Olympic Torch returns to campus

The Olympic Torch was on campus last Friday as part of a fund-raising event for St. John’s Ambulance.

Visitors from on and off campus had their photographs taken with the Torch on the Piazza in exchange for a discretionary donation.

Just over £452.39 was raised.

The event, which lasted from 12pm to 5pm, was made possible by Richard Salter, a first-year Computer and Business student, who was chosen as one of the 8,000 Olympic Torchbearers who are carrying the Torch on its 70 day journey around the UK.

On 22 May, he carried the Torch through Yeoville, Somerset.

“I got to keep the Torch, so I thought I might as well get some use out of it and go and show it off,” said Salter. “I thought I could make some money out of it for St. John’s Ambulance by bringing it down on the Piazza and letting everybody have a picture with it.”

Richard was nominated for his exceptional achievements with the Army Cadets. He was a Company Sergeant Major and has taken part in outreach projects to help disadvantaged children.

“We took kids who were about to be kicked out of school on week-away trips and did military activities with them to try and improve their behaviour and their futures,” he said.

He has also participated in charity work for the British Institute of Brain Injured Children (BIBIC).

When asked why he did not sell the Torch on eBay, as some Olympic Torchbearers have controversially done, Richard replied: “It was tempting. They told me I could get £6,000 for it. But it’s worth more to me than that.”

Warwick LINKS, a society which provides a link between Warwick University and St. John’s Ambulance, organised the event.

Chair of Warwick LINKS, Lucienne Otten, said that the Olympics is a great way to raise money for charity: “I think this aspect where they can help charities to fund-raise is really good. We’ve done some fund-raising before at Canon Park.”

The event was not as popular as the last time the Olympic Torch came to campus, sponsored by Coca-Cola, on 19 October 2011, when the queue stretched around the entire Piazza.

Matt Truscott, a third-year Systems Engineering student, said: “I personally didn’t find out about this until I got a text from my flatmate, but doing it on the Piazza when it’s a sunny day and everyone’s here is publicity in itself really.”

The organisers remained optimistic.

“There’s been so much interest with the torch,” said Richard. “I’ve been stopped in the streets by people wanting their picture taken with it.”

Gemma Johnson, a Chemistry finalist who has tickets to the Men’s Olympic Finals and came to see the Torch, said: “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Olympics are in London. I want to make the most of it.”

St. John’s Ambulance had one of their front-line vehicles on display for visitors. John Snowdon, who was in charge of the vehicle, said: “At the end of the day, the Olympics are quite an important aspect for the country and St. John’s Ambulance has an important role to play in that.”

He noted that the volunteering side of St. John’s Ambulance depends exclusively on fund-raising.

Students’ Union Sports Officer Chris Sury praised the hard work of those involved.

“This is solely down to the great work of Warwick LINKS and St. John’s Ambulance service,” he said. “We’ve been really lucky at Warwick to keep getting this Olympic accreditation. I think it’s really exciting and a great opportunity for everyone to start feeling the Olympic vibes. Warwick should be quite proud that they’ve got their own Olympic Torch bearer, Richard Salter, who was running with it the other day.”

A spokesperson for the University commented: “It is nice to see the Torch return to the campus. It’s not the first time it has been here as the many students who attended the Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Tour will know. Indeed, that event in October wasn’t exactly the first visit either, but we hope to reveal more on that fact in a few weeks.”

Jordan Charles went down to the piazza on behalf of WTV to get a taste of the Olympic spirit, the video is below.