olympics

Blazing saddles: the Olympic road race rips through the borough

By:
Published August 3, 2012, in Headlines

HEROES – fans in Ripley show their support as Team GB manoeuvre their way through the scenic village as Olympic fever grips the nation

HEROES – fans in Ripley show their support as Team GB manoeuvre their way through the scenic village as Olympic fever grips the nation

A NATION swelled with pride as the Olympic Games burst into life over the weekend, and Woking was at the emotional heart of it.

Thousands lined the streets as the men’s and women’s road races thundered through the borough.

West Byfleet LI:VE was teeming with Union flags as Olympic fever took a firm grip on the village.

Red, white and blue clad fans roared on Team GB’s world champion Mark Cavendish and Tour de France hero Bradley Wiggins, only for their  medal hopes to fade on Saturday.

To have something so special come through our tiny community is truly remarkable and something we should all cherish

But they were rewarded on Sunday when Lizzie Armitstead took silver in the women’s race to claim our first medal of the Games.

Robyn Dean, 18, and Jordon Styles, 19, from Georgelands, Ripley, (right) got into the Olympic spirit by painting their faces with Union flags before watching the race in White Rose Lane. Robyn said: “I got a picture of Mark Cavendish, I’m so proud. It’s nice to see the village coming together.”

Woking mayor Michael Smith, who cycled to Saturday’s festivities at West  Byfleet recreation ground, said residents had done the borough proud with their incredible show of support.

He added: “We stood on Parvis Road and it was great to be involved in a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“The fans and crowd responded incredibly to the road race and it was an amazing coming together.

“It’s unfortunate we missed out in the men’s race but it was a huge bonus to get silver in the women’s event.”

There was an overwhelming sense of pride as pictures of our area’s leafy streets were beamed across the world.

James White, 87, of West Byfleet said: “To have something so special come through our tiny community is truly remarkable and something we should all cherish. I won’t see London host the Olympics again in my lifetime so this is something to savour.”

More than a million fans lined the course for the men’s and women’s race which whizzed by Weybridge, whooshed through West Byfleet, powered on past Pyrford and ripped through Ripley en route to the gruelling climbs of Box Hill before returning to London and the finish line on the Mall.

Anita and Ray French, Sue Gibbs and her daughters Jess and Ellie and their pal Natasha Newson had ringside seats outside Hedgecroft Cottages in Newark Lane, Ripley.

Natasha said: “It was exciting and so fast.” Sue added: “You could feel the breeze coming off them.”

Dutchmen Marcel Elzenaar, Meino Meines, Ed Noorman and Gerard Meines, from Assen, all took part in an impromptu Mexican wave with other spectators in Ripley once the athletes had passed.

Gerard said the village and crowds had generated a ‘very nice atmosphere’.

Little Sam Perei, of Wentworth Close, spent two days with a friend making an Olympic banner to spur on Team GB. He watched the race with his mum Lottie, his brother Harry and their pet dog Amber. Sam said: “I worked very hard on the sign.”

Residents at Boltons Close in Pyrford marked the event with a party.

Despite the huge number of people out celebrating in the streets, Surrey Police have reported just two arrests.

Chief superintendent Gavin Stephens said: “There were only two event-related arrests in Surrey over the whole weekend and this is testament to the fantastic spirit of the thousands of people who came out to cheer on the cyclists.”

Olympic legacy is rejuvenation of West Byfleet

By:
Published June 22, 2012, in Woking Business

CHAIRMAN – Pauline Hedges

CHAIRMAN – Pauline Hedges

THE SPIRIT of the Olympics should live on in West Byfleet following the rejuvenation of the village’s business networking group.

West Byfleet Business Association chairman Pauline Hedges admitted the group had been ‘virtually moribund’ last year before news broke that the Olympic cycle races would be passing through the village.

Since then WBBA has been thriving, so much so that it is co-hosting a special Olympics Fair with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games on the recreation green behind St John’s Church next month.

Pauline said: “The recreation ground is next to the cycle race and we’ll have a funfair, kids’ rides, a crafts and farmers’ market and displays.

“We’ll be screening the races live on a giant screen as well as the film Grease. I’m a John Travolta fan and it’s a family film.

“People can bring a picnic, sing along, get up and dance. It will be something to remember.”

West Byfleet is expecting around 6,000 visitors over the Olympics weekend of July 27/28 and 29.

Pauline said: “They’ll be coming from the railway. It is a fantastic opportunity for retailers to attract customers into their shops with special offers.

“It is a unique opportunity, the rest of the country must be so jealous.”

But Pauline, 66, of Hollies Avenue, admitted the real legacy of the Olympics was the rejuvenation of WBBA.

She said: “It was virtually moribund before we heard about the cycle races – a few people
going to lunches.

“The Olympics has given us a focus – it gave us that kick-start we needed.

“We thought, let’s turn what could have been a negative into a positive, make a downtime into an opportunity.”

Back then, retailers and local business people met up with the Byfleet, West Byfleet and Pyrford Residents’ Association.

Pauline, who had worked for Surrey Chambers and now organises farmers’ markets, volunteered as WBBA’s chairman.

Pauline, a grandmother who has a regular breakfast slot on BBC Surrey, said West Byfleet was home to around 90 businesses.

She said: “It’s a real community. We have breakfast meetings, and tea and coffee at Corker’s wine bar. We have retailers, office workers, solicitors, accountants.

“Our local councillors, Gary Elson and Richard Wilson are very supportive and sometimes bring along council officials to talk to us. It’s really helpful.”

“If you get to talk to other people, you don’t feel so isolated. Although I have lived in West Byfleet for 22 years, I think I’ve got to know more people in the past year than I’ve ever done before.”

To find out more about the West Byfleet Business Association visit http://www.wbba.org.uk