Wakefield and others Skills Olympics
Last Update 9thMay 2019

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This video came from the Skills Olympics opening ceremony held at the NEC Birmingham in ????. The idea was to have an opening show featuring many nationalities. It would be nice to say we were chosen but in truth Chinewerde had been invited then found they were unavoidably washing their hair or something and passed the invite to us.
So we turned up at the NEC and checked out the venue and other "turns". The Welsh contribution was a male voice choir and a harpist, the Scots a lone piper; I make no comment. Ken Martin glancing over the area spotted a 5 year old Irish dancer with heavily embroidered dress and bolt on ringlets "No chance mate, they wheel her out and the crowd will go wild, we could be juggling burning chain saws and not get a murmur. Possubly a view shared by the video editors as if you blink you'll miss us.
Considering a nip over to Birmingham International Rail station in search of a pint we were foiled by the arrival of the band of the Grenadier Guards there to play for the royal on duty as "official opener" ; Prince Edward. So a security clamp down and we had to settle for Tango or Coke. Anyway it worked out and we did a reasonalbe job - I think. The "skills" by the way covered hairdressing, joinery, bricklaying etc. Actually this event provided a whole host of stories for the camp fire gatherings - buy us a pint some time and I'll clue you in. Comments or updates to detail welcome at the editors desk..

The Team :
  • Derek Bacon
  • Tony Bacon (Musician)
  • Doug Bradshaw
  • George Chambers
  • John Earnshaw
  • Alan Lindsay
  • Ken Martin
  • Doreen Alsop
  • Jenny Chambers
  • Mo Doonan
  • Corinne Miller
  • Barbara Quinn
  • Gerry Statham

The Tape :

00:00Opening ceremony
06:00It's us doing Gisburn. Cut short and I feel sure we did at least one other dance; but hey ho!
07:15Mannon Morris and the Alcester Male Voice Choir. Look for the harpist in the procenium arch.
08:30Nachda Sansaar Bangra Group
09:12Phase One Steel Orchestra
10:45Danny Doherty Academy of Irish Dancing. Spot the cut kid with the steel curls!
13:09Lance Sgt. Danny Flemming - Scots Guards.
14:30Possibly an interval.
15:15Czuplak Ukranian dancers and musicians.
22:20Thank and good luck here are all those who entertained you today.
28:30The Competion
36:00Medal ceremony and speeches - including the Grantham Granny.
48:00Farewell and "Auls Lang Syne"
49:15 But not without a post event party!