‘An honour and a privilege’ was how FirstGroup’s Engineering Director, Clive Burrows, described carrying the Olympic Torch in Chippenham, Wiltshire, yesterday.
Clive is well known in the transport industry for his substantial support and commitment to a number of charities ranging from healthcare, medical research and children’s welfare to engineering, education and heritage charities. It was for his work supporting good causes that Clive was nominated (without his knowledge) to carry the Torch.
“I was very surprised to have been nominated and subsequently selected to carry the Olympic Torch,” he said yesterday (23 May). “To be involved in such an important and historic event was an honour and a privilege. The occasion was magnificent and one that I will savour and reflect upon with pride for the rest of my life.”
He continued: “I find working with charities exceptionally enjoyable and rewarding. I therefore consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been rewarded with the opportunity of carrying the Olympic Torch in recognition for something that I find so fulfilling.”
Clive has been a leading figure in the preservation of engineering and transport heritage for 35 years and in the last three has gifted more than £100,000 to welfare, education and heritage charities. He has acted as a mentor and adviser to many young people looking to develop skills in the transport industry and in his role as FirstGroup’s Engineering Director supports a range of good causes.
A charity particularly close to his heart is the West Somerset Railway - Clive purchased two locomotives for use on the Railway, the first of which has covered over 50,000 miles during the last 15 years and has earned more than £200,000 to help guarantee the Railway’s future.
Clive Burrows carried the Olympic Torch for 560 yards along the A4 London Road in Chippenham, Wiltshire from Glendale Road to Cricketts Lane on May 23.