Flame is the spur as Torch draws thousands

Crowds of thousands clustered along the streets for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to glimpse the Olympic flame as it journeyed through the county.

The Torch began its tour of Yorkshire in Hinderwell, making its way along the East Coast to Hull where it spent the 31st night of its 70-day journey across Britain and Ireland.

Its first major stop was in Whitby, after passing through Lythe and Sandsend, and the seaside town was showcased in all its splendour as the sun shone down.

All eyes were on PE teacher Kelly Williams, 25, as she ran the flame into the centre of Whitby, in the shadow of the abbey.

She was watched by thousands of residents and visitors as well as a gang from Whitby International Pirates’ Society as she carried out the honour.

Arriving at Whitby station to cheers and applause, Miss Williams, from Scarborough, ran straight on to the platform to a waiting steam engine, the Green Knight.

After pausing for pictures on the footplate, she boarded the train along with 220 local schoolchildren for the next 20 miles of the relay across the North York Moors.

Also on board was Rooney Massara, who represented Great Britain in rowing in the 1972 Munich Olympics.

The 69-year-old, who lives in Pickering, said it was a proud day.

“My father took me when I was five years old to the 1948 Olympics at Wembley and have I vague distant memories of the Olympic Stadium,” Mr Massara added.

“That must have given me an interest in the Olympics from then on. For it to come to Whitby and Pickering like this seems to make a full circle for me. I think it’s wonderful.”

The train headed out of Whitby to more cheers before its first stop at Grosmont, the headquarters of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where the famous locomotive Sir Nigel Gresley coupled up to take it to Pickering.

The Mayor of Pickering, William Oxley, said: “For Pickering it’s just a chance to be part of history.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the people to be part of the biggest international sporting event in the world.

“The town is really up for it.”

From Pickering, the flame was carried to Scarborough where it stopped at the town’s open- air theatre, before continuing through Filey and Bridlington and then heading inland to Beverley.

The historic town’s streets were packed with the crowds estimated to have reached five figures as people clamoured around roadsides to get a glimpse of the Torch as it passed.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The Olympic Torch Relay has given the East Riding a global platform on which to shine and I would like to congratulate those inspirational people who were selected to be Torchbearers and thank residents and visitors, in both Bridlington and Beverley, for showing such passion and support for them.

“This historical moment will be long remembered by everyone in the East Riding and I’m sure people will look back on the summer of 2012 with fond memories.”

From Beverley, it made its last journey of the day to Hull, where an open-air party celebrated the Torch’s arrival at West Park.

Thousands of people were entertained by Britain’s Got Talent dance act Twist and Pulse and live music from indie-rock band Little Comets, while performers from around Hull also took to the stage for their part in the historic commemorations.

Earlier in the day there was some heartfelt drama as the boyfriend of Torch carrier Christine Langham proposed out of the blue as she carried the flame.

David State got down on one knee in the North Yorkshire town of Loftus in front of crowds of people .

“I didn’t have a clue,” said Ms Langham, 27. “It was shocking, surprising. I wondered what he was doing. “It was just a complete shock. There were just so many people there. And he had the rest of that hill to run up, too.”

Miss Langham is due to give birth to the couple’s first child in three weeks.

“He was taking a chance I didn’t give birth there and then, really,” she added.

Mr State said: “I ran 300m with the Olympic flame, got down on one knee and proposed to my lovely girlfriend and then, about two seconds after, ran another 300m with the Olympic flame.

“So I left her in a spate of tears.”

The couple both live in Redcar and have been together for just under two years.