Olympic torch goes on show at Touchstones Rochdale

Jodie Mcnamara with the Olympic Torch in Heywood

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The Olympic torch carried through the borough by Heywood’s Jodie McNamara has gone on display at Touchstones Rochdale.

Jodie McNamara was one of 8,000 inspirational torchbearers who carried the Olympic Torch through more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages in the UK. Each of the torchbearers was nominated to carry the flame by someone they know, inspiring millions of people watching in their communities, in the UK and worldwide.

Nominated for the way she has changed her life for the better, Jodie, through her teenage years, became involved with the wrong crowd and found herself in trouble with truancy and crime. It is a different story today and Jodie is now making a positive impact on her own life and the lives of other young people working as an Assistant Youth Support Worker at the National Youth Agency and studying for a Level 3 Diploma in Youth Work Practice at college.

Jodie said: “It meant such a lot to me to be accepted as a torchbearer and I was proud to carry it in my own home town in Heywood. I wanted people to have the chance to see the torch close up and I’m delighted that it is now on display for all to see.”

Link4Life’s Julian Jefferson, head of service for Arts and Heritage, said, “We are extremely grateful to Jodie for the opportunity to display the torch here at Touchstones.

"The torch is an iconic emblem of the torchbearers, their moving stories and the incredible success of the Olympics.

"We look forward now to further success in the Paralympic Games.”

Designed by East Londoners Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the torch is made up of an aluminium alloy skin developed for the aerospace and automotive industry. It is perforated by 8,000 circles that represent the number of torchbearers who carried the Olympic Flame. The gold colour is said to embrace the qualities of the flame – the brightness and the warmth of the light that it shines.

The torch can be viewed in the museum at Touchstones Rochdale from 10am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday. Admission is free.