Liveblog: Olympic torch relay Brighton to Hastings

6:27am Tuesday 17th July 2012 in News By Jo Wadsworth and Sarah Booker Lewis, web editors

This live event has finished

Latest

  • The Olympic torch is due to leave Pavilion Gardens, Brighton for Hastings, at 7.20am today (July 17).
  • Follow the torch throughout the day with The Argus new-style live blog.

7:19pm

See 15 pages of Olympic torch relay coverage in tomorrows Argus with a 12-page picture special.

Bexhill pictures are on the Sussex Olympic torch relay gallery – day two.

Pictures from the first day of the Olympic torch relay in Sussex are in another photo gallery here .

Photographs from the Olympic celebrations at Sussex County Cricket Club in Hove, are in a separate picture gallery.

6:56pm

The last torch bearer today is Keith Leech, he is about to light the cauldron to signify the end of today's leg of the relay.

6:41pm

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6:35pm

Photographer Tony Wood's pictures from Bexhill are coming in now.

See photographs from day two of the Olympic torch relay in Brighton, Crowborough, Lewes, Eastbourne and Bexhill in our picture gallery .

 

Olympic torch spirit in Bexhill

6:34pm

Eddie Izzard spoke with Peter Truman after running with the Olympic Torch in Bexhill.

 

listen to ‘Brighton Argus talk about Eddie Izzard speaks to The Argus ’ on Audioboo

6:22pm

More 

6:17pm

 

Excitement builds in Hastings.

6:07pm

The torch has left Bexhill and is heading to St Leonards.

6:00pm

Hove boys Rizzle Kicks enjoyed carrying the Olympic torch in Eastbourne today. They're playing in Hastings tonight and played Hove last night.

They described the experience as "brilliant" in a statement released this afternoon.

Ben James filmed them on the road in Eastbourne.

5:50pm

Eddie Izzard holds the Olympic flame

Eddie Izzard holds the Olympic flame in front of the De La Warr Pavilion before running through his childhood home town of Bexhill.

5:49pm

Eddie Izzard with the Olympic torch

Eddie Izzard chats with fans before running with the torch.

5:45pm

5:44pm

Sussex Police say Hastings old town is extremely crowded now.

Anyone who doesn't have a ticket for the Olympic torch event at The Stade tonight is advised to head to Pelham Place to watch on the big screen.

5:36pm

5:36pm

Sarah Booker Lewis back on the liveblog now as the torch makes its way through Bexhill.

5:28pm

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5:19pm

Update from Sussex Police: The torchbearers are in Bexhill running in Birk Dale and the enthusiastic crowds are waving and cheering.

5:18pm

bexhill

5:18pm

Update from Sussex Police: The torch is now approaching Bexhill by convoy on its next leg where the crowds are waiting several deep in Channel View Road West.

5:17pm

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5:15pm

From Peter - crowds gather along the Marina in Bexhill:

 

marina

5:13pm

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5:08pm

Peter Truman has taken this picture of people on top of the De Le Warr Pavilion waiting to catch a glimpse of Eddie Izzard run past with the torch people on pavilion

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listen to ‘brightonargus talk about Balcony view in bexhill’ on Audioboo

 

Luke Ridgway from St Leonards will be watching the flame from his balcony in Marina, Bexhill

4:44pm

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4:13pm

4:12pm

More video from Ben James: 

4:04pm

And as Rizzle Kicks prepare to carry the torch, here's some video from Tim Ridgway of them performing yesterday evening: 

 

4:04pm

Some video from Ben James in Eastbourne: 

4:00pm

Update from Sussex Police: Staggering numbers of people have turned out in Eastbourne to see the torch - it is now making its way along Royal Parade.

4:00pm

Love this series of images from Sam Stephenson earlier in Brighton - Natalie King and her red lippy, planting a kiss on Thomas Simpson's cheek, and then him sporting the resulting mark!

 

Thousands of people turned out in the early-morning sunshine in Brighton as the Olympic torch set off for its second day touring Sussex

Thousands of people turned out in the early-morning sunshine in Brighton as the Olympic torch set off for its second day touring Sussex

Thousands of people turned out in the early-morning sunshine in Brighton as the Olympic torch set off for its second day touring Sussex

3:54pm

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(the guy in the yellow check shirt is our own @ssjpg Sam Stephenson - caught sitting down on the job yet again!)

3:45pm

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3:28pm

Our photographer Simon Dack is just back from Lewes, which he says was completely rammed. Looking forward to the pictures . . .

3:27pm

And here's a better picture from Peter Truman of the anti-capitalist protesters at Lewes earlier. anti capitalist

3:26pm

John and Barbara Moon and Sigis and Ann Bienz reserve their spot to watch the torch through Eastbourne (from Ben James).

