Rochdale’s Nicola Smith carries Olympic Torch in Lancaster

Asda employee Nicola Smith (pictured with Fireman Sam) will carry the Olympic Torch in Lancaster

Asda Rochdale employee, Nicola Smith, will be visiting Lancaster for the first time today (22 June). During her first taste of this town, she will not be shopping and sightseeing, but will be completing the prestigious task of carrying the Olympic Torch.

Ms Smith will be running along South Road at 1:50pm. Luckily, this is situated by a hospital, giving her friends and family who are not familiar with the area an easy landmark to be able to spot her. Ms Smith will have her family, friends and colleagues supporting her on the day, including her two children, Harvey, 7 and Scarlett, 4.

Although Ms Smith is running at 1:50pm, she has to meet in Lancaster at 11:30am, in order to be briefed such details as the speed she should run. A convoy will then drop her off at her point, where she will wait to run with her torch.

Ms Smith both works and lives in Rochdale, she said: “It’s a shame that I have been chosen to run in Lancaster and not Rochdale as I have worked with various charity groups with disadvantaged children within Rochdale. They would like to come and watch me, but as Lancaster is quite far away they can’t.

“I think the way they choose you is a bit like a lottery, but based on the county which you live in. You are very lucky if you get your own home town.”

Ms Smith works as an events manager at Asda. Her manager, Tony Rutherford, nominated her to be an Olympic Torch Bearer because she is excellent at her role as a community champion, for Asda. She also works within the community within her own time, as well as work time, meaning she spends much of her life helping others within the community.

Ms Smith previously worked at Rochdale Connections Trust on Drake Street, which is a charity that helps disadvantaged children. These children have problems socialising, or fitting in with society. Ms Smith spoke of her role here: “I would act as a mentor, providing a positive role model for the children and acting as a support network for them.”

The day before she carries the Olympic Flame, panic has finally sunk in for Ms Smith. She told Rochdale Online: “I am really worried at the moment as I cannot find my passport.” Passports are a requirement for the event, so she is searching the house in order to find it in time. Ms Smith attended the Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace, in which a passport was needed upon entry. “I definitely brought it back from there- so it is in my house, somewhere!”

Ms Smith also has fears about her outfit: “I’m worried that my outfit will go see through! The uniforms are white and quite see through anyway and as I’m not allowed an umbrella if it rains and gets wet, people may be able to see through it!”

Ms Smith will be watching her colleague and fellow Torch Bearer, Roman Ahmed, run in Accrington on 23 June. She hopes to get back in time to watch the torch pass through her home town of Rochdale.

Nervousness aside, Ms Smith is “ecstatic” about her forthcoming role as an Olympic Torch Bearer.