The Olympic Torch comes to Nottingham - The Ice Gala with Torvill & Dean

I was very lucky last week, through my work, to get tickets to the Nottingham Indoor Arena, to see Torvill and Dean dance with the Olympic Torch.

The Gala was presented by Robin Cousins and featured singers, a brass band and over 250 skaters.

Robin Cousins

We decided to avoid the traffic and get the tram into Nottingham as all the roads were closing at 4pm. There was a nice atmosphere as everyone seemed to be heading into town for the same reason. As we headed for the Ice Arena we walked through the Market Square where preparations were well under way, a giant stage holding the cauldron where the Olympic Flame would stop it's journey for the day.

The ice stadium was buzzing and soon filled up and there was a lot of excitement in the stands. Amid the confusion we ended up sitting in the wrong seats for half an hour until someone pointed out the large 14 painted on the wall behind us when we should have been in Section 15!

Excitement in the stands!

The show itself had a ropey start, the Hucknall and Linby Mining Community Brass Band were great and we had to assume that The Lace Market Choir were because they had forgotten to give them a microphone! What a shame! But the show really got going when the skaters young and old, amateur and professional came onto the ice.

The ice skating begins

Team GB Speed Skaters

Ice Hockey Display

Rosemay Conley joins in

British Champions Penny Coomes and Nicholas Buckland

Part way through the show Robin Cousins came back on to say there would be a short break as the Olympic Torch was 7 minutes ahead of schedule and the ice had to be prepared and within no time at all, the red carpet was coming down and there they were - Torvill and Dean, my ice skating heroes from the 80's. 


The torches "kissed" and away they skated, still impressive after all this time, even though their routine was nowhere near as dynamic as some of the new comers had been. The routine was soon over and the torch "kissed" again to allow it to move on to the Market Square.


The show continued with a brilliant ice display by the hockey players which had the children asking to go to an ice hockey match and then the finale where all the skaters returned to the ice. A great experience that we thoroughly enjoyed, a once in a lifetime experience to see the Olympic Torch.
Hope you enjoy the photos.