Looking Back on a Fitting Olympic and Paralympic Finale in Bedford Borough
It may have been over a week ago now, but I have to put on record what a fantastic event the Homecoming Parade for Etienne Stott and the Olympic and Paralympic 'thank you' was. We were lucky to have some beautiful weather for the occasion - a contrast with the last time people lined the pavement on the Embankment for an Olympics-themed event, when it poured down on us all for the torch relay! Talking of the torch relay, it was great to see some of the torchbearers there for the parade, along with a good number of 'Games Makers.' Two of the Borough's Paralympians joined Etienne on the bus, with sitting volleyball players Julie Rogers and Jessica Frezza receiving richly-deserved cheers.
In what was a very nice touch, the St Andrews Scouts also had a leading role in the parade. Etienne himself was very keen for this to be the case, as it was through the scouts that he had his first experience of paddling on the river. Etienne himself was fantastic on the day, spending time talking to as many people as he could and enabling everyone to share in his success. This photo gives an illustration of the size of the crowds there to wish him well, and it was great to see. Etienne has spoken with tremendous conviction since his thrilling triumph at the Olympics of the need to give children and young people opportunities to enjoy sport, and he has proven to be a tremendous role model. I am very pleased that following my request for the Council's General Purposes Committee to consider recommending the award of Freedom of the Borough for Etienne, they have done exactly that and it will now come to a meeting of the full council. It will be only right that the Council awards him the highest honour it can.
The parade was followed by a short ceremony to give thanks to all those Borough residents who contributed to the Olympics and Paralympics in their different ways, and the unveiling of the plaque to mark the naming of the 'Etienne Stott Whitewater Arena.' I joined Etienne for the opening of this facility, which is already being well-used by Viking Kayak Club, earlier in the year, and it was a real pleasure to be back there to give it a fitting name. Who knows how many future champions will hone their skills on that site in years to come?
The Beds on Sunday's website has a slide show of images from the day, which can be viewed here: http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Hundreds-turn-out-for-champion-Etiennes-Olympic-homecoming-29092012.htm