 

John and barb moon and sigis and Ann bienz reserve their spot

3:23pm

3:18pm

From Ben James in Eastbourne:

 

listen to ‘brightonargus talk about Local schoolgirls get ready for the torch’ on Audioboo

 

 

3:09pm

According to the schedule, it looks like we now have a break until 3.18pm when the torch is due to arrive in Eastbourne. 

3:02pm

2:56pm

By my reckoning, the ninth changeover in Lewes means stuntman Eddie Kidd, who lives in Peacehaven, now has the torch. 

Eddie, who is best known for his motorcycle stunts, was badly injured in a serious bike accident in 1996 and now severely disasbled. He will by carrying the torch in his wheelchair. 

 

 

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2:28pm

listen to ‘brightonargus talk about The volunteer roof’ on Audioboo

 

Chrissie Stanley, landlady of The Volunteer in Lewes.

2:24pm

 

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2:19pm

Zach Narvaez, 17, a student at Brighton and Hove VI Form College in Dyke Road, Brighton, was the person to kick off proceedings.
Zach, who has been awarded an Argus Achievement Award for inspiring his peers, was captured holding the flame in front of the Royal Pavilion before running out of the India Gate and into Old Steine.
Zach said: “It was phenomenal, you can’t put it into words.
“It was just a phenomenal experience to see everyone cheer and shout as you pass by.
“I tried to stop and say hello to some of my friends but I just had to keep going.
“I’m going to be taking the torch into some schools today (WED) to show it around.
“Bhasvic has already broken up for summer by I’ll show it students at Dorothy Stringer and Balfour Primary.”

 

Zach Narvaez

2:18pm

From Tim Ridgway:

 

It was double celebration for Peter Avey, who runs a café on Brighton seafront, as yesterday was also his 75th birthday.
He said: “It was fantastic. I do not know whether it was because I was a lifeguard for many years, but I was not nervous beforehand.
“But as I was running I was completely overwhelmed.
“What was extra nice was that I ran past the indoor bowls club in Preston Road where I’m a member.
“There were lots of faces I recognised in the crowd.
“300 metres is a lot longer than you think. My torch hand was fine, it was my right hand that started to ache from all the waving I was doing.
“The only disappointment was that the torch route did not go down the seafront as that is Brighton to me and many others.”

 

peter avey

2:13pm

2:13pm

2:13pm

Tim Ridgway spoke to some of the Brighton torchbearers this morning. Here's Mark Hill:

 

Mark Hill, 48, an accident investigator with Sussex Police, of Western Road, Hurstpierpoint, said: “I have never been so nervous about running in my life.
“It’s not something you can vocalise. It’s just an amazing experience.
“As I ran my thoughts were with all those in the community who are more than me, those who are part of the Big Society that make things happen – they are the torchbearers.
“I was just the one to be lucky enough to be nominated.
“The torch is going to be a legacy for my two daughters.    The whole experience has been incredible.”

 

Mark Hill

2:07pm

Cora Newark has sent in this picture of torchbearer Toine Hodgkiss with a spectator in East Grinstead this morning:

 

Toine Hodgkiss

2:02pm

Tami Owen and daughter Seren in the crowd at Lewes.

 

listen to ‘brightonargus talk about Lewes torch crowd’ on Audioboo

1:59pm

Update from Sussex Police: The torch is on Beacon Hill Crowborough - next stop Lewes.

 

(The torch arrives in Lewes at 2.14pm at Malling Down)

1:50pm

Alan Cherryman from Ringmer with family in Lewes for #sussextorch

 

listen to ‘brightonargus talk about Lewes #sussextorch’ on Audioboo

1:45pm

1:41pm

Update from Sussex Police: The torch bearers are just handing over and then running again in the Broadway - big, big crowds lots of waving and green balloons.

1:39pm

Ben Stevens carried the torch from 1.27pm in Crowborough:
 

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11:28am

Pictures from the celebrations in Hove up now - including a great shot of final torchbearer Karen West and Olympic champion Sally Gunnell with the lit cauldron on stage. 

10:57am

10:56am

From Brighton:
 

10:53am

We now have hundreds of pictures from yesterday's torch relay in our Day One gallery . The pictures are very roughly in chronological order, with most coming from (in order) Rogate, Midhurst, Chichester, Arundel, Worthing, Bognor, Hove. 

 

Day two pictures are being uploaded as they come in, with Brighton ones already up here . 

I'm now getting started on the Hove celebrations gallery. Meanwhile, the torch is due to be leaving East Grinstead about now and heading for Tunbridge Wells, which we're not covering. We'll pick it back up when it re-enters Sussex at Crowborough. 

10:53am

We now have hundreds of pictures from yesterday's torch relay in our Day One gallery . The pictures are very roughly in chronological order, with most coming from (in order) Rogate, Midhurst, Chichester, Arundel, Worthing, Bognor, Hove. 

