The Olympic Torch Relay is on its way to Lichfield City and District, and Lichfield District Council is reminding everyone to be a part of this historic day by lining the streets to cheer on Torchbearers as they carry the Flame through local streets.
To celebrate the Olympic Flame visiting the National Memorial Arboretum, and then passing through Streethay, Lichfield City and onto Hopwas, a programme of events has been organised by the council, groups and organisations across the district.
The day’s festivities will start at 8.30am with a parade vintage cars driving along the route Torchbearers will follow through the city, ending in a display at the Tempest Ford garage on St John’s Street.
The Flame is expected to arrive at Streethay at around 9.15am. It will be carried through Streethay and then travel up Trent Valley Road and Church Street, then down Greenhill and Tamworth Street, on past Market Square, up Dam Street, around Cathedral Close, and then down Beacon Street, Bird Street, and Upper St John Street. The Flame will exit the city where Tamworth Road meets Cricket Lane, from where it will be driven to Hopwas.
Councillor Val Richards, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Services, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for people to see the Flame travelling through the district. It will be especially important to encourage the inspirational Torchbearers by cheering them on their way.
“We’re expecting thousands of people to flock to the city to be a part of this historic day, so we’re advising visitors to come early to make sure they can park their cars in time, as many main roads will be closed to allow for the Torch to pass safely.
“We’re also recommending using the Burntwood Park and Ride – a free service that is being provided thanks to Burntwood Town Council. It will offer a handy free car park and coach service from Burntwood to Lichfield on 30 June.”
After the Torch has passed, a full programme of events will kick off.
On top of the Cars in the Park festival that is taking place at Beacon Park over the weekend, the city centre park will play host to lots more events on 30 June.
Events will start at 10.30am with a parade through the park of Olympic inspired flags made by children from across the district. This will end in Museum Gardens where the flags will be displayed all day.
There will be sports day events at Beacon Park for younger children, as well as a T-Rex inflatable and the chance to see older children compete in Community Games. In Museum Gardens, workshops will be held between 10.30am and 5pm to create origami flowers out of paper, which will be floated on Minster Pool in the evening as part of a candlelit display.
The Florette Lichfield Dash has been moved forward so that it can happen on this exciting day. Taking place at The Close from 10am to 12noon, the series of races will culminate in the Lichfield Dash at 12noon to see who can run round Cathedral Close in the fastest time. Olympic medallist, Roger Black MBE, will be making a guest appearance too.
At Minster Pool, there will be the chance to take part in free circus skills workshops and watch displays of juggling, diabolo, plate spinning and more. At 12noon, Olympic athlete, Ashia Hansen, will take to the Speakers’ Corner plinth and speak at the final People’s Saturday of the series.
A National Town Crier Competition will take place in the city on 30 June. As well as belting out cries across the city, there will be cries at 12.15pm and 3pm at Speakers’ Corner on Dam Street.
There will be sporty arts and crafts, silly games, nail art a barbeque and much more at Minster Hall Youth Centre, from 10am to 4pm.
Over at Stowe Pool, spectators can watch children take part in a sailing regatta and anyone over 6 years of age can have a go for free on a climbing wall on Stowe Fields.
Actor and comedian, Don Maclean MBE, will host a day of music, comedy and drama on a stage set up in Market Square.
There will also be celebrations across the district, including the Armed Forces Day at the National Memorial Arboretum, a fun day at Streethay and a community day in Hopwas.
The programme of events has been organised by Lichfield District Council in partnership with agencies and groups across the district, including: Lichfield City Council, Staffordshire County Council, Burntwood Town Council, Lichfield Garrick, Lichfield Arts, Lichfield Juggling Club, Lichfield Cathedral, South Staffordshire College Lichfield, Rotary Club of Lichfield St. Chad, Lichfield Speakers’ Corner Trust, and the Lichfield branch of the Online Austin Seven Club, Lichfield Chamber of Trade & Commerce, the National Memorial Arboretum, Fradley & Streethay Parish Council, and Wiggington & Hopwas Parish Council. Event sponsors include M6 Toll, Florette, KP Events, Bromford Housing and Midlands Co-op.
“Many thanks to everyone involved in making 30 June 2012 a day to remember. We hope everyone will enjoy seeing the Flame and the celebrations that will be taking place across the district,” added Cllr Richards.
You can see all these events on our new What’s On section.