Carrying the Torch for the Forest

Published by Anonymous for Two Rivers Housing in Housing and also in Communities

When five villagers from Newnham-on-Severn couldn’t make it to the other side of the Forest to see the Olympic Flame last week, their enthusiasm wasn’t doused. So they made a torch for themselves and their friends.

Bob Stevens, Sheila Wignall, Mary Parker, Janet Haines and David Lambert all live in flats on Penby Lawn – provided by community homes organisation Two Rivers.

They got together with their Community Support Officer Claire Carter to build their own burning brand – but made sure it was 100% safe. No fire was involved! 

“We all wanted to take an active part in the Olympic festivities and fun, but it’s a long way up to Hartpury, so we decided to seize the day for ourselves.

“Our torch is flame free so we can’t set fire to the Forest. And we have all had great fun running up and down Penby Lawn with it,” Bob said.

Claire said the Pemby Lawn team might be on the more mature side of life but they were young at heart.

“Our Penby Lawn team are limbering up for Two Rivers’ Supported Housing games this summer. We have 21 supported housing schemes across the Forest with almost 900 residents, and we want to make sure that they have the chance to celebrate the Olympic spirit.

“We have organised our own games which will involve teams from different schemes competing in a host of alternative sports including computer based virtual bowling, quizzes for the quick of brain, arts, poetry, photography, cake making and darts. It should be great fun,” she said.

Participants will be bussed in from all over the Forest to five centres of Olympic energy, in Sedbury, Lydney, Cinderford, Coleford and Newent.