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2 swindonlink.com • July 2012
Olympic torch bearer returns to Westlea primary with his poster
Ben Fox, who hopes to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games, visited his former teachers and
current pupils at Westlea Primary at the end of May to tell his story and show off the Olympic
torch he carried down Royal Wootton Bassett High Street on 23 May.
Ben, from Westlea, who was born with several organ defects and only one leg as a result of the
rare Vater syndrome, was nominated to carry the torch as part of the Coca-Cola Future Flame relay
by his father Andy, and was pictured on a series of huge sponsored billboards around Britain which
featured celebrities such as Dizzie Rascal, The Wanted and Eliza Doolittle.
The poster was held up in a whole school assembly whilst Ben talked about making his way
past the huge crowds cheering him on, carrying the torch in one hand, using a crutch in the other
propelling him through the air. At a couple of points he appeared to stumble and was close to
dropping the torch, but he told the children that he had to keep stopping to pull up his tracksuit Above left, Ben with Westlea children and his picture
bottoms as they were falling down. on the Coca Cola banner. Above, an image which
His message to the children was: “I was in your situation in 2005 but I’ve learnt that if you really went worldwide, Ben ‘flying’ down Royal Wootton
want to do something, don’t let anything stop you.” Bassett High Street. Photo: Ben Birchall, LOCOG/
Continued opposite Press Association Images
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1-18 July 12.indd 2 13/06/2012 17:08