Published in Windlesora 28 (2012)
©2012, WLHG
In 1948 the Olympic flame was carried through Windsor by Gordon ‘Wig‘ Wigley, a middle-distance runner from Windsor Athletics Club. On 29 July, the opening day of the Games, the flame arrived from Old Windsor at Kings Road and was handed to Gordon who carried it through Windsor and Eton High Streets to Slough where he passed it on. From there it went to Uxbridge and on to Wembley for the Opening Ceremony. Each of the torchbearers had his own torch and they were allowed to keep them. They had been made the High Duty Alloys factory in Slough.
Gordon’s family were the landlords of the Horse and Groom public house on Castle Hill and he went to Windsor Grammar School and became a teacher. He taught at schools in Slough and Langley.
There is a Gordon Wigley award at Windsor Rugby Club, so it is clear he kept up his interest in sport for the rest of his life. Gordon died in March 2010 but his granddaughter, Sarah Green has been nominated to carry the flame on behalf of Lloyds Bank for the 2012 games but she will not know if she has been chosen until the end of 2011.
Windsor Local History Group 