Dean Parsons (Haydon the Womble) carries the Olympic Flame
Dean Parsons, better known as AFC Wimbledon’s mascot Haydon the Womble, was an Olympic torchbearer in south London on 23 July 2012.
He carried the Olympic Flame for up to half a mile through part of the Sutton section of the route, along Croydon Road (A232) in Beddington.
Dean had originally hoped that Haydon the Womble would be able to carry the torch, as his charity work as Haydon is the reason he was nominated and selected. However, only human torchbearers were allowed. Dean said on Haydon’s blog:
“He may have to turn in to human form, but will change straight back in to Womble mode as soon as he has finished carrying the torch, for publicity purposes and to promote the club I am so proud to be mascot for, AFC Wimbledon.”
The BBC reported live from the relay: “Hopefully Dean Parsons won’t be stopping during his run with the flame to pick up things that the everyday folks leave behind. It would be more tempting if he were in the guise of his alter ego, Haydon the Womble - the identity he assumes as the mascot for AFC Wimbledon. Today’s 100th torchbearer, Dean has raised nearly £10,000 for the Children’s Trust Tadworth by taking part in activities including standing on Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth and running the London Marathon. He is thoroughly enjoying his stint, dancing along Croydon Road and waving madly.”
There were 23 torchbearers on the Sutton route (which works out at around four minutes each), running west from Beddington through Carshalton to Sutton and then north towards Morden.
In total, 8,000 inspirational torchbearers were selected to carry the Olympic Flame around the UK on a 70-day relay, before it arrives at the Olympic Opening Ceremony on 27 July.
Every torchbearer wears a white and gold uniform designed by adidas. The white top has gold shards at the shoulder and neckline, which run down the arm to the hand holding the Torch.
Find out more about the Olympic Torch Relay on the London 2012 website.
- London 2012: Torchbearers - Dean Parsons
- Wimbledon Guardian: Haydon the Womble banned from Olympic torch parade
- AFC Wimbledon community blog: Haydon’s ‘friend’ and the Olympic Torch!
- Your Local Guardian: Olympic torch comes to SW London
- BBC News: Olympic Torch Relay - Lewisham to Wandsworth
I have been given a conditional offer to be a @london2012 #olympictorchbearer i am so proud i am actually crying #london2012 #onestepcloser
— Haydon the Womble (@HaydontheWomble) December 8, 2011
Finally I can announce that I have been chosen to be a #london2012 #torchbearer on july 23rd #soproud
— Haydon the Womble (@HaydontheWomble) March 19, 2012
A week to go until I carry the #Olympictorch I will be carrying it along Croydon road, Beddington!
— Dean P (@DeanCP08) July 16, 2012
Haydon the womble can't run in his "costume" for torch relay through Wimbledon! #gutted #olympics
— David Stephenson 📺 (@TheTellyRocket) July 16, 2012
Hair red white and blue for Monday @London2012 #torchbearer pic.twitter.com/flQc7qJV
— Dean P (@DeanCP08) July 21, 2012
Morning all today is my #momenttoshine as I become part of @London2012 #TorchRelay at 14:03 I am a #torchbearer #excited #nervous #proud
— Dean P (@DeanCP08) July 23, 2012
Just done a recording on radio jackie they will be playing clips of it between now and 2pm. On my way to the meeting point, a little excited
— Dean P (@DeanCP08) July 23, 2012
Getting off at wandle park over the tannoy it sounds like womble park :-D
— Dean P (@DeanCP08) July 23, 2012
Ready for my #momenttoshine @London2012 #olympictorchrelay bring it on
— Dean P (@DeanCP08) July 23, 2012
Omg chatting away to someone, thinking I recognised them, only when he left did I realise it was Patrick Stewart!
— Dean P (@DeanCP08) July 23, 2012
@DeanCP08 @HaydontheWomble So proud of my mascot buddy! Milk it, Deano!!! http://t.co/LzwwXhQB
— Lee McB (@lee_mcb) July 23, 2012
Haydon the Womble was of course banned from running in today's Olympic torch relay. #mertontorch http://t.co/RZOMpyN0
— Omar Oakes (@OmarOakes) July 23, 2012
The 100th Torch Bearer, Dean Parsons (aka AFC Wimbledon mascot Haydon the Womble) has just completed his run
— Wimblefilm (@Wimblefilm) July 23, 2012
Enjoyed watching Dean Parsons (Haydon the Womble) going mental with the Olympic Torch. #moonwalkingwomble
— Matt Griffin (@MattMightSay) July 23, 2012
Here is @DeanCP08! #torchbearer #oneandother http://t.co/L0BDQzFt
— braincoffee (@braincoffee) July 23, 2012
I hi-five'd @DeanCP08 when he was carrying the torch...fortunately the security was lenient! Also had a pic taken with the torch. Sweet!
— Lee McB (@lee_mcb) July 23, 2012
That was amazing thank you to every one that cheered me on, @London2012 #olympictorchrelay #torchbearer #proud
— Dean P (@DeanCP08) July 23, 2012
Here is the perfect @DeanCP08 shot! Lol! #torchbearer #torchrelay #oneandother http://t.co/wcLyIxbc
— braincoffee (@braincoffee) July 23, 2012
@DeanCP08 @london2012 My view via red button. WELL DONE XXX pic.twitter.com/llzGZdli
— Sharon Armfield 💛💙 (@Shazza3434) July 23, 2012
#suttontorch @DeanCP08 brilliant #afcwimbledon pic.twitter.com/V0B4Jzbz
— Paul Raymond (@paulnray) July 23, 2012
Scroll down to 2:09 for Mr Dean Parsons carrying the #Olympic torch; the man behind @AFCWimbledon's @Haydon_the_Womble. http://t.co/CnRSpxEj
— Bernie Baldwin 💙 (@BernieBaldwin) July 23, 2012
@DeanCP08 @Terriere_Dons pics of you both as #torchbearers2012, well done both of you http://t.co/prv3ASu2
— rob (@k8_afcw) July 23, 2012
@AFCWimbledon @HaydontheWomble very proud. #London2012 #afcwimbledon http://t.co/1mUNj6k9
— ML5️⃣ (@MLines05) July 23, 2012
Me and my mate patrick were #torchbearers today #olympictorchrelay pic.twitter.com/snhpG4oa
— Dean P (@DeanCP08) July 23, 2012
Watch Dean Parsons (@HaydontheWomble) dancing with the Olympic Torch - and scroll down to 14:03 in the text box http://t.co/sDuR8QcI
— Tidy Bag - Wombles (@TidyBag) July 23, 2012