Olympic Torch visits Fairlop!

Last week, our KS2 students had an unexpected treat!   Eric Stuart, a parent of two children who used to attend Fairlop, is responsible as a Met Police Officer for getting the original Olympic flame from Athens to London. 

He gave a wonderful talk to our students about many aspects of the Olympics - including the history of the torch.  Some interesting facts we learned were:

• The Olympic flame will go to within an hour's travel of 95 per cent of the population.
• Six islands will be visited: the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Shetland, Orkney and the Isle of Lewis.
• 8,000 Torchbearers will carry the flame and can keep their torches!
• The total distance the flame will travel (including to the islands) is estimated to be 8,000 miles.
• The relay will start at Land's End in Cornwall on May 19, 2012.
• It will take 70 days to complete.
• The Olympic flame will travel for 12 hours each day, and on most days ending in an evening celebration event.
• The arrival of the Olympic Flame at the opening ceremony in London on July 27 2012 will signify the start of the Games.

Near the end of the presentation, two teachers carried in Mr Stuart's Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic torch (he was a torch bearer there) and a gold 2012 torch for this year's games.  All of our classes had our photographs taken with the torches!


It was really exciting to learn more about this event that is taking place only a few miles away from our school, and to take a sneak preview of the torch.  Mrs Frost has placed all the photos on our Fronter pages, but here a few below: