Lichfield's Countdown to the Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympic Torch Relay is on its way to Lichfield City and District, and excitement is mounting in the lead up to 30th June. 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 fantastic 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.

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.

For more information about all of these events, a map of the route, and more, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/2012

Olympic Torch Relay through the district – times could be subject to change

8.30am The Olympic Flame will start its journey in the district at the National Memorial Arboretum. It will then be transported in convoy to Streethay.

9.14am Torchbearers will begin their leg of the Olympic Torch Relay down the A5127 through Streethay.

9.20am The Flame will enter Lichfield via Trent Valley Road. It will be carried through the streets of Lichfield City, passing landmarks along the way, including Market Square, Lichfield Cathedral and Beacon Park. The Flame will then be carried along Upper St John Street and will exit the city where Tamworth Road meets Cricket Lane, from where it will be driven to Hopwas.

10.08am Torchbearers will pick up the Flame and run through the village of Hopwas on towards Tamworth.