Day 54 of the Olympic Torch relay – Reading to Salisbury

Today is day 54 of 70 for the London 2012 Olympic torch relay and will see the torch travel from Reading at 8:04am to Salisbury at 6:12pm, passing through Theale, Thatcham, Newbury, Basingstoke, Kings Worthy, Winchester, Andover, Ludgershall, Tidworth, Amesbury and The Winterbournes along the way.

Following on from meetings with the Queen and athletic royalty in the form of Sir Roger Banister & Sir Steve Redgrave, the torch today continues its journey via the resting place of literally royalty in the form of Jane Austin’s last resting place.

Leaving Reading in the early hours, the flame will be heading towards Newbury before beginning its run southwards via Basingstoke towards Winchester Cathedral – famous as the burial place of the aforementioned Jane Austin and as the longest medieval cathedral in Europe.

Perhaps not as famous as Sir Roger Banister, one of the torch bearers today will be 92 year old George Weedon who competed in the 1948 Olympic Games as a gymnast.

BBC Sport presenter Clare Balding is due to carry the flame in Newbury as a patron of the Riding for the Disabled and the British Paralympic Association.

As always, there is live coverage of the torch route on the BBC.