Hi I am a torch which was created to carry the Olympic flame on its journey around the British Isles.
I was given to Lena (Helena) Conlin at the traffic lights at the top of High Skellgate (Traffic Light Hill), on Westgate in Ripon on day 32 (June 19 2012) of the relay, she was torchbearer 89 that day We got off the bus to loud cheers.
It was a beautiful sunny day in Ripon and there were thousands of people of all ages crowding the streets. She scanned the crowds for her family whilst people took photos of us. Finally she spotted them on the Market Square and ran over, she gave me to her mum who is in a wheelchair for a quick hold, she was so happy, then Lena took me back and ran back to her start position as a policewoman on a bicycle arrived. The police woman put a key in my side and checked that I was working then chatted to Lena. at 16:23 another torch was carried up the hill and a policeman dressed in grey put a key in me and turned me on, I kissed the other torch and the heat erupted from me, this was it, this was what I was created for, The crowd roared their approval as Lena set off holding me aloft, people were calling her name and she was waving and jumping around, faster the policeman kept saying as she bounced her way around the market square to screams and cheers with cameras flashing, as we ran past the Black Bull pub Lena spotted the Hub girls and did a little dance and then turned to see a sea of burgundy, Ripon Runners adults and juniors had gathered together again Lena did her wiggly dance as the policeman hurried her to where A man, John Skinner was waiting holding another torch, Was it nearly over, I didnt want it to be but she was running quite quick (well quick for her). Soon I kissed the other torch, Lena quickly allowed a lady to take a picture with her 2 children as another police woman came and took me from Lena turned my gas off and my flame died, 3 minutes was the time that I carried the flame, 3 minutes of emotion charged history. Lena was ushered onto the bus and I was placed in a stand next to 4 other torches on the bus where I soon felt cooler and cooler until I was quite cold. soon there was another torch and another and another as the bus followed the torchbearers picking them up as their runs finished, the noise was amazing, I could see the crowds from the bus window. When all 8 of us were back on the bus cooling we left the crowds behind and went to Fountains Abbey visitor centre because that is where we had collected the torchbearers only an hour previously. The torchbearers were sent away and us torches were all decommissioned, The gas canisters were removed and we were placed in cotton sleeves and put back in the rack. Soon the torchbearers returned and I was reunited with Lena.
Lena got a lift back to Ripon with John. We got out of the car at the Coltsgate Hill traffic lights. Lena was heading home when she saw a friend across the street, she crossed the street and was tlking to her friend when she was approached for photos. Eventually she said goodbye and headed home but on the way she popped into North Street Fisheries and the White Horse pub http://www.white-horse-ripon.co.uk/for more pictures because the proprietors Dave and Jo and their customers have always supported Lena in her fundraising
When Lena got home it was nearly running club time so Lena and her husband took me to running club.
More photos were taken at Ripon Runners, and on the way home. at one point Lena saw little boy on his bike in his beavers uniform with his mum and dad. he was staring, she gave me to the boy whilst his parents took pictures, the little boy's face lit up.
Wed 20 June
Lena got up and put her white uniform on, she took me to http://www.riponcathedralschool.org.uk/News/Olympic-Torch-Visits-School/ Where we were the stars of assembly and most of the children got a photo with me, they were so excited and all wanted to touch me and ask questions.
Afterwards she took me to the school where she works http://www.riponcollege.co.uk/page/default.asp?title=Home&pid=1 where we seemed to disrupt everywhere we went, I think that this will be the way it is from now on.
More pictures were taken before Lena managed to get changed and put me way for a rest for a while.
That evening Lena took me to meet Libby who does her sports massages, Libby keeps her on the road Lena says
http://puretreatmentrooms.com/libby-hancocks-clinical-massage/ tat if it wasn't for regular visits to Libby, she would not be able to take on her challenges and so raise money for charity.
Later that evening, Lena took me to meet the young people at the Red Triangle Drama Group, where she is a volunteer youth worker, the youngsters were rehearsing A Midsummer Nights Dream but broke off as we arrived. pictures were taken and everyone wanted to touch me and ask questions, everyone was so happy and excited.
Thursday 21 June
Today was a big day. I was going to the school of Lena's niece, Hettie. Hettie's mum Jontje who is married to Lena's brother was the person who had answered Lena's Facebook plea and nominated Lena to carry me.
This was a small village school,
http://stwschools.org/the-olympic-flame-comes-to-our-schools/ all of the children were excited and had their pictures taken with me and got to touch me and hold me, they were happy and excited, we then went to their partner school at Thornton Watlass. Lena was very impressed by their Tardis, the children and staff were very impressed by me.
Friday 22 June
Today I went to
http://www.greystone.moonfruit.com/# Greystones Primary school and did an assembly, lots of parents heard I was there and came into reception for photos.
