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The Olympic Torch, and Melksham House

Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2011-06-14 04:21:51 - Graham Ellis

The Olympic Torch is being carried by 8000 people ... and without any particular one of them, it wouldn't reach its destination. If you look amongst the 8000, I'm sure you'll find some people who wouldn't get on with all 7999 of the others, but it's a team effort.

Yesterday afternoon, Wiltshire Council announced "The location of a new community campus in Melksham has been confirmed. Wiltshire Council has purchased the Melksham House and Blue Pool site in the town centre, currently owned by Cooper Tires." and that if fantasic news. Somewhat less fantasic is what appears to be a scramble in many quarters to "bag" as much credit as possible for the decision. The truth is that, like the Olympic torch, there have been many people involved and credit is due in many directions, to each and every one of them.

But actually, the Olympic torch is not such a good parallel. Many of the Melksham torch carriers are unsung heroes - their names have not (and will not, I suspect) be published, and thanks won't formally be given individually. Some of their legs have been run in isolation, and they've not known if the torch they've carried has been passed on to someone who will then keep it safe or not. Some have carried it not knowing if it's the real torch or a replica. Few have known if the torch will even reach the stadium they're working for. And a handful have taken personal risks to carry it. Others, regrettably, have tried to trip up the carriers along the way, or have posted signs directing the torchbearers towards a different destination.

I was standing in the stadium of Melksham yesterday afternoon when, on I day I hadn't actually expected it, a runner came in with the torch and lit the flame that will oversee the success of this project in the centre of the town. The runner was followed by a couple of people who were "in the know" at first, and quickly others joined him. Some had previously taken a major role, sung or unsung in getting it there, but others had been, or have appeared to have been, the signposters who were looking for the torch to end up elsewhere. And, watching in the stands (and also at home oblivious to the events that were unfolding) were many move of the unsung carrier heroes. Some names are out there, but others that I know to have been involved remain unsung heroes.

A big "thank you" to everyone who's carried the torch. A big "thank you" to those who may not actually have carried it, but have helped to prepare and plan its route. And a big welcome to those who join in the celebration even though they have taken little part in events so far. A big welcome, too, to those who are now celebrating in the stadium with us, even though at an earlier stage they were actively (and perhaps schemingly) supporting a different destination.

An olympic flame, burning brightly above a stadium but with no activity therein would be a mere token. It's now time for us all to move forward to plan and make the events in the stadium a roaring success. We've only just started.