Olympic torch's route through West Berkshire is confirmed and torchbearers named

Crowds are expected to line the route to cheer the Olympic torch relay, and torchbearers from the area - including BBC sports presenter Clare Balding, whose family still live in Kingsclere - have been named.
Scroll down to see the list of torchbearers who are to carry the flame through Newbury, Thatcham and Theale on July 11.
In November, Newburytoday.co.uk revealed that the Olympic Flame would be coming to West Berkshire and the district council said it was thrilled with the news.
The West Berkshire councillor responsible for coordinating the event, Carol Jackson-Doerge (Con, Burghfield), has said: “This will be a tremendous occasion that will help put West Berkshire on the national stage in this momentous year.
“I encourage as many people as possible to watch the spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay, and cheer on the local torchbearers.
"I congratulate those who have been chosen to carry the Flame and know the pride they must feel. I also know that today’s announcement will further inspire our local communities to celebrate 2012 and support the many activities and events being staged across the district during the year.
” Today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life. The Flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and its journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets.
“Now the people know the route the Olympic Flame will be carried along and the Torchbearers for their community, they can start planning how they might celebrate and make it West Berkshire’s moment to shine.”
On July 11, at approximately 10.20am, the flame will be carried along Theale High Street from the ‘Theale’ roadsign at the eastern end of the village, to the junction with St Ives Close, arriving there around 15 minutes later.
Starting at about 10.45am, the torch will then be carried along the A4 through Thatcham, starting at the junction with Stoney Lane and finishing around 11.10am at the Benham Hill roundabout.
Minutes later, other torchbearers will carry the flame through Newbury, beginning outside the BP filling station on the A4 opposite the Narrow Boat pub. The route goes round the Robin Hood roundabout, along the London Road to the clock tower at the top of Northbrook Street, down Northbrook Street, through Market Place, left into Bear Lane, finishing around 11.35am at the A339 roundabout.
Between each location, the flame and personnel will be transferred in enclosed vehicles. The Flame is coming through West Berkshire en route between Reading and Salisbury.
The sports commentator and television presenter, Kingsclere-born Clare Balding, is to carry the Olympic flame through Newbury.
The 41-year-old former leading amateur flat jockey and Champion Lady Rider, who was once Head Girl at Downe House School in Cold Ash, has today (Monday) been named by the London 2012 committee as one of the Olympic torchbearers to be carrying the torch through Newbury on July 11 along with Newbury residents Jacqui Langridge, aged 42, Lee Mcdougall, aged 42, Mark Ambersley, aged 45, Samantha Crowe, aged 33, and Sarah Barr, aged 32, along with Emma Cope, aged 15, of Tadley.
On the same day, torchbearers in Thatcham will include Daniel Maskell, aged 39, from Thatcham, Brett Rogers, aged 38, of Newbury, Julia Velasco, aged 35, of Newbury, Ollie Rendle, aged 18, of Pangbourne and Berkshire teen Thom Hogdahl, aged 13.
And in Theale the local torchbearers include Gillian Hurley, aged 48, of Newbury, and Wendy Shaw, aged 34, of Mortimer.
Other torchbearers carrying the flame through Newbury, but who do not live locally, include: Gabby Houseman, aged 17, of Wallingford, Helen Armstrong, aged 40, of Winnersh, Jo Gilfoy, aged 38, of Sevenhampton, John Crompton, aged 31, of Bristol, Mark Clyde, aged 32, of Windsor, Reg Brindley, aged 56, of Hook, Sarah Chambers, aged 31, of Reading and Stuart Nash, aged 34, of Reading.
In Thatcham, non-local torchbearers include: Bryan Passmore, aged 34, of Langley, James Duthie, aged 49, of Cheltenham, James Grayling, aged 36, of Lighthorne, John Abbey, aged 53, of Nottingham, Luke Oliver, aged 18, of Reading, Mike Harrison, aged 43, of Reading, Mike Nutley, aged 47, of Andover, Scott Chapman, aged 41, of Andover and Tony Lankstead, aged 35, of Brighton and Hove.
Non-local torchbearers in Theale are Kieran Wassell, aged 24, of Wokingham and Joe Robinson, aged 21, of Thame.
If you have been named as a local torchbearer, we would love to hear from you. Contact the newsdesk on (01635) 564539 or email newsdesk@newburynews.co.uk
For more on this story see Thursday’s Newbury Weekly News.