Staff, volunteers, patients and their families at Hospice Isle of Man were delighted when one of the Olympic torch bearers Mr De Silva visited the charity recently with his Olympic torch.

Jess Bearman, the daughter of one of the nurses at Rebecca House, was particularly delighted with the visit. So much so that she wrote a short piece for school about it.

Jess, aged 11, started her story called ‘The day I held the Olympic Torch’.

She said:  “My friend, Alex and I were delighted we had been invited to the Hospice to see the Olympic Torch.”
 
“Mr Henry De Silva had brought his torch to Hospice. He had been picked as a torch bearer as he is a champion fencer and also had helped school children on the Isle of Man throughout his life with sport.”
 
“When it was my go to hold the Olympic Torch I was very, very excited. When they put it into my arms it felt cold and quite heavy. It was an opportunity of a lifetime. I felt really happy inside.” “I know that I will keep my photograph of that day and will show it to my grandchildren.”
 
Mr De Silva then said in a speech to everyone at Hospice that he was proud to have been chosen to be a torch bearer. During his speech Mr De Silva's voice cracked and everyone knew he truly meant what he said which made me, my mum and Alex and probably everyone else there that day proud for him.
 
For your chance to have your photograph taken with Mr De Silva’s Olympic torch local photographer Matt Mosur has offered to take photographs at his shop based at Photofinish, 51 Strand Street, Douglas this Saturday 30th June or at Hospice Family Fun and Sports Day at Ballafletcher Sports Ground on Sunday 1st July between noon-4pm. Photographs will cost ?7.50 each with ?2.50 being donated to Hospice.

Photo caption - Jess gets involved with the Olympics, pictuer by Matt Mosur Photography.