Thousands turn out to see Olympic torch in York (From Western Telegraph)
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Thousands turn out to see Olympic torch in York
11:11am Wednesday 20th June 2012 in London Olympics 2012 - Latest News By Richard Catton & Mark Stead
Luke Young carries the Olympic torch along Shamble
THOUSANDS of cheering spectators lined the streets of York as the Olympic torch relay made its way through the city.
Glorious sunshine added to the carnival atmosphere as one-by-one, the lucky few chosen to carry the flame made their way from York College in Tadcaster Road, along the Bar Walls, through the city centre and on to Knavesmire, where the flame was carried on horseback by Olympic showjumper Harvey Smith.
The torch arrived in York late yesterday afternoon and was escorted by a 200-strong team of cyclists, all dressed in red.
One of those to ride with the flame was Anna Hogan, 27, who said she and her fellow riders were “very excited.”
“We are proud to be British and proud to ride through York,” she said.
Caroline Rose, a spectator whose Bishopthorpe Road home was on the route of the torch said: “It’s very exciting. The atmosphere is brilliant and there has been perfect weather.”
Jean Haw, 75, from Fulford, whose husband Terry is due to run with the torch in Aiskew, near Bedale, today said: “I am here today to do some practise cheering. The atmosphere is wonderful.”
In the centre of York, hundreds gathered at the corner of Shambles and Pavement, many waving Union Flags, as a band played tunes such as Land Of Hope And Glory and Danny Boy outside St Crux Church. Some onlookers even climbed a nearby tree to secure a better view.
Glenn Marshall, 41, from Fulford, said: “It’s a massive day for York to be playing a part in the Olympics and it's great to see so many people out to see the torch.”
Naomi Cullen, 29, from Haxby, said: “Everybody who’s been here to see the torch will be able to tell their children about the day it came to York and show them the pictures years down the line.
“Seeing everybody cheering and smiling shows what the Olympics are about and how it means much more than sport.”
Susan Peters, 66, from Holgate, likened the occasion to the Pope’s visit to York in 1982 because of the feeling of “togetherness and happiness” in the city.
She said: “However far the torch goes around the country, I bet it will not get as big a welcome as it has had in Yorkshire.”
In Selby, fire-breathers and local choirs entertained the crowds, which included hundreds of schoolchildren as well as residents and local workers, ahead of the arrival of the torch procession.
Metropolitan Police outriders waved to the crowds and sponsors handed out drinks and flags to supporters, while official Olympic staff whipped up cheers and shouts from those gathered near the Abbey and in Gowthorpe.
After a brief stop at Selby High School, the procession moved along the A63 through Monk Fryston.
Comments(13)
Alpha Kenny Thing
says...
12:46pm Wed 20 Jun 12
oscarz wrote:Excitement as a torch went past???
What a wonderful day it was yesterday as The London Olympic 2012 torch relay finally reached our fair City. I was stood with what seemed like thousands of people in Stonegate and the excitement grew as the various sponser vans and buses were whipping up the crowd. Then finally the chap appeared to huge acclaim and applause. This is something that we can be rightly proud of and also something for us all to remember for years to come. Well done to one and all. A wonderful day.
My God some people are easy pleased. Am I the only one that thinks that this whole torch relay is utterly pointless?
ReginaldBiscuit
says...
12:58pm Wed 20 Jun 12
Alpha Kenny Thing wrote:No you're not. Read all the olympic flame related stories on this website.
oscarz wrote:Excitement as a torch went past???
What a wonderful day it was yesterday as The London Olympic 2012 torch relay finally reached our fair City. I was stood with what seemed like thousands of people in Stonegate and the excitement grew as the various sponser vans and buses were whipping up the crowd. Then finally the chap appeared to huge acclaim and applause. This is something that we can be rightly proud of and also something for us all to remember for years to come. Well done to one and all. A wonderful day.
My God some people are easy pleased. Am I the only one that thinks that this whole torch relay is utterly pointless?
It's shameful that thousands turned out to wave at a fire-stick while there is so much wrong with this country and the world but that's people for you. One of the many reasons why human tenancy on this rock is most definitely, temporary.
Someone said that it's a "once in a lifetime moment". Presumably, it's like death then.
Jemima Puddleduck
says...
12:59pm Wed 20 Jun 12
Was a wonderful day and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone I have spoken to!
It's not often York CC get a thank you, but thank you, you got something right (for a change ...!) ;0)
Congratulations to all the torch bearers and thank you for being so generous with your time & torches for letting all the children have their photos taken with them!
Was a poignant moment and will never happen again in our lifetime! It's been a good year to be British (and from York!)
York Bob
says...
1:42pm Wed 20 Jun 12
I took my kids to see the torch yesterday, and they experienced a great sense of community and civic pride as well as ideas for lots of sports they can play.
Stop being so miserable and if you don't like stories about the torch, don't click on them, let alone comment on them.
oscarz
says...
1:46pm Wed 20 Jun 12
What a wonderful day it was yesterday as The London Olympic 2012 torch relay finally reached our fair City. I was stood with what seemed like thousands of people in Stonegate and the excitement grew as the various sponser vans and buses were whipping up the crowd. Then finally the chap appeared to huge acclaim and applause. This is something that we can be rightly proud of and also something for us all to remember for years to come. Well done to one and all. A wonderful day.Excitement as a torch went past???
My God some people are easy pleased. Am I the only one that thinks that this whole torch relay is utterly pointless?”
