Norwich Olympic Torchbearers revealed
The city is set for an exciting day of entertainment when the Olympic Flame arrives on Wednesday 4 July. The route will see the Olympic Torch enter Norwich from Cromer Road near to the junction with Waldemar Avenue where it will then head towards the city centre.
Norfolk's multiple fencing medal winner 84-year-old Connie Adam and 18-year-old Catton Grove community volunteer Daniel Browne have been picked to carry the Torch on part of its journey through the city.
Connie started fencing when she retired at 60. There was a free 'come and try' session at the Duke Street Centre run by the council where she tried, liked and got hooked on fencing. She has travelled all over the world with fencing, competing in the USA, Canada, Moscow, Australia and Europe. She has been European Champion for six years in Epee; Commonwealth Champion for three years and at the World Championships she came ninth. Connie has represented Great Britain many times and recently returned from Belfast where she represented England. At 84 she is still competing and winning.
Daniel was born with a bi-lateral cleft which not only affected his speech but also his hearing. In his 18 years, he has undergone 20 operations to restore his ability to speak and to improve his hearing. Throughout this he has maintained his positive outlook and become actively involved in a number of schemes to improve his neighbourhood. He is involved with the Catton Grove Residents' Association and was a team leader on a 2010 clean-up project and cleared gardens and painted fences in Catton Grove with 200 young volunteers in 2011.
In 2010 he also took on the role of youth member of the Mile Cross and Catton Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel (SNAP) focusing on youth issues and was elected as secretary for Norwich City Home Watch Association in 2011. He presented a successful participatory budget bid for a local youth club to other SNAP groups in Blackfriars Hall and attends council walkabout meetings on behalf of Norwich Residents' Forum.
Not only has Daniel has overcome his disability where others would have given up, he has surpassed himself by volunteering in the community and taking on roles requiring him to speak with members of the public, people in his community and local youth.