Ten young ambassadors for the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site joined Olympic torch runner Lisa Devine at Durdle Door on Friday 13th July for a very special photoshoot. The children from Lulworth and Winfrith First School in Dorset were very excited and felt extremely special to be chosen for such an opportunity. Aged between seven and nine, they greeted Lisa waving their hand made Olympic and Jurassic Coast banners and flags.
Molly said ‘I felt really excited that we were going to see Lisa with the torch, and I felt a bit nervous because lots and lots of people were staring at us…it was a great experience.’
Kian said ‘I felt like I was having a once in a lifetime experience, even though it was windy and cold I really enjoyed it.’
Izzy said ‘The best part was standing right next to the torch, it was very tall, glimmering and shiny, it was a beautiful sight…and I’m very glad I got to see it.’
Ella said ‘I was really glad when I read the letter to say I had been chosen, I was grateful to the school that I was there to see the torch because this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, I don’t think it will ever happen again in my life, so I will remember it forever.’
Their teachers had selected them because they showed a particular interest in the Big Jurassic Classroom project which the school had been involved in over the last year. The school is one of 100 schools across Dorset and East Devon to be part of the project, with over 1000 teachers being trained by the Jurassic Coast Team across Dorset and East Devon on how to link the seven Olympic and Paralympic values to the values of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Team.
Alexandria Potter, Education Coordinator for the Jurassic Coast Team, helped coordinate the event and said ‘It’s not everyday the Olympic torch is on the Jurassic Coast and what a fantastic finale to the Big Jurassic Classroom project! It really brought the link between the Olympics and the World Heritage Site to life. This has been a once in a lifetime experience for those ten children for which I’m sure they’ll remember forever. I’m so pleased the children were able to join Lisa to celebrate today, they’re some of the 4000 children involved in this project to help make it so successful.’
Alexandria Potter, Education Coordinator
