Our Torch Bearers
Emma Jones
Adrian Derbyshire
Andrew Harper
Declan Kerry
Steve Deakin- Mbe
Charlotte Bradbury
The Olympic torch relay has been a great way to showcase the array of talented athletes and inspiring people Cheshire and Warrington has to offer. Many of those individuals chosen to carry the torch are inspiring individuals who have overcome challenges but strive to be the best. We are all very proud of the individuals who were lucky enough to get their hands on the torch and be part of the country-wide relay.
Here are a selection of our Torch bearers:
Adrian Derbyshire- 37
Carrying the flame through: Chester
Hometown: Cheshire:
About Adrian: Adrian is a team GB wheelchair fencer and national champion. Adrian is currently recovering from surgery but is committed to sharing his story and taking his coaching badges to pass on his knowledge.
Ailsa Macarthur- 14
Carrying the Flame through: Congleton
Hometown: Congleton
About Ailsa: Ailsa competes with Macclesfield Harriers and holds the 100m and 200m school records. She is the first girl ever from her school to get into the Cheshire Netball Squad.
Alex Staniforth- 16
Carrying the Flame through: Chester
Hometown: Tarporley
About Alex: Alex did the 3 Peaks Challenge at 16 and broke the record for the youngest person to do it solo. Alex has raised large sums of money for charity and continues on his mission to climb Mont Blanc next year.
Andrew Harper-20
Carrying the flame through: Horwich
Hometown: Warrington
About Andrew: Andrew was born with left hemi cerebral palsy. With determination he is now a member of the development squad for GB for the paralympics in table tennis. He attends the Warrington table tennis club every week and is a determined team player. He has learnt to overcome his disability to play the guitar and snooker
Andrew Jackson- 18
Carrying the flame through: Knutsford
Hometown: Northwich
About Andrew: Andy is a regular volunteer at 2 sports clubs, focussing on supporting and developing new participants in Cricket and Golf. Having achieved his Step into Sport Gold Award for 200hrs Community Volunteering he is pushing hard to receive the same for school based leadership. Andy and a fellow PYA developed the idea for Inspire Project 'Active Arcade', working with PE teachers and partnership staff.
Caitlin Kennedy- 19
Carrying the flame through: Chester
Hometown: Ellesmere Port
About Caitlin: Caitlin has organised and ran a vast array of extra-curricular opportunities, including a Mini Olympics Event that over 400 pupils attended. Caitlin displays the personal excellence, courage and determination that is at the heart of the Olympics Games, competing at 2 Junior Windsurfing World Championships.
Charlotte Bradbury- 17
Carrying the flame through: Crewe
Hometown: Willaston, Nant wich
About Charlotte: Lloyds TSB have selected Olympic hopeful, 16 year old Charlotte Bradbury from Cheshire, as an Olympic Torchbearer. Charlotte, who is the British record holder (age 15) in 200m breaststroke, was selected because of her commitment and dedication to her sport of swimming and inspiring young people in her local community to take up more sport as part of National School Sport Week.
Declan Kerry- 21
Carrying the flame through: Haverfordwest
Hometown: Chester
About Declan: Declan was thrilled to be chosen to compete at Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens as part of the Unified Football® Team - which breaks the social barriers between people with learning disabilities and those without by bringing them together on the same team. . The team came home with a hard won Silver medal. Declan is an active volunteer and takes part in many sports.
Emma Jones- 20
Carrying the flame through: Chester
Hometown: Chester
About Emma: Emma was selected by England Netball to be the Great Britain Volunteer of the Year. Her enthusiasm and smile are infectious. Emma is working towards her Level 3 Coaching Award. She delivers Youth Umpire Courses and is a qualified selector for the Cheshire Junior Netball squads.
Huw Barrett- 17
Carrying the flame through: Chester
Hometown: Chester
About Huw: Huw is an Olympic hopeful and has been selected as a torch bearer by Lloyds TSB. Huw, who has made 10 international appearances for England, was selected because of his commitment and dedication to his sport of hockey and inspiring his peers through coaching carried out in his local community.
Jenny Moore- 16
Carrying the flame through: Chester
Hometown: Chester
About Jenny: Lloyds TSB have selected Olympic hopeful, 16 year old Jennifer Moore from Cheshire, as an Olympic Torchbearer. Jennifer, who won the girls doubles U17 Gold Bath in 2011, was selected because of her commitment and dedication to her sport of badminton and inspiring her peers through coaching in her local community.
Joe Beswick- 81
Carrying the flame through: Macclesfield
Hometown: Cheshire
About Joe: Joe, despite being 80 years of age has given so much to his local running club in so many ways. Joe still takes the Monday night track sessions giving equal support to the slowest as well as the fastest runners and is at every race cheering and smiling, not to mention running when he can too. A few years ago he won a local fell race for his v75 age category. After the Monday session Joe will practice his javelin and he even competed at Leigh Sports Village v80 at the weekend throwing over 20 metres!
Linda Roche- 49
Carrying the flame through: Macclesfield
Hometown: Macclesfield
About Linda: Linda is an ex-paralympian who participated in the 1984 Stoke Mandeville Paralympics. She held the Wheelchair 2 British Records for the 100m 200m and 400m but never received a medal!! During the 1990s Linda was the first female wheelchair user to represent England at Badminton. Linda started her Volunteer career at the Disability Information Bureau where she helped out for two years She has been a volunteer for the Wheelies Club in Macclesfield for 6 years where she spends time motivating and inspiring disabled young people and helping them to realise their full potential and to raise their self belief.
Lucy Doherty- 16
Carrying the flame through: Chester
Hometown: Chester
About Lucy: Lucy has a passion for swimming. She competes at national level, representing her country. Lucy trains daily and is dedicated to swimming with a target of the Olympics in 2016 in Rio. Lucy is hoping to compete in the 2014 commonwealth games in Glasgow.
Steve Deakin (Mbe)- 51
Carrying the flame through: Warrington
Hometown: Warrington
About Steve: Steve is currently back on the transplant waiting list for a kidney following the failure of his transplant he had 25 years ago. He also has had both of his legs amputated below the knee. None of this stops him from working full time managing the transplant team and participating in sporting events swimming, squash, badminton & volleyball. Steve has represented the UK in 2 world transplant games and he did the swim leg of the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. He has also swam the English Channel.
With London 2012 just around the corner, its important we embrace this exciting time and use it to inspire more people to participate or try a new sport. If you want to find out more about a sport or how to get involved, visit our play section
Click here, to see more information on our torch bearers plus many more torch bearers.
