Llangollen Scout Leader Chosen To Carry Olympic Torch

A Llangollen Scout leader has been chosen to carry the Olympic flame as it makes its way around the UK.

Joanne Gregory from Llangollen Scouts will carry the torch in Trevor on the morning of the 30th May and is one of just 50 scouts from across the UK chosen to be a torchbearer.

She was selected from nominees put forward by the general public with candidates required to have made outstanding contributions to their communities and have inspirational personal stories to tell.

Local Scout leaders have said that Joanne has all this in spades due to her involvement in the Beaver Scouts and Explorer Scouts in Llangollen as well as taking 36 young people to the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden last year.

Joanne spoke of her surprise upon hearing the news, she said: “I was shocked when I found out as I don’t think I do more than many people, but it’s a great honour.”

“I don’t know many details yet, but I do know that the route is split into 300 yard sections and each section will be carried by someone different so its not a huge distance. I get to keep the torch though!”

Scouts across the UK are taking part in lots of activities to mark 2012 taking in both the Jubilee and the Olympics.

Speaking of the importance that the Olympics will make to Scouts, Joanne said, “The beaver scouts are gaining an insight into a variety of sports, and we are focussing on more international work – what life and Scouting are like in competing countries and looking at the principles underpinning the Olympics.”