Wenlock Olympian Society Leaders Take Part in Olympic Torch Relay

The President, Jonathan Edwards, who carried the torch on Monday 21st May through Ilfracombe close to where he grew up, and Vice President, John Simpson, who will carry the torch on Wednesday, 30th May through Much Wenlock, the historic home of the Wenlock Olympian Games.

Jonathan Edwards was moved to tears by the honour and on completing his Torch run said, “I never thought I would go to the Olympic Games or win a gold medal, let alone come back to Ilfracombe to carry an Olympic torch."

Local man, John Simpson, a retired farmer, grew up in Dawley and Horsehay, and has a strong athletic background, beginning in 1948, the year of the last London Olympics, when he competed in the high hurdles at the National 3 AAA Junior Championships at White City in London, then in the Inter-services Championships representing the Navy, and also at Cambridge University becoming a Half Blue. He was Midland Counties Champion in the early 1950s, then his career in farming took over.

John came to farm near Much Wenlock in 1955 and was town mayor in 1976. The following year he joined the WOS and assisted in the rejuvenation the Wenlock Olympian Games. WOS Secretary Norman Wood, was a strong advocate of athletics and a healthy programme was revived and is continued to this day at the Games. When the then President, Ernest Higgs, died in 1989, John was offered and with some reluctance, accepted the position. His first official task was to escort HRH The Princess Royal at the 1990 Games which celebrated the centenary of Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s visit to Much Wenlock. Her Highness was accompanied by Sir Arthur Gold, the then Chairman of the BOA.

In 2000 Norman Wood retired as Secretary of WOS after many years of service and John, in his usual gentlemanly way, stepped aside for Norman to take on the presidency, and following Norman’s death in 2005, Roy Rogers became president. Sadly Roy died in 2011 and Jonathan Edwards accepted the Presidency with John as Vice President.

Since 2002, John has retired fully from farming, and at 82 years of age, he still keeps fit walking and swimming

“I am proud and honoured to have been chosen to represent Society members past and present,” said John, I would like to express my thanks to the Wenlock Olympian Society as it was they who were asked to nominate a member in memory of our founder, William Penny Brookes, and to represent all the hard work that’s been done in to promote his place in Olympic history. Perhaps what gives me the greatest pride is to hold the Olympic flame which has travelled from Greece and to carry it to the school which bears his name here in Much Wenlock.

For information about the Wenlock Olympian Society please visit www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk

For information about Much Wenlock visit www.muchwenlockguide.info

You can download detailed information & maps for each stage of the Torch route on the Shropshire Council website here