Plymouth University lecturer set to carry Olympic flame

Ian Sherriff, associate lecturer and researcher from the Faculty of Health, Education and Society, is well known for his voluntary work which ranges from coach, manager and vice chair of a local junior football team to being a national board member of the Alzheimers' Society and chair of the SW forum for dementia. He will carry the torch in Plymouth on Sunday 20 May before it continues its UK tour reaching London's Olympic stadium for the opening ceremony on 27 July. Ian, 66, said: “I feel excited, honoured and very proud to be selected. I will carry it for all the other volunteers for the Alzheimers' Society and the blind servicemans' charity St Dunstans, as well as all the other volunteers who give up their time for free. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. Ian is part of a wider team at the University carrying out extensive research into dementia. His varied career also features 25 years in the Fleet Air Arm, where he participated in the field gun crew for the Royal Tournament, and 17 years in local government social work.