Huge crowds witness Olympic Torch relay in St Helens

10:50am Friday 1st June 2012 in News

Pride of St Helens: Natalie Corrigan carries the Olympic Torch on Prescot Road. Pride of St Helens: Natalie Corrigan carries the Olympic Torch on Prescot Road.

ST HELENS united for a moment of history as the Olympic Torch was carried through town in front of thousands of spectators.

Early estimates from St Helens Council suggest as many as 25,000 people turned out in the sunshine on Friday afternoon, though that initial figure was increased to nearer 40,000 later on.

They cheered, waved Union Jacks and held their own little street parties amid uplifting scenes.

From pensioners to toddlers, the crowds created a wonderful community atmosphere as they encouraged each torchbearer on their leg of the relay.

Row upon row of schoolchildren – up to 6,000 are believed to have attended - stood alongside workers and well wishers who were desperate to catch a glimpse of the once in a lifetime event.

Starting on Rainford Road, the first to carry the torch was disabled Kelly Whalley, 34, from Haresfinch, who was pushed in her wheelchair.

It passed from one proud hand to the other, until it was handed to cheerleading coach Natalie Corrigan, 23, from Thatto Heath.

Crowds were at their deepest at the Asda roundabout on Westfield Street but areas on Dentons Green Lane and Greenfield Road were also packed.

The St Helens Star's Stephen Mather, who from his seat on the London 2012 Media Truck had a first hand view of the entire relay route, said: “It was an awesome experience to witness such an atmosphere. “The crowds really exceeded expectations. St Helens did itself proud.”

More to follow

Olympic Torch in St Helens

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Many other St Helens community champions are carrying the torch in towns across the north west too. Share your stories and pictures by emailing news@sthelensstar.co.uk

Comments(14)

frankly says...
3:49pm Fri 1 Jun 12

thousands out and a good atmosphere...for our moaning car drivers, all went well from what i saw, the police keeping a lane open, for smith and western and his other buddies

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butscratcher says...
10:50pm Fri 1 Jun 12

Just watched the local NWT news after the main 10 oclock news and NOT one mention of the torch passing through st helens , !! all about liverpool !!! glad to see all that effort by the council , schools etc didnt go a miss ( not ) we will have a full day of it( nationwide ) when it reaches any where near london

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mumnan says...
12:00pm Sat 2 Jun 12

butscratcher wrote:
Just watched the local NWT news after the main 10 oclock news and NOT one mention of the torch passing through st helens , !! all about liverpool !!! glad to see all that effort by the council , schools etc didnt go a miss ( not ) we will have a full day of it( nationwide ) when it reaches any where near london
was the same for Widnes/Runcorn seems only the start and end points counted as far as both BBC and ITV were concerned

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Bill Bradbury says...
1:51pm Sat 2 Jun 12

butscratcher wrote:
Just watched the local NWT news after the main 10 oclock news and NOT one mention of the torch passing through st helens , !! all about liverpool !!! glad to see all that effort by the council , schools etc didnt go a miss ( not ) we will have a full day of it( nationwide ) when it reaches any where near london
BBC North West Tonight always totally ignores St.Helens, apart from a brief mention if Saints have played. Just look at the screen credits and can anyone spot the word St.Helens crossing the screen-airbrushed out by the BBC.
We would get better coverage from South West Today and any other regional programme.

I watched the torch on Rainford Road-brilliant one in the eye for all those moaners. Passed in a flash just like a cycle race! but a great occasion which I am glad I didn't miss. Stood opposite the Windle Parish Chairlady with her Civic Chain. If I had known I would have worn mine.!!!

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Barbarbac says...
6:10pm Sat 2 Jun 12

A huge thank you to everybody who turned out to watch Natalie Corrigan and all the other torch bearers in st Helen's you all made what was a very special day for them, a wonderful experience that they, their friends and families will never forget, was very proud to be from st Helen's xxx Natalie's mum, dad and family ****

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smith&weston says...
9:52am Sun 3 Jun 12

25,000 or 40,000 ? Why not give us the actual TRUE figure instead ? I suspect it was well below 15,000 with half of that number being school kids forced out of their classrooms and made to watch. Well thats this weeks road closures over, now for next weeks " exceptional " closures. Bit worried as I thought I may have seen some bird droppings on the Saints Bridge. Quick, close the link way and get in a team of specialists cleaners.

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frankly says...
2:47pm Sun 3 Jun 12

talking out of your rear end again i see s and w...would say, and i had friends on the route from start to finish, IT WAS nearer 40,000, but you being there, would know that

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smith&weston says...
3:16pm Sun 3 Jun 12

Do you have any idea what a crowd of 40,000 looks like. Far more than could be accommodated along the route that was used... never mind, keep living out your torch fantasy.

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frankly says...
6:36pm Sun 3 Jun 12

smith&weston says...
3:16pm Sun 3 Jun 12

Do you have any idea what a crowd of 40,000 looks like
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course i do, i counted them all from windle island up to grange park golf club...hope your bussiness wasnt affected, as you and others claim..now lets sing "God save the queen"

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papyt says...
9:26am Mon 4 Jun 12

i noticed that BBC RADIO MERSEYSIDE had a live broadcast from all the towns except ST HELENS,they commented on it before it got here and when it entered PRESCOT local radio my backside,they had a radio car parked near my home in MERE and as far as i know i'm no longer in MERSEYSIDE.

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mikeperry109 says...
1:50am Tue 5 Jun 12

The whole thing is a charade - just like the diamond jubilee, a complete waste of time and money when we should be focussed on more important issues - but burying the head in the sand seems to be the way at the moment.

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Arkay1 says...
12:18pm Wed 6 Jun 12

St Helens Council must not have been expecting anyone to turn up. Their organisation was notable for it's absence. No crowd control, no barriers along the footpaths, people spilliung on to the road and getting in the way of the relay! At one point, on Westfiile Street approaching Borough Road the torch escorts had to push people out of the way so that the procession could get through.

As for those who have moaned and complained about it coming through the town - This was last in GB in 1948, my mother was 18yrs old, I wasn't born and most of the people who ssaw it this time weren't either. I will probably never happen again in our lifetime so just enjoy the spectacle while you can.

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Arkay1 says...
12:23pm Wed 6 Jun 12

Sorry for typos should be Westfield Street and IT will probably etc.

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MisterU says...
11:31pm Wed 6 Jun 12

Think the council could of used this more to help the town . Hundreds or even thousands of people would of loved a party afterwards. We seem to miss the opportunities when given to us. Let's change for the better

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