Actually Mr "Alpha whatever" I am not as easily pleased as you may think. However if you can't get up and enjoy something that involves the whole planet then I suggest you come out of the sun...you have obvioulsy been in it too much. Bless.
alfie
says...
1:59pm Wed 20 Jun 12
Bobby fountain
says...
2:30pm Wed 20 Jun 12
alfie wrote:Health & safety would never allow it . All that hairspray so close to a naked flame ! Accident waiting to happen
Plaggy T should have been carrying that torch!
Pedro
says...
2:58pm Wed 20 Jun 12
AngryandFrustrated
says...
4:07pm Wed 20 Jun 12
I get the pride that many of the runners have - at the end of the day they have done good deeds that have been rightly rewarded by giving them this honour. (By honour, I mean being picked from 1000s of hopefuls). I also get that kids like days off school to shout and cheer and take part in dance competitions. However, I have 2 MAJOR objections to the hullaballoo surrounding the relay.
Firstly, it is the shameless advertising of the sponsers and the fact that the sponsers themselves have runners participating all over the country - they have done nothing worthy at all except work for one of the corporate sponsers - perhaps a reward for meeting a sales target or some glitzy competition winner.
Secondly, and most importantly, is the cost at a time when vital services are being cut, both nationally and locally. For example - Beckfield Lane tip. Closed due to cutbacks. It did benefit an entire section of York's population. Care budgets, cut back. NHS in York having to ration treatment, need I go on? Can anybody point to the long term benefit of having this circus in town? No I thought not.
I had the misfortune of being held back twice on my way to work this morning whilst the "support convoy" was taken, in 2 tranches it was that big, up the A19. Every NYP bike in the force must have been in York as there were at least 15 of them - good job they weren't needed on the roads attending a serious accident. Cost?! There were numerous buses, cars and sponsors vehicles, all of which will have been coddled and cosseted by our fair city. At what cost?!
I am not having a bah humbug moment. If the country was awash with money,I would have no problem with the bit of frivolity, the torch brings. However, the country is broke, York is broke and yet our resources appear to have contributed to the ongoing advertisement of a certain brown fizzy drink. Outrageous! But you what the saying is - fools and their money are easily parted - says a lot about our esteemed Council leaders!!!
RingoStarr
says...
7:25pm Wed 20 Jun 12
AngryandFrustrated wrote:Not as much as this says about you!
As I posted yesterday, I am a big fan of the Olympics and cannot wait for them to start. However, I cannot remember seeing mass hysteria on a nationwide scale like this since Princess Di died. I have no idea why!
I get the pride that many of the runners have - at the end of the day they have done good deeds that have been rightly rewarded by giving them this honour. (By honour, I mean being picked from 1000s of hopefuls). I also get that kids like days off school to shout and cheer and take part in dance competitions. However, I have 2 MAJOR objections to the hullaballoo surrounding the relay.
Firstly, it is the shameless advertising of the sponsers and the fact that the sponsers themselves have runners participating all over the country - they have done nothing worthy at all except work for one of the corporate sponsers - perhaps a reward for meeting a sales target or some glitzy competition winner.
Secondly, and most importantly, is the cost at a time when vital services are being cut, both nationally and locally. For example - Beckfield Lane tip. Closed due to cutbacks. It did benefit an entire section of York's population. Care budgets, cut back. NHS in York having to ration treatment, need I go on? Can anybody point to the long term benefit of having this circus in town? No I thought not.
I had the misfortune of being held back twice on my way to work this morning whilst the "support convoy" was taken, in 2 tranches it was that big, up the A19. Every NYP bike in the force must have been in York as there were at least 15 of them - good job they weren't needed on the roads attending a serious accident. Cost?! There were numerous buses, cars and sponsors vehicles, all of which will have been coddled and cosseted by our fair city. At what cost?!
I am not having a bah humbug moment. If the country was awash with money,I would have no problem with the bit of frivolity, the torch brings. However, the country is broke, York is broke and yet our resources appear to have contributed to the ongoing advertisement of a certain brown fizzy drink. Outrageous! But you what the saying is - fools and their money are easily parted - says a lot about our esteemed Council leaders!!!
Magicman!
says...
2:39am Thu 21 Jun 12
and THAT pretty much sums up why we have so much congestion and some utterly despicable drivers in York, because that is their attitude.... rather than make alternative arrangements, they must stick rigidly to their route in their cars and then blame everything else for delaying them.
AngryandFrustrated
says...
9:29am Thu 21 Jun 12
Magicman! wrote:Back in the real world, where some of us have to commute for a living to a place that has no early morning public transport, we have no choice but to use our cars in the morning. Unfortuantely, the mass hysteria surrounding the torch relay cut no mustard with my bosses who expected me to be at work on time.
... he got held up in his car as he didn't heed advice about alternative routes, and now blames an event many hundreds of years old for delaying him in his metal box. and THAT pretty much sums up why we have so much congestion and some utterly despicable drivers in York, because that is their attitude.... rather than make alternative arrangements, they must stick rigidly to their route in their cars and then blame everything else for delaying them.
I would have cheerfully used an alternative route - the trouble is, for some of us who live in the city centre, there was no alternative route. No traffic was allowed out of the bottom of Bootham and we were not allowed out onto the A19 because of the convoy!
Oh, and for the record, I DO use public transport as and where I can and I do car share on my journeys to work.
As ever, another ill-informed posting from someone who jumps to conclusions!
oscarz says...
12:22pm Wed 20 Jun 12