowing from Bristol to London along the Kennet and Avon Canal and the River Thames, aiming to get to Stratford in time for the Olympic opening ceremony on July 27.
Mr Morris is scheduled to reach Devizes Wharf this afternoon and will attend a town hall reception before he continues his voyage.
Local sports clubs defied the rain to show off their skills on Friday afternoon.
Among the sports on show were tennis, touch rugby, volleyball, hockey and tri-golf.
Shepherd Chris Farns-worth brought along sheep from his company, Raising the Baa, which demonstrated their fleetness of foot.
The young singers of First Stages youth musical theatre supplied a tuneful interlude when they sang the special anthem that had been written for them, Salute.
Devizes Hospital and Community Radio provided a running commentary.
Coun Nash said: “In this country you can never rely on the weather, but we English enjoy ourselves irrespective.
“This has been a great event.”
