Olympic Torch arrives in Reading

Published 10 Jul 2012 08:00 2 Comments

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THOUSANDS of people will line the streets of Reading this evening to welcome the Olympic Torch to the town.

The flame will arrive in Reading at 6.14pm when it will set off from London Road in East Reading, carried by Reading Pride chairwoman Lorna McArdle.

Quentin Gunderson, headteacher of The Lighthouse Group in Calcot, which provides education for pupils excluded from school, will be the last torchbearer of the day, carrying the flame into the Madejski Stadium to light a cauldron on stage before the Olympic party begins.

Crowds of around 20,000 people will fill the stadium to watch more than 300 performers from around Reading stage dance and drama performances, as well as theatre and sporting spectacles.

Rock band Young Guns and Britain's Got Talent finalists Twist and Pulse will also perform at the party, which begins at 6.50pm.

The Torch Relay starts up again in Caversham Court Gardens at 8.04am tomorrow where a host of Olympic and Paralympic heroes will gather to wave off the day's first torchbearer, Reading policeman Lee Umpleby,

Reading Borough Council has reassured motorists that plans are in place to manage traffic while main roads around the town are closed for the relay during the evening and morning rush hours.

The route and timings:

Tuesday, July 10

6.14pm A4 London Rd (to junction with London Street)

Convoy splits with vehicles continuing along Crown Street and down Southampton Street;

6.34pm London Street (torchbearers only)

6.35pm Yield Hall Place

6.36pm Riverside path (north), Oracle

6.37pm Cook's Bridge , Oracle

6.38pm Riverside path (south), Oracle

6.39pm Bridge Street

Convoy due to travel at normal speed to The Madejski Stadium.

Wednesday, July 11:

8.04am Leaves Caversham Court Gardens at 8.04am (torchbearers only)

8.05am Church Road (A4074)

8.07am Bridge Street (A4155)

8.08am Promenade Road

8.09am Riverbank footpath (through Christchurch Meadows)

8.17am George Street (with convoy)

8.18am Vastern Road

8.20am Forbury Road

Convoy via Station Road, Friar Street, West Street

8.22am Valpy Street/Blagrave Street (torchbearers only)

8.23am Town Hall Square

8.24am Butter Market

8.25am Broad Street

8.29am St Mary's Butts

8.31am Bridge Street (with convoy)

8.34am Mill Lane

8.36am London Street

8.39am Silver Street

8.43am Whitley Street

8.45am Basingstoke Road

8.46am Christchurch Gardens

8.48am Northumberland Avenue

9.07am Hartland Road

Convoy takes torch along A33

9.17am Castle Hill

9.20am Bath Road

9.27am Bath Road-Berkeley Avenue junction

9.44am Bath Road-Burghfield Road junction

9.47am Bath Road near Aldi

The Torch Relay then continues out of Reading Borough on the A4 until Charrington Road, when it transfers to convoy mode and drives to Theale.

This article appeared in Local Berkshire 09 Jul 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Nabonga
Unregistered User
Jul 10, 09:54
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Wake me up when it's over.

Recommend? Yes 12 No 2
C8H10N4O2
Unregistered User
Jul 17, 15:26
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Lorna McCardle and the mighty LGBT are only mentioned once and in the latter not at all. A printing mishap surely? Smirk.

Recommend? Yes 1 No 0

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