The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Olympic Torch fervour spread north of border
Flag-waving crowds gripped by Olympic fever went wild as the London 2012 Torch Relay zig-zagged its way across Tayside and Fife a decade ago.
The event proved to be a huge hit with locals.
The torch relay began in Land’s End on May 19 in the hands of triple Olympic gold sailor Ben Ainslie, although it accidentally went out on the third day.
An average of 115 torchbearers per day carried the Flame of Athens northwards and the famous relic of Greece arrived in Glasgow on June 8 to cheering crowds.
Carried by 92 torchbearers, the flame travelled 169 miles from Glasgow to Inverness along the banks of Loch Lomond, into Fort William and across Loch Ness.
Some carriers had been practising at home with everyday household objects to feel more at ease on the big day as they embraced the honour of carrying the torch.
It reached Aberdeen on June 11 before travelling through the Mearns and arriving in Angus at Hillside before going on through Montrose, Brechin and Forfar.
It then headed through Meigle before going to Coupar Angus, Woodside and Burrelton, Balbeggie and Scone, ahead of its arrival in Perth.
The torch later called in to Abernethy, Newburgh, Cupar, Dairsie, Guardbridge and Leuchars.
The flaming icon was then carried over the Tay
Road Bridge to Dundee on June 12 at rush-hour, before travelling to City Square.
Teenager Michael Robb, who was nominated for his efforts at Baldragon Academy, was the first to carry the flame aloft in Dundee.
There were nine torchbearers in the city alone, including double amputee Ronnie McIntosh, and Andy Coogan, a former Japanese prisoner of war.
Ronnie said: “Words can’t describe how good this felt.
“I was in hospital with
pneumonia last week but I was determined I wasn’t going to miss this. It was so overwhelming.”
The famous flame resided in the city overnight before moving on to light up Fife including being taken across the famous Swilcan Bridge on the Old Course.
It was also used by pupils to emulate one of cinema’s most famous scenes, which was filmed on the West Sands beach in 1980.
Joseph Forrester ran with the flame to recreate that famous slow-motion beach run which provided
the striking opening to the film Chariots Of Fire.
Among other highlights were appearances in Dunblane, Stirling, the Falkirk Wheel and Edinburgh Castle, where the flame was carried by Lesley Forrest, who received a kidney transplant in 1996 and a year later competed in the British Transplant Games.
The flame arrived at the Olympic Stadium for the lighting of the cauldron at the opening ceremony on July 27, following its 8,000mile and 70-day journey.