DT News - UK - Former dentist becomes oldest Olympic torch-bearer

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 23 July 2012

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BOURNEMOUTH, UK: Tony Chivers, a 92-year-old former dentist from Medstead, has become the oldest torch-bearer at this year’s Olympic Games in London. Chivers, who recently carried the flame through Bournemouth, has been an active athlete all his life and still runs today to raise funds for dental charities.

Aged 18 and still at school, Chivers ran a mile in 4.29. The athlete soon started to run professionally, representing Great Britain, England and the British Empire from 1947 to 1950 and winning bronze in the three-mile event at the 1950 Empire Games. Chivers, who was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1996, formed local tennis and bowls clubs and organised fundraising to subsidise sport in his community. “I got a tremendous amount of pleasure out of sport and it has been my ambition to put back as much as I can,” he stated.

Chivers pursued a career in dentistry and was elected chairperson of the British Dental Association’s Benevolent Fund, which helps dentists and their families through times of difficulty with regular or one-off grants according to their need. Chivers, now vice-president, was an active trustee of the fund for 24 years and was nominated by its members as torch-bearer. By carrying the Olympic Torch, Chivers aimed to raise awareness of the fund, hoping that dental professionals would support him by cheering him on and donating towards the fund’s “Be active for the Ben Fund” campaign.

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