Scone Palace welcomes Olympic Torch

Jun 12 2012

The Olympic Torch has visited a historical palace as it continues on its symbolic journey around the UK.

The flame was carried to Scone Palace near Perth, once the crowning place of Scottish kings such as Robert the Bruce and Charles II.

It is now the family home of the Earl of Mansfield and a popular visitor attraction.

The torch was brought into the grounds by 16-year-old Louise Fox, a keen swimmer and water polo player from Dundee, to the sound of bagpipes and cheers from the gathered crowd.

Louise said: "I've been greeted by at least 1,000 people just all flashing their cameras and cheering on me. It was amazing. I don't think there's a word to use to describe how amazing it was. It didn't seem real until I was on the bus today.

"On the bus I was really nervous about it because I was like: What if I trip? What if I drop it? What if it goes out? But then when you're running with it, nothing was going through my head. I was just focusing on getting to the end and just seeing everyone."

She made her run on the 25th day of the Olympic Torch Relay, when around 100 torchbearers will carry the flame on its 133-mile route from Aberdeen to Dundee.

The celebrations got under way this morning at BP's North Sea headquarters in Dyce, Aberdeen where an outdoor reception was held with live music and a festival atmosphere.

Lindsay Rennie, 46, from Arbroath, carried the flame from the stage and along Wellheads Drive. He set off at 7.21am and, despite the early start, hundreds of people lined up to cheer him on.

Mr Rennie, a well services supervisor at BP North Sea, has swum across the River Tay on three occasions, raising over £7,000 for charity.