Olympic Flame to Visit Much Wenlock on its Way to London 2012

The Olympic mascot at Wenlock Olympian Games

It has been announced that the London 2012 Olympic torch will light up the Shropshire communities of Ludlow, Clee Hill and Cleobury Mortimer on 24th May, and on 30th May it will pass through Oswestry, Pant, Llanymynech, Shrewsbury, Cressage en route to the historic part of its journey as it passes through the former ancient Borough of Wenlock - including Benthall, Broseley, Ironbridge and Much Wenlock.

The flame’s historic journey through Wenlock honours the birthplace of William Penny Brookes, founder of the Wenlock Olympian Games and the inspiration for the revival of the international Olympics. It also pays tribute to the many years of hard work given by the volunteer members of the Wenlock Olympian Society past and present who have maintained and preserved Brookes’ ideals.

It was Brookes’s dream to see the ancient Games revived, but open to the world’s athletes. He inspired Baron Coubertin, a young French aristocrat, to set up the International Olympic Committee, but sadly Brookes died just four months before the first Games, held in April, 1896. Brookes was born, lived and died in the little market town of Much Wenlock which was a ward in the Wenlock Borough. He was a doctor, surgeon and magistrate for the Borough for over forty years, and in 1850, began the Wenlock Olympian Society and its Games – which still continue today.

The Society’s Chairman, Chris Cannon said, “this marks Brookes’ place in Olympic history. The old doctor would have been astonished and delighted that, not only the Olympic mascot was named Wenlock, but that the Olympic flame would be passing through the towns of the old Borough”.

Vice President, Jonathan Edwards, triple jump Olympic Gold medallist and World Record Holder is also part of the London 2012 team. “The announcement of the Torch Run’s route has caused nationwide celebrations, no more so than in Much Wenlock. The flame willl arrive on 30th May and, the following week, the Wenlock Olympian Games will open with the Marathon and the Equestrian Events. When the Olympian Games end, the 2012 Olympics will begin.”

For information about the Wenlock Olympian Society please visit www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk

For information about Much Wenlock visit www.muchwenlockguide.info