Rizzle Kicks were among
those to perform at the Olympic torch evening celebration in
Dover. Video: Jess Banham

by Graham Tuthill

The rain put a dampener on some of the Olympic torch
celebrations in Dover last night - but nothing could dampen
the enthusiasm of the torchbearers who carried the flame
around the town.

Strong winds caused problems for the transfer of the flame
between crews of Dover lifeboat and the tall ship, Stavros S
Niachos, which brought it into the harbour.

Plans for the young crew members to stand on the rigging also
had to be abandoned - and some of the evening entertainment had to
be abandoned.

Just as the first torchbearer was due to set off from the Prince
of Wales Pier the rain started again, and there were then showers
throughout the evening with some heavy rain during the celebration
show on the seafront.

Although there were crowds at various points along the route –
notably the Market Square where people were able to watch the
torch’s progress on the big screen – there were fewer people than
on some other sections around Kent.

Crowds turned out in
Dover for Olympic torch celebrations despite the wet weather.
Pictures: Gary Browne

Dover school governor Graham Hutchison had the honour of
carrying the torch into Dover Castle and handed it on to
13-year-old St Edmund’s Catholic School girl Sophie Waller, who
hopes to be a swimming competitor in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, for
the start of the journey back down from the castle.

Graeme Faber, 76, from Canterbury was the final torchbearer of
the day and carried it through the thousands of people who had
gathered on the seafront for the show, where he lit the cauldron on
the stage.

"I remember some of the previous London Olympics," said Mr
Faber, who was present at the 1948 opening ceremony as a
12-year-old boy. "But this year’s Olympics will be something
else."

Shrugging off the weather, he said it had been a great day.

Some of the entertainment had to be abandoned because the stage
was too wet for the acrobats and dancers to perform, and the Vista
Twisters and CJ Cheerleaders had to change their routine for safety
reasons.

But Twist and Pulse and Rizzle Kicks thrilled the audience with
their performances and had the young people particularly joining
in.

The Olympic torch being carried through Dover town centre
(top) after the torch arrived by tall ship. Pictures: Gary
Browne and Wayne McCabe

With the show over - and as more rain fell - many
people left the seafront and took refuge for an hour or so, with
some of them returning for the fireworks display, which lasted for
45 minutes.

A chorus of 100 singers, made up from five choirs, sang from the
balconies of seafront buildings to accompany the fireworks, which
were set off from the dredger David Church, anchored in the
harbour, and from four small boats that had been choreographed
to move around during the display.

Some were also set off from Dover Castle as the choir sang the
White Cliffs of Dover.

Were you at last night's show? Email your pictures to multimedianews@thekmgroup.co.uk.