17 Dec 2018
Historic Olympic Torch donated to University Archives
Photo taken by Brant Hickman
An Olympic Torch used as a reserve at the 1948 Games in Wembley has been donated to the University.
The torch is made from stainless steel and was designed to burn with a bright magnesium flare to show up better in the Olympic stadium.
The torch has been donated by the Torch Trophy Trust which was established in 1962 by Commander Bill Collins to recognise the volunteers who are committed to sport by coaching and supporting local sports clubs.
Bill Collins was a coach on the AAA Summer Schools at Loughborough College in the 1930s and was subsequently asked to organise the 1948 London Olympics Torch relay.
The Trust has also donated three boxes of papers relating to the organisation to the University’s Archives.
You can see the torch and its accompanying papers – including the design sketches by Ralph Lavers - in the University Library’s archives collection D70, which are the papers of Commander Collins.