Original 1948 torch comes to Leamington

Chairman of Warwick District Council, Cllr Michael Kinson, was joined by Leamington-born Olympian Nigel Murray and two former competitors in the Games, Daphne Harrison and Richard Moreton, to see the torch for an exclusive one-hour period at the gallery.

Nigel, who is competing in London 2012’s Paralympic Boccia event, won gold at the team event in Beijing 2008 and in the BC2 class of the Sydney Olympics in 2000, as well as silver at the Athens event in 2004.

Former swimmer Daphne Harrison (nee Wilkinson), who has lived in Kenilworth and Leamington for 60 years and been involved in local politics in the area, competed in the 1972 Helsinki games, while Whitnash resident Richard Moreton was in athletics events in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and was in Team GB’s football squad in Barcelona in 1992.

The torch visited the gallery just before this year’s torch’s visited Leamington on Sunday.

The gallery is also marking London 2012 with its forthcoming exhibition, Going For Gold, which opens on July 14.

Focusing on all levels of sporting participation in Warwick district - the home of the first lawn tennis club in the world - the display will bring together sporting memorabilia belonging to individuals and sports clubs from across the district, alongside items from the Pump Room’s collection.

Highlights include an early 20th century rowing boat, a head guard worn by World Middleweight boxing champion Randolph Turpin and Olympic and Paralympic medals.