 

Day two pictures are being uploaded as they come in, with Brighton ones already up here . 

I'm now getting started on the Hove celebrations gallery. Meanwhile, the torch is due to be leaving East Grinstead about now and heading for Tunbridge Wells, which we're not covering. We'll pick it back up when it re-enters Sussex at Crowborough. 

10:36am

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(@SSjpg is our photographer Sam Stephenson)

9:51am

It's in Copthorne!
 

9:50am

Just to remind anyone who didn't hear yesterday - our celebrity torchbearers today are Brighton hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks, who will be carrying the torch through Eastbourne, and comic actor Eddie Izzard, who will be carrying it along the Marina in Bexhill. 

 

I'm now updating our picture gallery from yesterday - Worthing and Bognor pictures about to go in. 

9:43am

 

9:36am

The torch is due to be leaving Crawley about now, and then there will be a bit of a break until it reaches Copthorne at 10.40. To see the full schedule, click here , and there's also a map which includes details of the torchbearers here . 

9:33am

Good morning, Jo here. I hope you're enjoying today's liveblog - yesterday's was crammed with pictures, videos and more , and got more than 13,000 hits. We're hoping for even more today. 

 

A quick update from Sussex Police : The poor weather has created parking problems in East Grinstead which is the next stop for the torch after Copthorne. Parking spaces are restricted so the local council is asking people to use public transport or walk into the town if possible.

9:27am

There were huge crowds at The Boulevard in Crawley to greet the torch whic is now making its way to Copthorne.

 

Jo Wadsworth is taking over the live blog now.

9:21am

9:20am

 
Zachary Narveaz and Tim Ridgway

9:06am

 
Torch handover near Stonefield Close, Crawley

 

9:05am

9:05am

 
Ben Parsons follows the torch relay in Crawley

8:42am

 

8:41am

Olympic mascot Wenlock drew cheers from the crowd before the relay early this morning.

 

Olympic torch mascot Wenlock

8:35am

Mark Hill takes the second leg of the Olympic torch relay in Brighton. Picture by Matty Welshy.

Mark Hill takes the second leg of the Olympic torch relay in Brighton. Picture by Matty Welshy.

8:30am

The relay is due to arrive at Brighton Road, Crawley at 9.02am.

8:18am

Zachary Narvaez sets off from Pavilion Gardens with the Olympic torch.

In 2006 when torchbearer Zachary Narvaez was aged just 11, his beloved granddad died of cancer at the Martlets Hospice.
Faced with the same situation, most would take a few days off school or work and grieve for a couple of weeks.
But not Zach. He created an unregistered charity and set about raising some £4,000 for cancer research.
Last year he was recognised with the Argus Achievement Award for Star Pupil and today he was the first person to carry the Olympic torch in Brighton.
The now 17-year-old said: “I’m nervous but then also very excited.
“Lots of friends and family will be there cheering me on, so I’m hoping it will be a day to remember.”
He was nominated for the honour by his teachers at Dorothy Stringer School.
They said: “He is a truly outstanding pupil and it has been an absolute pleasure teaching him.”

8:13am

Torchbearers are returning to Pavilion Gardens now as the relay sets off for Crawley.

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7:45am

A handover or kissing of the torches

7:45am

More pictures will be online shortly.

7:45am

The torch is due to leave Brighton at 8.04am

7:42am

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7:41am

 
More video as the torch passes the Victoria statue.
 

7:40am

 
Zachary starts the relay in Pavilion Gardens.
 

7:39am

Traffic much heavier than usual as drivers avoid the A23.

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Now heading up London Road

7:29am

The torch is passing Victoria Gardens with the torch bearer posing for pictures.

7:24am

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All the torchbearers in Brighton, today

7:22am

Zachary had a huge smile on his face as he ran past.

7:21am

At least the sun shines on the hundreds of early birds here in the city centre.

7:17am

7:17am

Zachary is due to set off in a couple of minutes. The crowd are cheering in Castle Square.

7:15am

 

7:14am

Torch escorts have just made their way through a very busy Pavilion Gardens.

7:13am

7:07am

 
John Pierce and his partner Sid Pennent dressed up for the occasion. John was too young to remember the relay in 1948.
 
listen to ‘Brighton Argus talk about John Pearce in Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, for the Olympic torch relay’ on Audioboo

7:05am

 
Zarina Calver from Brighton speaks to The Argus to explain why she is braving an early start for the Olympic torch.
 
listen to ‘Brighton Argus talk about Zarina Calver at the Olympic torch relay in Pavilion Gardens, Brighton’ on Audioboo

6:53am

Despite the early hour a crowd is gathering in Pavilion Gardens, Castle Square and Old Steine. There are signs of life at Preston Circus, too.

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