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Meet Olympic Torch bearer Brenda Thomson
Olympic torch bearer Brenda Thompson
WHEN Brenda Thomson heard she was going to be carrying the torch through Batley, she admits her nominators were a little disappointed.
So Brenda, 74, immediately set about arranging transport so members of her local community in Bradford could be there to watch her represent them.
On Monday a London Routemaster Bus from the Keighley Bus Museum will be making its way to Batley, filled with 65 people from the Little Lane community.
“They’ll be able to ring around the platform and swing around the pole,” she said.
“Everyone’s very excited.”
Brenda was nominated as a torch bearer because of the extensive and inspirational community work she does in Little Lane by the local Tai Chi group, which she runs.
She said: “One day, while I was away, they hatched up a plan to nominate me as a torchbearer. I was very honoured.”
Brenda insists that everything she does starts with family. As hers is a multi-racial family, which includes four adopted children, she has dedicated her life to promoting racial equality and bringing people of all races and faiths together.
She was one of the first students to get a masters degree at the School of Peace Studies at Bradford University in the 1970s.
“That was all about researching the Bradford school system and trying to help make it better for our kids,” she said.
“Racism is not comfortable to have to live with.”
Brenda went on to get a PHD in International Racism and became an appointed educational advisor, helping to set up the first properly agreed racial syllabus.
Since she took early retirement 20 years ago Brenda has worked tirelessly in her community, running the Tai Chi group, a craft group and a community lunch.
She also spends a lot of time with her family.
“I am trying to be less busy,” she admits.
“I am getting rather senior.”
Of Monday, she said: “My family are so proud of me, I have to do this for them.
“I shall be weeping most of the time.”
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Weather for Batley
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
