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P. 44

London 2012 – A year on

            This time last year Olympics Games Maker Claire Purnell from North Swindon had just completed two weeks of an amazing journey. She
            was one of thousands of volunteers who ensured the games was an incredible experience for visitors and a brilliant showcase for Britain.
           The Swindon College student services manager wrote of her immediate reaction in the October 2012 Link. Here she takes a long look back.
           Reflection                 aquatics centre and in the Olympic   Olympic  track,  and  making
           A year on from the London Olympic  Stadium was a great joy; we showed   some gorgeous new friends for
           Games and the euphoria and spirit  Britain’s best face to the world and I   life - where to after all of that?
           that brought the nation to an amazing  was privileged to be part of it.  Moving on….
           fortnight of success is still so fresh in   Highlights  for  me  are  still  so   To  say  I  hit  a  little  lull  af-
           my mind. The moments of tension,  vivid - from attending the opening   terwards  would  be  a  fair
           emotion and insane excitement for  ceremony rehearsal, watching the GB   comment, though having an
           me  as  a  games  maker  within  the  welcoming ceremony, meeting over   insight  into  new  opportuni-
           Olympic Park was special,  I loved  50  Olympic  athletes  and  spending   ties career-wise was food for
           every  minute.  To  have  witnessed  time  with  gold,  silver  and  bronze   thought. Facebook believe it or
           world  class  performances  in  the  medallists,  to  running  a  lap  of  the   not has been amazing for keep-
                                                                  ing in touch with fellow games
                                                                  makers. We had a reunion in
              FIAT & ALFA ROMEO                                   London in April when 15 of  Claire and gold medal swimmer Ye Shiwen
                                                                  us did the ‘Park in Progress’  who she looked after in the media maelstrom
            ✶ All cars welcome                                    tour which involved a trip up   that followed her victory
            ✶	cam	belt	replacement                                the Orbit once again to get a bird’s  of clothes for the children as there is
            ✶	engine	&	gearbox	repairs	&	                         eye view of the infrastructure being  wet fun to be had.
            	 rebuilds                                            transported or demolished.  What was the athletes village will
                                                                   Three  iconic  landmarks  remain,  reopen as ‘E20’ East Village, though
            ✶	electrical	fault	code	reading                       with the Lee Valley Velo Park ready  now looking void of colour from all
            ✶	MOT	repairs	  	                                     for action at the beginning of 2014  the countries’ banners and flags that
            ✶	vehicle	sales                                       along with the new hockey and ten- were draped by the athletes from the
            ✶	servicing	to	light	commercials  Open 8.30am - 5.30pm  nis centre.              balconies.
            Call for friendly advice, reliable service & quotes. All major credit & debit cards
            OPTIMA MOTORS                         39A Station Road,

                  Tel: (01793) 840667             Wootton Bassett








 No arrests have been made . We would still appeal to anyone with information
 to contact us on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information
 can be left anonymously.
 U turn by red Corsa on West Swindon road causes 4 car pile up
 A major road traffic accident at around 5pm on Monday 1 July caused
 major delays at Mannington roundabout and Tewkesbury Way.
 Four cars crashed into each other on the west bound side of Tewkesbury
 Way, beyond the slip road to Toothill, almost under the Toothill to Westlea
 footbridge where a crowd of onlookers gathered to watch emergency crews
 attend to the drivers.                                           Claire in the aquatics centre where she spent a lot of time during the games as
 The concertina shunt was caused by the female driver of a red old style   a member of the anti-doping team
 Vauxhall Corsa who decided to do a u-turn at the point where Tewkesbury   The  great  wave  of  Zaha  Hadid’s  Inspiring a generation
 Way is wider, where there is bus stop on the Westlea (north) side of the road.  aquatic  centre  roof  has  now  been  Locally our school ran a poem compe-
 The driver of a black Peugeot had to be cut from the vehicle by a Wiltshire   revealed. It will reopen to the public  tition on Your Hero and my nine year
 Fire & Rescue crew from nearby Westlea fire station, top.        in  Spring  2014,  with  its  spectator  old daughter wrote a poem based on
 One driver, possibly the person extracted from the Peugeot, required stabi-  capacity having been reduced from  her inspiring Paralympian hero Ellie
 lising treatment by paramedics at the scene before being taken by ambulance   17,500 to 2,500.   Simmonds who I tweeted so that she
 to Great Western Hospital.                                        The Olympic Stadium was recently  could read it.
 A white Fiesta, a blue Accord and a silver BMW were also involved in   featured in the anniversary games and   For me, the memories and friend-
 the accident. The car closest to the red Corsa turning in the middle of the   will be in use for the rugby world cup  ships will always be there and, as a
 road stopped to allow the u-turn, but the three following vehicles smashed   in 2015 and perhaps be rebuilt for  competitive swimmer in my youth, I
 into each other.                                                 football after that.       am now being badgered to get back
 The road was closed for a time whilst police established the exact cause of    The north side of the park near  into my cossie to start training for
 the accident and cleared up the damaged vehicles.                the velodrome is now open and it is  the Masters World Championships
 The U-turning road sign pictured on the left is seen by drivers going east   free to enter, with a great play area for  in  2016  to  be  held  at  the  London
 along Tewkesbury Way towards the town centre, not by the driver of the   children. We were lucky enough to be  Aquatics Centre. Watch this space.
 Corsa heading out from the town.                                 there for the official opening on 27  Read Claire’s account from October
 Photos: Calyxpix                                                 July. Be advised adults, take a change  2012: www.bit.ly/gmclaire
           44 swindonlink.com • September 2013



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