Olympic torches under the hammer

Two torches from past Olympic Games will go on sale at Special Auction Services at Greenham Business Park today

THE 2012 Olympic Torch may not be passing through West Berkshire, but two torches from past Olympic Games will go on sale at an auction house at Greenham Business Park today (Friday).

One torch is from the 1936 Berlin Olympics (estimated sale of £3,000 – £4,000), and the other from the 1948 London Olympics (estimated sale of £1,800 - £2,400), will form part of auction house Special Auction Services' (SAS) Sports and Collectables auction.

SAS sports and collectables expert Gary Arkell said: “Despite the estimates, I think the London torch will generate more interest, especially with the Olympics being staged in London again next year.

“We know that the Berlin torch was used on the Salonika leg of the run, but we don't know where the London one was used.”

Many of the other items going on sale, including Olympic medals, certificates and other memorabilia comes from the collection of Arthur Porritt, an athlete from New Zealand, who won bronze in the 100m event at the 1924 Paris Olympics, a race later immortalised in the film Chariots of Fire.