Weymouth

THE whole of Weymouth came together to cheer the Olympic flame through the town centre.

Thousands of people old and young lined the streets to cheer the relay runners as they made their way from Buxton Road down along the seafront to Lodmoor Country Park.

Dozens of excited schoolchildren lined Buxton Road to see torchbearer Nuno Barrados start the relay.

Nuno, who flew all the way from Lisbon to run with the flame, said: “I am very excited to be here.”

He passed the flame to Harry Alford, aged 12 from Portland, who gave it to Mira Kiss and Andrea Snow, both from Budapest.

Crowds were massing in the Old Harbour as Andrew Clark brought the flame down into the town.

“It’s fantastic, absolutely brilliant, the best experience ever and really great for the town,” said onlooker Ros Locke.

There was cheering and shouting as Connie Coles and Maria Lochrie ‘kissed torches’ on the water’s edge.

Connie said: “It was wonderful, the best thing ever.

“I’m knackered now but it was worth it – I loved it, there’s so many people out, it’s great.”

Many families had gathered in Asda car park, with a stage and music, Chrissie Woods came with her children Faith and Jim to support the flame.

She said: “We’re so excited, it’s once in a lifetime and even more special for us because it’s Jim’s ninth birthday today as well.”

The flame stopped for a quick break before torchbearers Harry Evans and Dorothy Fox carried the flame to the seafront where huge crowds had gathered to cheer it on.

Everyone was having a great time with flags waving and children brandishing homemade torches as Dave Hamilton made his way along The Esplanade.

Dave said: “That was brilliant, the atmosphere was great, what an amazing day.”

Pupils from St John’s Primary School waved banners and cheered as Keith Simmons jogged with the flame past St John’s Church.

The crowd took up the cry of ‘Keithy, Keithy’ shouting him on.

“It was really great, amazing, I’m out of breath now,” said Keith.

Proud wife Susanne Simmons said: “I’m just so happy to have seen him, it was fantastic.

“About 30 of our friends and family came to watch, we’re all really, really proud.”

Future Olympic sailing hopeful Giles Scott carried the Flame through Greenhill to Lodmoor Country Park on its last stretch of Weymouth.

n Weymouth Sub 60 running group did an Alternative Torch Relay as the torch came through the town.

Geoff Hicks said: “We ran from the Marquis of Granby as the torch passed, through town and back to the Greenhill area.

“It was a really great experience, amazing to see so many people out.”

Preston

CHAMPAGNE flowed in Preston as residents celebrated the arrival of the torch in style. Crowds up to 15 people deep lined the pavement around Chalbury Corner.

Jacques Barnard, 20, of Bournemouth, was the first runner with the torch. He was nominated for the work he has done for the Steve Bernard Foundation, a charity set up in memory of his brother.

Jacques said: “I tried my best to wave at people and make sure the flame didn’t go out.

“I was very nervous but my family and friends were here to support me and we’re having a few celebrations tonight.”

Following Jacques with the flame were torchbearers Lynne Connor of Dorchester, Michelle Quaid of Northchapel, Medina Toman of Hungary and Ranil Jayawardena of Bramley.

New York resident James Macey, 34, returned to Weymouth especially for the torch relay.

He said: “I’ve been living in New York for 12 years but I really wanted to see this.

“I wanted to see the Olympic torch pass through the place where I grew up. This has been the highlight of my trip.”

Brenda Brittin and Chrissi and Roger Dilley toasted the torch’s arrival with champagne and residents of Willowbrook flats enjoyed a roadside torch party, which was organised by Pamela Edwards.