Chesham girl carries Olympic torch (From Bucks Free Press)

Chesham girl carries Olympic torch

7:20am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in Chesham By Andy Carswell

WHEN Beth Brewer received a letter telling her she'd been selected to carry the Olympic torch, she thought it was a hoax.

But the captain of Chesham United Ladies U16s wasn't the victim of a cruel wind-up and yesterday she had her moment in the spotlight as she carried the torch through the streets of Slough.

Beth was nominated by a family friend through Coca Cola’s Future Flames programme as a reward to inspirational young people.

The 16-year-old from Chesham coaches youngsters in after-school sessions, helps a group who suffer from moderate learning difficulties and has also obtained her sports leaders award.

She said: "I got a slip through the post. I didn't know I had been nominated and I thought it was a bit of a scam.

"I was excited and nervous. I never expected to be nominated."

Beth described her experience with the torch as "amazing" as she carried the torch on the same stretch of the relay as High Wycombe-born celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, who stopped to have a photo taken with her.

Dad John said: "Her grandfather travelled up from Devon to watch it. We're very proud indeed.

"She ran in front of 15,000 people and it was really inspirational for her."

Being a torch bearer won't be Beth's final brush with the Olympics - she and a group of friends from the Royal Masonic School in Rickmansworth have volunteered to help out at the handball tournament during the games.

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