The journey into the unknown started on Sunday afternoon 8th
July from St Albans to Luton. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed
popping in and out of churches seeing what they were doing as people flock to
the route in their thousands.
First stop Hemel Hempstead where the church was giving out
refreshments, the Methodist had prepared what seemed like hundreds of cakes
served with tea coffee and cold drinks
Our aim is to keep about an hour ahead of the Torch itself
but it wasn’t always easy to keep to the routé as some local council closed the
road earlier than others.
In Luton our final destination of the day, the rain came
down but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the many thousands waiting for the
torchbearer who would carry the torch through the high street. After the
ramatazz of the vehicles provided by the sponsors it was time for the torch
bearer to come through. It’s always moving but especially so on this occasion as the gentleman in his wheelchair
came through you somehow sensed he had gone through a lot and
this was indeed his moment to shine..
One of the challenges of the journey was that we didn’t know
where we were staying until sometime that afternoon. But somehow we knew all
would be well as Ish Lennox the Methodist Coordinator with her meticulous
efficiency would be on the case.
We stayed on the outskirts of Luton and next morning in keeping with the need to be about an hour ahead
of the Torch decided to make our way to Aylesbury. Of course the town was busy
as hoards of people flocked to the town.
The churches in the city centre were well prepared. We were
particularly impressed with Holy Trinity where not only had they provided hospitality
serving tea coffee cakes and children’s activities they had used the steps of
the church ensuring that wheelchairs users were unobstructed as the torch went
pass.
We made it to Oxford for the handover of the Prayer baton
from Cambridge to Oxford a very powerful and inspiring occasion.
And so to July 10th when the torch would make its
way from Oxford to Reading going through Maidenhead and Windsor my neck of the
woods. We started the day in Wallingford and on to Crowmarsh where St Mary
Magdalene was busy serving tea coffee and bacon sandwiches which were just as
well as the rain came down and the crowds appeared to be in need of breakfast.
On the route to Maidenhead it was moving to see
community after community gathering to see the Torch in their
neighbourhoods. We couldn’t see much
going on as far as the churches was concerned until our arrival in Maidenhead
where the church was very organised, with many serving tea coffee cakes biscuit.
The Salvation Army providing refreshments from a mobile canteen.
It was wonderful to see Mary Baker a member of Dorney church
carry the Torch from the Marlow Road to King Street we even got to witness the
infamous kiss as she changed over with the next torchbearer.
It was then to Windsor catching up with the Praise bus at
All Saints Dedworth who had provided a choir singing songs especially written
for the Olympics.
We then move on to the Long walk to catch up with the Torch
after its visit to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. For me my journey
stopped there at least for today whilst the others went on to Reading for an
organised celebration at St Andrews Church.
Isn’t it always the case that everything happens at once, a
few days earlier I found out that I had won tickets to attend the Premiere of the Chariots of Fire and went
through the dilemma of deciding whether to continue with plans for the balloon
sculpting at St Andrews Reading.
This was a once in a life time
opportunity and so it was an honour to
walk on the red carpet as part of the Faith community, amongst the cast,
musicians and athletes such as Daley Thompson and Dame Kelly Holmes. The 30
year old of film which charts the life of the Missionary and athlete Eric Liddell has
been digitally remastered and re-released in time for the Olympics. With it
comes a resource for churches to discuss issues of passion, dedication and commitment.
It was an early start next morning to Reading for the prayer
baton handover and prayers of blessing for Salisbury at Greyfriars church.
We caught up with St Nicholas Newbury where burgers were
being served by the Curate and his team.
And on to Winchester Cathedral which proved to be a very
tight squeeze as people poured into the square to see the torch. It was
difficult for us to find a route back to the car but thankfully the Sat Nat
proved useful in finding a diversion away from the crowds
Sadly the journey ended in Andover as an accident on the way
to Winchester proved to be more serious than first thought and the damage in
the rear door of the car made it impossible to continue. We were grateful that
we were all safe.
Overall a very tiring but fruitful and uplifting experience.
I came back feeling inspired and confident that the Olympic will provide a
truly amazing opportunity for communities to get together and celebrate, with
churches already preparing activities and events, we should all be looking
forward to the time of our lives.
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