Legacy of the London 2012 Games in Herefordshire (From Hereford Times)

Legacy of the London 2012 Games in Herefordshire

9:30am Friday 17th August 2012 in County

The London 2012 Olympics have been and gone – but the spirit of the games was certainly felt in Herefordshire. Reporter Lydia Johnson meets the Herefordians who volunteered, flew to the capital and held Olympic events at their own homes...

Ride of a lifetime

Steve Webb surprised his parents Bonny and Gail, from Mordiford , by buying them a heliopter ride that flew them from Hereford Racecourse to Battersea in London.

They got tickets to watch an evening of athletics on August 9 and saw Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and Kenya’s David Rudisha in action before they flying home the following day.

“It was absolutely fantastic, especially seeing Bolt run,” said Bonny.

 

Theatre skills came in handy 

Matt Watkins, a graduate of the Courtyard's Youth Theatre, was a senior stage manager for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games.

Matt took part in various productions at the Courtyard before becoming part of the backstage team where he was able to build his experience working in stage management. He will also use his skills again during the opening and closing ceremonies of the forthcoming Paralympic Games.

 

Never too old for gold

Joan Powell was a winner when Coldwells House care home in Holmer held its own Olympics.

The 89-year-old, who had been preparing for the mini games for weeks, proved that hard work and persistence pays off when she won Gold in the care home's basket ball and the egg and spoon race, along with silver in the shot put.

Across the city stroke patients at South Hereford’s Hillside Centre staged events that physiotherapists knew would boost inspiration and rehabilitation, from bowls and basketball to shooting and target throws.

 

Volunteering on "another planet"

Bromyard woman Margaret Taylor described her time volunteering at the Olympics as like being ‘on another planet’.

The 61-year-old spent two weeks helping volunteer drivers at the London 2012 Olympics transport the rich and famous to and from the games.

Margaret, who works at the town’s Post Office, said: “Although my role was not the most glamorous, it was a very practical, useful roles."