Momentum – October 2012
Carrying the
Olympic torch
– with Pete Tillin
By any standard, the recent London Olympics will linger long in the memory as a successful celebration for Britain, for London and for sport in general.
For Plastribution’s Pete Tillin, however, the 2012 Olympics will represent something more: Pete was one of the 8000 people who were chosen to carry the torch throughout the UK in the weeks leading up to the games themselves.
A total of 8000 torches were made for that purpose – each containing 8000 miniature holes. The torch also travelled a total of 8000 miles and those carrying torches in 2012 got the chance to keep them, and that special memento is now set to last for a very long time.
Pete was nominated in his community to carry the torch for his recent bike-riding charity efforts for cancer support. Tuesday May 22nd was the appointed date for his run in the town of Bradford-on-Avon on the Wiltshire leg of the 70 day torch celebration through the UK.
In the weeks leading up to the big day itself Pete recalls that the business of protocols and security checks was understandably lengthy and intensive.
When the day arrived in May “it was very hot weather. We were required to get to the starting point some three hours beforehand and get briefed in detail. There were 16 torch bearers in the leg I was part of and mine was the last before the torch went on to Bath.
At all times the torch bearer was surrounded by six special forces police officers, and by the time it came to me I think the hot weather was taking its toll. Put it this way - I wasn’t being encouraged by those around me to put on any speed!”
Fortuitously, Pete’s torch carrying route took him past schools where children were lining the streets. “It was an amazing experience with children and people cheering all the way although, at about only 300 yards, the run was over in next to no time.
In the heat of the moment my overriding sense was that it was a great honour and that there were surely people more deserving than me. In that sense the charity work previously done with our bike ride became a true joint effort – and given from the whole community.” In total, Pete, his two brothers and close friend raised over £10,000 for a local cancer hospice, Dorothy House and Macmillan cancer support.
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