Flying the flag for city's torch route (From Oxford Mail)

Flying the flag for city's torch route

12:10pm Tuesday 12th June 2012 in Olympics By Fran Bardsley, covering Education, East Oxford and Cowley. Call me on 01865 425439

East Oxford residents are being invited to make flags and bunting to line the Olympic Torch route through the city next month.

Workshops are being held throughout June for the Ribbons of Unity project, aimed at representing Oxford’s diverse cultures.

The aim is to create bunting, banners and flags for residents to hold along Iffley and Cowley Road as the Torch goes past on July 9 and 10.

A workshop was held on Sunday at Fusion Arts, which is organising the initiative along with Cowley Road Carnival charity Cowley Road Works.

Among those taking part at the East Oxford Community Centre in Princes Street were Janet May, from Cowley, and son Sammy, five.

She said: “I’ve been here a long time ago with the Cowley Road Carnival and I just thought it would be nice to bring Sammy along.

“We are planning to go up along the route on the day, so although I don’t know how much he understands about the Olympics, it’s nice he will be part of it.”

The workshops, which allow families to create their own batik designs and prints using cold wax dying techniques, are being led by artist Emily Cooling.

Ms Cooling said: “People are really enjoying it.

“It’s a technique that can be done by all ages and can be as simple or as complicated as you like, and it gives a chance to use a technique they would not normally have used.”

Fusion is also working with schools and community groups.

The drop-in workshops will take place on Saturdays, June 16 and 23, between 11am and 4pm and on Sundays, June 17 and 24, between 11am and 3pm. There will also be a session at the Restore fete in Manzil Way, on June 30, between noon and 5pm, and on Sunday, July 1, at Fusion between 11am and 3pm.

Dick Wolff, Green city councillor for St Mary’s ward, said: “This is a great idea, and I encourage anyone and everyone to get on down to some of the sessions.”

The Torch will arrive in the county on Monday, July 9, and pass through Bicester, Kirtlington, Woodstock, Kidlington and Oxford.

A celebration will be held in South Park that night and the Torch will set off from Iffley Road for Abingdon and Wallingford the next day.

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