By Jenna Richards
After Phonic FM Director Paul Giblin carried the Olympic torch across Exeter Quay on Monday we couldn’t resist pinning him down for an exclusive interview.
Paul was selected as an Olympic torch bearer by Exeter City Council for his voluntary work coordinating the massive Exeter Respect Festival. When I finally caught up with him days after the event he was still beaming from ear to ear.
Paul, still barely able to contain his excitement, said: “I had the privilege of being the first bearer to carry the torch out of the city on Monday 21st May at 7.25am on the Quay. Before I arrived I wondered how many people would turn out at that time of day, especially as I’m not an early morning person myself! But my concerns were groundless as a Respect rent-a-mob had colluded with the City Council to turn the event into a diversity celebration – and loads of friends and colleagues had got up on time too!”
Paul was overwhelmed by the number of people crowded onto the Quay at such an early hour.
“Thank you all for such warm support,” he said.
Paul’s morning started with a meeting with his handlers at 6am.
“I got into the spirit of things by parking a fair distance away and running to the Quay, dropping in at Bar Venezia where their all night salsa party was still going. I was meant to see my daughter Lauren there but she was in the loo when I popped in – typical!”
Paul continued: “The quay was bustling with media and I did lots of serious posing with an unlit torch in my white gold and green Stella McCartney outfit, complete with gross over-use of my new ‘Flame On’ catchphrase.
“My cunning plan to promote Respect and Phonic by wearing both t-shirts under my ‘stell-suit’ was foiled by a handler who made me remove them, citing torchbearer handbook regulations on white undergarments only.
“After another security briefing and a tug of war between BBC and ITN it was time to stand in front of Custom House and light up.”
Grinning like a Cheshire cat Paul relived the moment he held the lit torch for the first time: “I held the Olympic flmae aloft surrounded by hundreds of people, many of whom I knew. Wow!
“I felt incredibly proud and humble. My eyes welled up, but I just managed not to cry as elation kicked in and I posed aflame for the ranks of cameras and mobiles.
“My handler told me to run to the right and I was off: a short jog along the quayside then over the little wooden footbridge and up onto Cricklepit suspension bridge. My lovely guards fell back and I was allowed to cross the bridge alone – what a feeling!
“This was truly home territory as that bridge is part of my regular running routes and I kept it really slow and held both arms high, creating an image which ended up as the main photo on the BBC website for the next five hours – result. Life really doesn’t get much better!
“The next bearer was waiting at the end of the bridge and we touched torches after a ubiquitous Flame On shout and the fire ignited the second torch of the day. I was allowed to walk along behind the next bearer with my now unlit torch, letting well wishers touch the golden shaft.
“Then it was into the bearers bus where torches were placed in the cooling racks before being decommissioned so those of us who had bought them could keep them.”
Paul suddenly looked more serious: “At this point I found out something interesting,” he said.
“Those bearers who’d been nationally selected by Olympic sponsors Lloyds TSB, Coke and Samsung had their torches paid for by the companies. But as a local authority nominee I had to buy mine!”
Smiling again Paul added: “This did not affect my feelings of pride and warmth towards the organisers who were great – it just says a lot about capitalism.”
Paul’s Olympic torch run is now a historical footnote, but one he will treasure forever.
His press releases said he was running for those countless volunteers who keep Exeter’s culture and conscience burning bright.
“And I meant it,” he said.
Adding: “I was so pleased to be able to hold up the traditional clenched fist of solidarity when running.
“It was with great difficulty – and a lot of bling – that I went to work later that day, getting lots of posing and very little else done! That evening I had a three hour Respect festival meeting, which was fair enough as that’s what I got this incredible honor for.
“Thanks once again to everyone who’s been so supportive. My personal flame will be burning for a very long time after this incredible experience.
“Respect.”