I've just returned from seeing the Olympic Torch and the Flame being lit at the Castle. It was all a bit hastily arranged by the council but actually they did a half decent job of it. The Castle wall turned out to be the perfect setting for showing the torch from up high sort of Olympic styley and it worked. Quite a sizeable crowd had gathered around the bridge and the Watergate for the hope of a glimpse at the legendary flame and the even more legendary Dame Kelly Holmes who was instrumental in bringing the torch to Tonbridge. We were truely honoured with an appearance by Tonbridge MP Sir John Stanley and Gregg Clark (who'd been allowed over the border from Tunbridge Wells!) We had a speech from the new Mayor of Tonbridge and, I think it was 'er off the TV, Caddie Lee Preston, although I couldn't be sure from a distance doing the time filling in bit before the, delayed in traffic, torch actually arrived. Then Kelly came down among us to show us the flame closer up. No doubt, in the process, breaking every 'ealth n safety rule in the book! That she will be one day be renamed Saint Kelly of Tonbridge and Hildenborough seems beyond doubt. And the legend of Saint Kelly and the Olympic Flame shall be told for ever more! I never thought I'd see myself writing this but I am forced to say: well done Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council for pulling this off. (and it didn't even hurt that much to say it!!)
6 comments:
Blimey, steady on with the hero worshipping...You should have asked Kelly Holmes to bend over, and we might have seen the sun today.
I agree good event and respect to Kelly for pulling the strings to make it happen, TMBC for showing they can do stuff like this at short notice, and good folk of Tonbridge for turning out. (incidentally as far as I can tell from searching for 'spider events' this was a complete one off rather than something which has happened elsewhere along the route)
Brilliant and such a great turnout too. Well done to all involved in making this happen!
You've really surpassed yourself this time TB! Saint Kelly Holmes? I don't think so, and neither do I think would she! Since winning her two gold medals in Athens, Dame Kelly has done a fine job as a sports and Olympic ambassador, and I was there back in 2004 cheering as she road through the town in her open top bus.
Describing her as a saint though really is taking things too far. Your time spent in Fleet Street is certainly showing through in this latest piece of sycophantic hero worshiping. In fact it has to be in the same league as those tabloids that used to describe foul-mouthed Irish rocker, Bob Geldorf, as "Saint Bob".
As for all this mass hysteria about the Olympic Flame, well what more can I say except I'm glad I didn't take the day off work to see it!
I like the bit about "Kelly came down among us".
Have you seen that thing she does with the loaves and fishes? It's amazing...
I prefer the turning of the water into wine!
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