Rye youngsters are all ready to welcome Torch

Youngsters from Rye Primary and Rye College will be joined by children from surrounding village schools to form a giant procession behind the Torch as runners carry it up the High Street and through the historic Landgate Arch.

Each school will be decked out in a different colour with children carrying matching pennants.

Rye Town Crier Reg Swain will be giving the Torch a rousing welcome, while the Mayor and Town Sergeant, in full regalia, will be outside the George Hotel , in the High Street.

Rye Primary Head Paul Reilly said: “It should be a great occasion with a fantastic atmosphere. We alone have 320 children taking part and our school was selected as the base for the Torch.”

Children from Rye Primary have teamed up with a partner school in North West Spain and, closer to home, with children at Guestling Bradshaw Primary.

They have been working toward the big event for weeks, learning about multi-cultural aspects of the Games and are one of a number of schools who have earned the right to use the Olympic logo.

The Torch run starts at the town end of New Winchelsea Road at approximately 9.45am, with celebrations beginning around 35 minutes before. The Flame will be run down Winchelsea Road, Wish Street, Wish Ward, The Mint, High Street, East Cliff, Landgate, Fishmarket Road and New Road, finishing at the junction with King’s Avenue.

Road closures will be in place from Wish Ward through the High Street to Deadmans Lane via Landgate through Tower Street, Rope Walk and The Grove from 9am until noon. For more information and maps of the Torch Relay visit www.rother.gov.uk.