Olympic Torch Relay Through Abingdon

Many thanks to everybody who sent pictures of the Olympic Torch being carried through Abingdon.
Olympic Torch through Abingdon
The first picture is of the torch relay at 7:41am, precisely, as it started at the roundabout at the top end of Oxford Road. The first runner is 007.
Olympic Torch through Abingdon
Stuart captured the torch relay handover at the Boundary House.
Olympic Torch through Abingdon
Beryl sent pictures from the Oxford Road at the junction with St Johns Road.
Olympic Torch through Abingdon
Andy picked up the coverage as the torch was carried from the Oxford Road and down the Vineyard.
Olympic Torch through Abingdon
Half way down Stert Street Syd caught the next torch carrier.
Olympic Torch through Abingdon
Kev was there early and had a good position at the lower end of Stert Street, where the crowd was spilling onto the roads. Abingdon had many marshalls, including soldiers from Dalton Barracks. My wife said the atmosphere was amazing.
Olympic Torch through Abingdon
By the time the torch had reached Paul outside his shop in Bridge Street the crowds were enormous and there was no controlling them. This runner is Margaret Brown.
Olympic Torch through Abingdon
Here Margaret is again thanks to Stephen. I got more pictures of Margaret than any other torch holder. The crowd thinned a little over Abingdon Bridge.

Many thanks for all the pictures. Sorry I have not used more.

17 thoughts on “Olympic Torch Relay Through Abingdon

  1. Cassandra

    What a fantstic event. The people of Abingdon always rise to the occasion…the atmosphere was brilliant. Also worth a mention were the Police and Army personnel who did a great job.

    Reply
  2. abingdonwalks

    I’ve noticed the same great atmosphere when nobody could go to work because of the floods or the heavy snow and on the occasion of the Royal Wedding and Jubilee. Abingdonians love to see their town thronging with people (and car free).

    Reply
  3. Paul

    My 3 year old daughter wanted to watch it on the laptop this afternoon, I found the video & while watching it go through Abingdon I thought, doesn’t our Town look great. There were some great shots of the river, county hall & with all the flags in Stert Street & Bridge Street this shows our town off to the world.

    Reply
  4. Cassandra

    Can I ask Paul – which video is this? Is it available to view on a public site? I have just watched the BBC News (which I had recorded last evening) and I was disappointed to note that there was no mention of Abingdon – the coverage of the Olympic Torch route seemed to begin with Wallingford.

    Reply
  5. Mark Thornton

    The highlights from Day 53 can be found here

    Sadly, Abingdon had to compete with Roger Bannister in Oxford, Raymond Blanc in Wallingford, Steve Redgrave in Henley, Frankie Dattori at Ascot and The Queen! So we get about 3 seconds in the summary 🙁

    Reply
  6. hester

    But we WERE on tonight – albeit after the footage of the streaker at Henley – now there’s a thought for next time we want publicity!

    Oxfordshire was complimented for having the best organisation of anywhere the relay haa been yet!

    Reply
  7. Radio Oxford Listener

    The Radio Oxford main report was based in Wallingford. When the torch was going through Abingdon and the reporter on the ground was saying it was an amazing turnout and the enthusiasm would be hard to beat, they cut to interviewing people in Wallingford.

    Reply
  8. Pat

    I found the complete video including the drive from Oxford on
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day53

    Stuart’s “changeover” at the Boundary House was in fact more poignant than that. The boy was
    “Aron Steele, a 12 year old from Didcot who has been a pupil at Fitzwaryn School for two years and during that time has represented the school in a sporting capacity and has always performed to the best of his ability. Aron’s attitude to school, to life and to everyone around him encompasses the Olympic values.”
    If you watch the video you’ll see how terrified he was when he took over the torch. The woman (presumably his mother?) who seemed to be taking the torch when Stuart saw them actually ran all the way with him. It all turned out all right in the end because Aron was smiling all over his face when he reached the hand-over at the end of Northcourt Lane.

    Reply
  9. Wendy Hunter

    The lady walking with Aaron Steele was his teacher not his mother. I was on the torchbearers bus with the torchbearer Margaret Brown to provide sign language support for her during the event. It was an amazing experience and the amount of people in Abingdon was amazing,

    Reply
  10. Another Abingdonian

    Sally – according to the BBC website her name is Lydia Awyah. As you say she was not in the original list so presumably a late substitute.

    Reply

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