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CARRYING THE TORCH
Ickenham resident Julia Hague has been selected as one of the torchbearers to carry the Olympic Flame  on its journey around the United Kingdom and to the Olympic Stadium.
Tens of thousands of nominations for the honour were submitted, from which 8,000 were selected, including Julia who will be running in the Hillingdon leg of the route on Tuesday 24th July. Julia, who works in a school as PA to the head teacher, regards herself primarily as a writer, having self-published her own book, “You is for Unique” back in 2009.
The book consists of a series of monologues based on conversations she has had with ladies of all ages. “It’s designed”, says Julia, “to help women see themselves in a positive light – each is, in fact, ‘unique’. Few of us can relate to the image of the ideal woman as portrayed in the media – ‘size zero and stick-thin’. But the book sets out to encourage women to feel good about themselves just the way they are.” The website for Julia’s book (which costs £9.99) is www.youisforunique.com. All proceeds from sales have been pledged to the charity ‘Sanctuary for Kids’, which is run by a friend of hers.
Without her prior knowledge, two of Julia’s readers nominated her for the torchbearer’s place. She was thrilled to be recognised in this way. In the letter inviting Julia to take part, the Olympic Committee praised her strong beliefs which she uses to encourage others to make their lives more fulfilled.
“I was really touched to be nominated”, she said, “and especially pleased to be involved in the Hillingdon leg where I hope to get some local support.” She’s bound to get that from a strong band of friends in Ickenham where she has lived since 1984. Her husband and 24 year-old daughter are also fans and help her with the training routines, which mainly consist of gentle jogging!
The torch Julia will carry is 800 mm (31 inches) tall, made up from inner and outer aluminium alloy skins. It features 8,000 small cut-out circles representing all the people who will transport the flame on its complex route around the UK, which begins at Land’s End on 19th May. Inside the torch is a burner system which will keep the Olympic flame alive. Each carrier will have their own torch; only the flame will be transferred from one to another. The youngest torchbearer is Dominic MacGowan, aged 11 and the oldest, Diana Gould, will be 100 when she takes part in the ceremony.
The Hillingdon leg of the journey won’t quite reach Ickenham, but it will pass through Hayes and Uxbridge, along Park Road and Gatting Way, finishing in the Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex on the afternoon of Tuesday 24th July. If you’re not busy at Holiday Club that day, why not go along to add your support?
AFN
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