Bogus Olympic Torch Handed To Lord Mayor

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28130, 20 November 1956, Page 16

Bogus Olympic Torch Handed To Lord Mayor

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY, November 19.

A Sydney University student carrying a fake Olympic torch made from a flaming jam tin attached to a silverfrosted chair leg hoaxed the Lord Mayor of Sydney (Aiderman Pat Hills) and thousands of spectators last night. Aiderman Hills was standing on the steps of the Town Hall awaiting the arrival of the torch runner, and 30,000 people jammed adjacent streets. Two minutes before the torch’s scheduled arrival, the crowd cheered as a runner with a flaming torch ran down the narrow corridor kept open by police barriers.

Tricked by the hoaxer, television, newsreel and newspaper photographers set off a blaze of floodlights and flash lights. The runner ran up the steps leading to the Town Hall and handed the torch to Aiderman Hills. Dressed in blue slacks, a white shirt, and wearing a bright green tie; the hoaxer bowed to Aiderman Hills and hastily backed down the steps.

Aiderman Hills, unable to see clearly because of the blaze of lights, accepted the torch and began his speech of welcome. “On behalf of the people of Sydney I am very pleased to accept this torch.” he said. “It will soon be on its way to Melbourne.”

Then the Lord Mayor noticed that the silver-frost on the handle of the torch was still wet—and he realised what had happened. He passed the incident off jocularly.

“That was a trial run,” he announced over the public address system. “Our friends from the university think things like that are funny.” Loud boos broke from the crowd as he added; “It was a hoax. I hope you are enjoying the joke.” When the real torch arrived the crowd gave it a great welcome. There was no mistake this time as the runner was preceded by the scream of police sirens and trailed by an Army truck carrying runners and spare torches.

The torch was carried from the harbour bridge toll gates to the Town Hall steps by a former marathon runner, Henry Dillon, aged 50. Amid tremendous cheering, the Lord Mayor accepted the torch and held it high. He then kindled a fresh torch from the one brought to the Town Hall and handed it to another runner, B. C. Button, who left with it on the next stage of the relay to Melbourne.