Olympic Torch relay to shine on borough

Buy photos » The Olympic Torch arrives this weekend. (s)

THOUSANDS are set to line the streets when the Olympic Torch arrives on Monday (July 2).

The torch will make its way through the borough on day 45 of its journey across the UK.

There will be a carnival atmosphere outside the town hall, with West Indian drummers, street dancers and the Rugby FM roadshow there to provide the entertainment during the morning.

A large floral display of the Olympic rings will go up beside the William Webb Ellis statue outside Rugby School after the borough council was granted special permission by organisers LOCOG to go ahead with the feature.

And an open top coach carrying musicians playing live music will drive ahead of the torchbearers to keep the crowds entertained.

The torch is set to arrive from Coventry near the Cemex plant on Lawford Road just after 8am. It will then embark on its Rugby leg at 8.20am, heading along Corporation Street before passing the town hall and the clock tower.

It will then be carried along Church Street, Whitehall Road, Hillmorton Road and Horton Crescent before pausing for a private re-enactment of the birth of the game of rugby union inside the grounds of Rugby School.

At around 9.25am it will leave Rugby School, passing the Webb Ellis statue, and will be carried along Dunchurch Road as far as Harris School where it will rejoin its convoy.

It will then be taken by vehicle to the outskirts of Dunchurch where torchbearers will then carry the flame through the village centre.

The flame will then rejoin its convoy near Adkinson Avenue and leave the borough along Coventry Road.

Borough culture spokeswoman Coun Heather Timms said: "Rugby plays an important part in the Olympic story and it’s fitting the torch will come here.

"Pierre de Coubertin wrote of the inspiration given to him by the legendary (Rugby School) headmaster Thomas

Arnold, and his love for Rugby football led to its inclusion in the modern Olympics until after his death in 1937.

"Dunchurch is also significant in the history of our country, being the rendezvous point for the failed gunpowder plotters, and will provide a picturesque location to see the torch pass by.

"The torch relay will inevitably cause some disruption, but we hope everyone will come out and line the streets.

"This is Rugby’s opportunity to shine. As an opening to this year’s Rugby Festival of Culture, it really couldn’t

be better."

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