WHEN the Olympic flame comes to town in May it will be a special trip down memory lane for some people in Swindon.

Maureen Clements’ brother Norman Porton had the honour of being a torchbearer back in 1948 when the Olympic Games were last held in London.

Maureen, 78, from Lawn, said: “We were all extremely proud because there weren’t many of them.

“I was 15 at the time and didn’t get to watch, as you couldn’t miss school for anything in those days.

“He told me about it when I got home though and loved every minute of it.”

Norman, a former member of Swindon Athletics Club who won more than 100 prizes, was one of six champion athletes chosen to carry the flame.

Maureen said: “He didn’t brag about it but we knew it was special.

“There wasn’t the same excitement about the Olympics back then because people didn’t have televisions so you couldn’t follow it.

“Of course I’ll be watching this summer and hope to see the flame when it goes to Wharf Green. It’s great that it’s coming to Swindon.”

The early torchbearers were allowed to keep their metal torch, embossed with Olympic rings, which now takes pride of place in the hallway of Norman’s son Alan’s home.

Alan, 62, from Elgin, said: “I wasn’t born when my father ran with the torch from the borders of Hampshire, so I only heard tales about it.

“He was a fit man who held many Wiltshire titles and once won the half mile, mile, three mile and medley relay in just one afternoon.

“He also ran with some big names, including record holders Sydney Wooderson and Roger Bannister, who was the first man to break the four- minute mile.”

Another accomplished athlete who was there on the special day, August 1, as an attendant was William Townsend.

William, known as Arthur, was a former president and stalwart of Swindon Athletics Club. He won the first race promoted by the club in 1921 at the age of 17.

His son Bob, 70, from Wroughton, said: “I knew all the torchbearers because they came round to my father’s house.

“He was an inspiration to so many athletes and gave so much of his life to the club.”

Arthur also went to watch the games at Wembley Stadium in 1948 and Bob still has the programme, which cost a shilling and is annotated with results from the day his father went.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Bob represented the club at county level for middle and long distance events and still runs today.

Everyone is invited to join in the Olympic festivities on May 23 by lining the streets on the route to welcome the torch relay as it arrives.

And all the action will be broadcast on the Big Screen at Wharf Green, which is one of just 22 places across the country chosen to be a live site.

There will also be fun activities, including sports demonstrations, music and street performances organised by Swindon Council and inSwindon BID from 11.15am to 2pm.

For more information email Torchrelayenquiries@ swindon.gov.uk.