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The Launch of the book "A
Proper Spectacle"
(From left to right) Joyce Badcock,
Sarah Hunt, Eva Spinks, Maud Norklit, Dorothy Tyler, Audrey Court, Brenda Halligan |
The launch of 'A Proper Spectacle' was held
on Sunday March 19th at Bedford Athletic Stadium - and what a wonderful time was had by
all! Seven of the women featured in the book made the journey to attend. From the
Berlin Olympics of 1936, Dorothy Tyler (nee Odam) high jumper silver medalist, Audrey
Court (nee Brown) sprinter and relay silver medalist, Brenda Halligan (nee
Crowe) member of the British gymnastics team all shared stories about Hitler and their
amazing time together. Canadian high jump bronze medalist from 1932, Eva Spinks
(nee Dawes) enthralled everyone with her stories about Babe Didrikson and we all discussed
‘Did Babe dive or didn’t she?’
| There was not a dry eye in the
house when team mates and silver medalists in the relay from the Amsterdam Olympics of
1928, Joyce Badcock (nee Cooper) and Sarah 'Cissie' Hunt (nee Stewart) met
for the first time in 70 years. The only
living competitor from the Womens World Games of 1926 and sprinter in the 100 metres at
the Amsterdam Olympics of 1928, Maud Norklit (nee Sundberg) travelled from Sweden
to attend the event. |
The
moment when Joyce and Cissie met |
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With her blue leather jacket slung jauntily over one shoulder, her
feather earrings and her rather cool shades Maud was a wonderful advertisement for the
long walks in the Swedish forests, jazz dance and music that Maud says ‘Keep the body
fresh and the soul in harmony.’ British Honorary Member to the IOC and Olympic fencer
Dame Mary Glen Haig MBE, honoured the women by her attendance.
Lunch was held at our village restaurant ‘The Knife
and Cleaver’ where 30 sat down to talk, eat and drink. We then went on to Bedford
Athletic Stadium where over 100 people, including former Olympians, were gathered to hear
radio and TV journalist Jenni Mills introduce the women to the crowd with great style and
panache. |
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