77-YEAR-old Norman South is one of six East Cambridgeshire residents who will be proudly carrying the Olympic Torch when it passes through the region in July.

Norman, of Ely Road, Littleport, said he was “immensely proud” when he was offered the chance to carry the famous torch on its journey through King’s Lynn on July 4.

Also selected to carry the torch were Stuart Mitchell and Tom Baty, both from Ely, Billy Baxter, formerly of Haddenham, Kim Manchett, from Wilburton and former King’s School, Ely pupil Goldie Sayers.

A keen sportsmen, Norman played football for Waterbeach, Ely City and Littleport Town and even made an appearance in the FA Cup in 1956.

He has been associated with Littleport Town Cricket Club since 1947 and has played a major role in developing youth cricket in both Ely and Littleport since then. He is also president of the Kirkland Cup, a long standing local cricket competition and even turned his hand to table tennis, representing the county.

In more recent years, Norman has continued to raise thousands of pounds for the MS Society and for dozens of other charities through his regular bowls tournaments held at the Littleport Leisure Centre.

In 2008, Norman collected the Unsung HeroAward at the first Ely Standard Sports Awards for his dedication to local sports.

Speaking to the Ely Standard, Norman said: “It was a little bit of a surprise but it was very pleasing and a great honour. I’m immensely proud that I have been given the opportunity.

“I think it will be little bit daunting, knowing me I shall drop the torch half way round!”

ELY’S Stuart Mitchell was “absolutely delighted” when he found out he would be running with the Olympic Torch.

The 20-year-old will be carrying the flame through St Ives on July 8 and is already gearing up for his big moment.

Despite being born with Prader Willi Syndrome, a complex genetic condition best known for the insatiable appetite which leads to heart problems, diabetes and frequently life threatening obesity, Stuart has defied doctors to pick numerous accolades in the sporting and civic arena.

He has won a silver and bronze medal at the National Disability Swimming Championships, completed two London 10k runs, the Great North Run, competed for the Ely Runners, Ely Swimming Club and is also a keen cycler.

Away from the sporting arena, Stuart gas raised thousands of pounds for the Prader Willi Syndrome Association, carried out hours of voluntary work in conservation and is just about to embark on his gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Speaking to the Ely Standard, Stuart’s mum Anne, said: “He has done amazingly well in such a short space of time. We have always encouraged him to keep active and enjoy his sports and he was absolutely delighted when he heard that he would be carrying the torch.

“We applied for tickets for all sorts of events for this summer’s Olympics and we got nothing so this is the one way he could have a little bit of the Olympics.”

FUNDRAISER and support worker Billy Baxter was chosen to carry the torch through Bury St Edmunds.

The former Ely and Haddenham resident, who recently moved to Llandudno in Wales to work with blind ex-serviceman and women, will complete his leg on July 7.

Billy, 48, lost his sight in the Bosnian conflict but has spent the years since raising thousands of pounds for charity and carrying out work with young people.

In 2011 he received the Outstanding Individual Learner for the Eastern Region award after enrolling on a performing arts course and he was also awarded the Pail Harris Fellowship by the Holbeach Rotary Club in Lincolnshire.

In 2003 he broke the land blind motorbike record at 165 mph

Former rotary club president Helen Scott said: “He has achieved so much, and he wants to give so much back, he is quite remarkable. He always goes the extra mile, and he embodies the Rotary motto ‘Service above self’.”

OLD Elean and summer medal hopeful Goldie Sayers said carrying the Olympic Torch would be an “honour”

The two-time Olympian and UK women’s javelin record holder said she was thrilled. “It’s a great honour and I can’t wait.”

Goldie, who is 29, was the youngest member of the UK’s track and field team at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and finished fourth in Beijing in 2008, missing a podium place by just 38cm.

At the European Winter Throws competition in Montenegro on Saturday – her first international competition of the 2012 season - she won a silver medal with a season’s best throw of 62.75 metres. Afterwards she tweeted: ‘Onwards and upwards with a smile!’

Goldie had already qualified for London 2012 with 62.18m, her first competitive throw of the season at Loughborough on 3 March.

ELY powerlifter Tom Baty, who won an incredible four gold medals at the Special Olympics, was selected to carry the torch through Felixstowe on July 5.

The 28-year-old, who has Down’s Syndrome, scooped four medals at the Athens games in 2011, won the under-82.5kg squat with a lift of 132.5kg, followed it up by winning the bench press with 90kg, the dead lift with 150kg, and topped it off by taking the overall honours with a combined weight of 372.50kg.

Baty, who won the 2009 British Championshps, is trained by his dad Richard at the Paradise Centre in Ely.

WORLD champion water skier Kim Manchett will carry the torch through Cambridge on July 8.

Mrs Manchett, 29, from Wilburton, is a two-time winner of the world championships and will be supported on the day by dozens of family and friends as well as her 14-month-old child, Darcy.