Tribute to Fendley for his torch relay Bassetlaw Games efforts

An athletics stalwart’s efforts to inspire the school children of Bassetlaw will be recognised with a special event at East Markham School.
The Bassetlaw Torch arrives at Hallcroft Infant School, with torch bearer Peter Fendley (w120508--4b)The Bassetlaw Torch arrives at Hallcroft Infant School, with torch bearer Peter Fendley (w120508--4b)
The Bassetlaw Torch arrives at Hallcroft Infant School, with torch bearer Peter Fendley (w120508--4b)

Peter Fendley was the driving force behind the Bassetlaw Games School Torch Relay in 2012, bringing a taste of the Olympics to local kids.

The Worksop Harriers official was nominated by Bassetlaw Council for a special tribute from the Community Games legacy programme.

Community Games is funded by the Social Action Fund and delivered by the County Sports Partnership Network (CSPN) and the YMCA.

Sport Nottinghamshire is celebrating the one-year anniversary of the torch arriving in Notts by hosting a special day at East Markham school on 24th June.

The official Olympic torch may have just passed through Bassetlaw, but Fendley’s brain child had a more enduring impact.

His idea was to design a torch which could be run from one school to the next around the district so that every school, academy, college, special school and educational establishment could have the torch for one day.

Schools then used that day as their celebration day for this country staging the 2012 Olympic games.

In total 17.000 children from 64 schools participated in the event, as 552 torch runners covered over 1,000 miles.

The Community Games Relay will shine a spotlight on Notts on 24th June, when Fendley will join colleagues and friends from the school, District Council, and the Community Games to celebrate and reflect on the ‘School Relay’ of 2012.

The day will include multi-activities for the children and a presentation of the commemorative jersey.