A TEENAGER who volunteers every night after school will carry the Olympic torch through Chickerell.

Courtenay Smith, 18, says she has seen many children learn life skills by joining Scouts groups since she began volunteering with them eight years ago.

The Budmouth College student said: “I’m excited but at the same time just really pleased to have been chosen, especially considering how many people in the area were nominated. It’s not something you expect to be doing.”

Courtenay, who plans to join the RAF after completing her A-Levels, helps out at Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer groups, and is a flight sergeant in the Weymouth Squadron Air Training Corps.

She said: “You see people grow and learn and it’s interesting to watch and be a part of that. Organisations like the Scout groups help to shape young people and make them better people for their community.”

She added: “I get a lot of satisfaction in what I do and in knowing the kids and their parents really appreciate it.

“The other day I found out that a child wrote a report about who inspired him and he chose to write about me. That you can make that much of a difference and be someone that people look up to just by teaching them how to change a bike tyre is really amazing.”

AN INSPIRATION to young people will feel the Olympic spirit when he carries the flame through Chickerell on July 12.

Neil Hardisty, from Weymouth, has been a teacher at Budmouth College for 32 years and a youth club volunteer for more than 40.

In his nomination, Mr Hardisty was described as ‘always being someone to turn to in a crisis’.

He and his wife, who have three grown-up sons, have also taken in a number of young people in need of help.

Mr Hardisty, aged 63, said: “At first I didn’t really realise the significance of what the nomination meant.

“But when I got through to the second round, I began to think: ‘Yes, this is a big deal’.

“It wasn’t until I got through as a torchbearer that I truly realised the importance of it. It’s an amazing opportunity.”

Mr Hardisty has given a talk about being a torchbearer at a school in Notting Hill where his daughter-in-law is a teacher and he will also go to Radipole Primary School to give a talk after carrying the flame.

The cricketer and table-tennis coach said: “We have got quite a bit of Olympic fever now. My youngest son is taking part in the opening ceremony and his wife is taking part in the opening ceremony of the Paraly-mpics.

“We all have tickets to some of the events and last weekend we went to see the Olympic Village.

“I am very excited.”