Warwick student carries Olympic torch

Richard Salter is just finishing his first year of studying for BSc in Computing & Business Studies at Warwick, based in the Computer Science department and Warwick Business School. Today, however, he took some time off from studying to carry the Olympic torch through Yeovil, just across the border of his home county of Devon. His run took place this morning, at 7.50am.

He was nominated because before coming to Warwick he had spent six years working in the Army Cadets, progressing to become Company Sergeant Major in charge of 300 people. He and his team worked on outreach projects in the East Devon area, for example running military-based activities for school-children struggling with issues of truancy and falling behind in their class.

He continues, "When I first got the email about carrying the torch, I didn't really believe it, but eventually I realised it was going to happen, and I just got more excited as the date got nearer."

He will return to Warwick later this week, and on Friday 25 May will be found on the Warwick Piazza at 12 noon, with his Olympic torch. He is fund-raising for St John's Ambulance, as he is a member of Warwick's student society for this charity.

He explained, "I was nominated for torch-carrying through Coca-Cola, one of the Olympic sponsors, and they paid for the torch so I could keep it. I thought I'd put it to good use, so anyone turning up at the Piazza this Friday will have a chance to touch the torch and have their photos taken with it - in return for a donation to St John's Ambulance of course!"

The image above shows Richard passing on the flame to Olympian Amy Williams.

Thanks to London 2012 for the thumbnail image of the Olympic torch used on the WBS home page.