Bud, the Olympic Torch & remembrance

The Olympic Torch Relay was in our area over the weekend, & so we took Buddy (& my Mom! LOL) along to see it.
We got there 2 hours before it was due, but the atmosphere was so great that the time just flew by. There were hundreds (probably thousands) of people there with flags & blow-up torches & flames.  It was a real party.  Bud wore a Union Flag bow & got lots (& lots!) of attention & fuss.
We staked out a great spot ('Our Bit of Gutter'! LOL) & had a fabulous view when the torch came along.  There were lots of relay-related vehicles first with everyone in them waving - plus the bus with the future relay people & their torches in it - it was like a mini parade.  Then the torch arrived, carried by a young woman who looked to be having a fabulous time.  We all waved our Union flags & cheered & shouted, & although we only saw the torch for a few seconds, it was really exciting & actually quite moving.
The whole experience of the afternoon & all these people joining together to celebrate was just lovely. I'm really glad we went - as everyone keeps saying, 'it's a once in a lifetime event'! :)

Here's Bud (wearing his Union Flag bow *g*)



( A few more pics of the Budlington... )

The torch relay had started that morning from Derby & called in at the National Memorial Arboretum.  As this was Armed Forces Day, it was especially poignant.  The torch was carried by Corporal Johnson Beharry VC & he took it to the Armed Forces Memorial ('The Wall') for a minute's silence.  (There's a nice little clip at the BBC website here.)

We visit the National Memorial Arboretum quite regularly as my Dad was in the Royal Air Force.  In fact, we were there a few weeks ago for the annual dedication service of the RAF Association Remembrance Garden where there's a cross for my Dad (we're having a stone laid shortly, as well.)  It had been planned to be an open air ceremony, but unfortunately the weather was really bad & so the service was moved into a marquee.  The RAF concert band accompanied the hymns & a bugler played The Last Post.  It was a lovely service.  Luckily, the weather didn't stop the fly-past by a Hercules!

( Some pics... )

Happy Monday, folks! :)

Bud, the Olympic Torch & remembrance

The Olympic Torch Relay was in our area over the weekend, & so we took Buddy (& my Mom! LOL) along to see it.
We got there 2 hours before it was due, but the atmosphere was so great that the time just flew by. There were hundreds (probably thousands) of people there with flags & blow-up torches & flames.  It was a real party.  Bud wore a Union Flag bow & got lots (& lots!) of attention & fuss.
We staked out a great spot ('Our Bit of Gutter'! LOL) & had a fabulous view when the torch came along.  There were lots of relay-related vehicles first with everyone in them waving - plus the bus with the future relay people & their torches in it - it was like a mini parade.  Then the torch arrived, carried by a young woman who looked to be having a fabulous time.  We all waved our Union flags & cheered & shouted, & although we only saw the torch for a few seconds, it was really exciting & actually quite moving.
The whole experience of the afternoon & all these people joining together to celebrate was just lovely. I'm really glad we went - as everyone keeps saying, 'it's a once in a lifetime event'! :)

Here's Bud (wearing his Union Flag bow *g*)



( A few more pics of the Budlington... )

The torch relay had started that morning from Derby & called in at the National Memorial Arboretum.  As this was Armed Forces Day, it was especially poignant.  The torch was carried by Corporal Johnson Beharry VC & he took it to the Armed Forces Memorial ('The Wall') for a minute's silence.  (There's a nice little clip at the BBC website here.)

We visit the National Memorial Arboretum quite regularly as my Dad was in the Royal Air Force.  In fact, we were there a few weeks ago for the annual dedication service of the RAF Association Remembrance Garden where there's a cross for my Dad (we're having a stone laid shortly, as well.)  It had been planned to be an open air ceremony, but unfortunately the weather was really bad & so the service was moved into a marquee.  The RAF concert band accompanied the hymns & a bugler played The Last Post.  It was a lovely service.  Luckily, the weather didn't stop the fly-past by a Hercules!

( Some pics... )

Happy Monday, folks! :)