flaming great!

Thousands of people braved the weather to see a piece of history yards from their own front doors in East Markham, Tuxford, Kirton and Boughton before the eternal flame made its way to Edwinstowe and beyond as the countdown to the Games hots up.

A lucky handful of deserving individuals from Retford and nearby communities were chosen to be torchbearers.

Alison Noble, 44, from Retford picked up the flame in East Markham before Lincolnshire’s Ben Gibbon, 25, kicked off the Tuxford leg on Thursday morning.

Retford teen Jade Phillips took part in the Tuxford relay.

She was a promising gymnast until she was struck down by a life threatening liver disease aged just 12.

Jade had hopes of competing in the 2012 Olympics but her disease and medical problems ended that dream, but she has stood tall throughout and always has a smile on her face.

She has raised awareness in her local community of liver diseases in childhood and raised lots of money for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. She also organises every Christmas to donate goodies to her local hospital as she knows what it is like to be there at Christmas.

“It was an amazing day and one that I will remember forever,” said the 18-year-old.

“My family and friends were there cheering me on which helped to calm my nerves. It was great to be involved. It’s something I will never forget.”

The flame was then passed on to PC Jason Hazard, 25, from Retford, who was nominated for his ‘unyielding commitment to the community’.

He received a commendation for saving a man’s life before he had even passed his probationary period.

l Turn inside for more pictures of our deserving individuals in Bassetlaw.