Crowds welcome the torch
THOUSANDS of local people came out in force to experience themomentous occasion of the Olympic torch relay coming through the borough. Arriving in Harrietsham at teatime on Thursday, July 19, the torch finished the day at Leeds Castle, where a ticket- only evening of music and en- tertainment was seen by 8,000 people. Simultaneously, there was a free event viewed by 10,000 in Mote Park, where the torch began its journey the fol- lowing morning. Primary school youngsters
from Kingswood, Barming and Leybourne lined part of the route to tell Olympic-themed jokes in their own comedy relay. The torch took in the centre
of Maidstone en route to the River Medway, where a bearer boarded a replica royal barge that was rowed to the jetty at Maidstone Rowing Club and on to James WhatmanWay, before leaving the borough for Med- way by convoy.
The flame, carried by David Boyle, is rowed across the river at Maidstone. Right, Julia Chilcott lights the cauldron at Leeds Castle. Below: Pupils from Bredhurst School wait for the torch at Leeds Castle, and left, Stephen Kirchner carries the torch through Maidstone
Carrying the Olympic flame MAIDSTONE canoeist Peter Bannister (17) took the torch through Harrietsham. Maidstone gymnast Court-
neyTulloch (16) took the flame towards Leeds Castle. He won gold at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Turkey and led the British team to vic- tory in the International Coupe Avenir in Belgium, where he won two goldmedals. Julia Chilcott (55), from Maidstone, a foster carer for more than 24 years, lit the cauldron at Leeds Castle. Chris Bury (17), of Langdale
Rise, Maidstone, was the first torch bearer from Mote Park. The Scout Association mem- ber helped raise £205,000 for a climbing centre in Sandling. Evie Goodman (18), of
Mynn Crescent, Bearsted, ran from Bank Street to the bottom of the High Street in Maid- stone. She recently finished her A Levels at Invicta Girls’ Grammar School, where she was head girl. She was nomi- nated by Vanessa Norton, of Ashford Road, Bearsted, who was part of the Coca Cola team sponsoring the Olympics. She travelled over 8,000 miles around Britain and Ireland in her specialised Coca Cola BMWmini. West Malling man Felipe Alviar-Baquero (32), who set up a company to help abused children in Colombia, ran the torch throughMaidstone. Maidstone man Mel Moor
(47), who has run 21 consec- utive London Marathons, took the torch through Chal- lock.
Left: Harrietsham and Lenham Brownies wait for the torch, and below, pupils and parents fromHarriet- sham and Lenham Primary School. Right: Flanked by police, Christine Webb, from Staplehurst, carries the torch through Harrietsham
Partygoers make an afternoon of it AFREEpartywas held at Tenacre Court inHarrietsham to mark the arrival of the Olympic torch through the village. The ticket-only event saw 300 local people enjoy three hours ofmusic, dancing and fun off theA20inreadiness for the torchrelay. Entertainment included a performance by music group Sixpenny Piece, which included borough Cllr Tom Sams and his wife Janetta, a member of Harrietsham Parish Council. The group raises money for disadvantaged children. Food was served by The Red Lion pub in Lenham, and elderly care provider Audley Care had its ownmarquee.
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