Hethersett has its own Olympic torch

A Norfolk village, which over the past three years has been holding its own celebrations in support of the London 2012 Olympic Games and which was honoured with an Olympic Inspiration Award in 2010, has been working with Hethersett High School and Science College to produce its own torch.

'Earlier this year, Hethersett Parish Council commissioned the school to design and manufacture a torch to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic flame in the village on July 5,' said parish councillor and chair of Hethersett Olympic Committee Shane Hull.

'The STEM (Science) After School Club under the stewardship of teachers Mike Newell and Mick Nunn started the project by challenging the pupils to create an original design which could not incorporate the Olympic Rings or associated symbols.

There were many brilliant designs, all previously displayed in the village library, which were whittled down to three and eventually the winning design was created by Lauren Boswell-Riches,' Mr Hull added.

The high school then made a prototype of the torch from scale drawings and set about manufacture. They had help from the village blacksmith, Reggie Loveday, who sourced and manufactured the stem from stainless steel. The handle was turned at school and made from oak.

For health and safety reasons, it was decided that the torch would not be able to have a real flame, instead an innovative internal system gives the impression that the torch is lit by means of clever use of acrylics.

The Hethersett Torch will also feature at the village's Open Weekend from June 22 to 24 and take pride of place in a special opening ceremony at the Royal Norfolk Show on June 27 and 28.

After the excitement of Olympic Flame visit to Hethersett, the Hethersett Torch will go on display in the village library.