Yesterday's blog looked back at the year 2011 and the second Hethersett open weekend in July of that year.
Today we turn the clock back another year to the first Hethersett open weekend. But how many people now remember these events which took place over an entire weekend? Have they been lost in the mists of time?
And that dear readers is one of the reasons for keeping this blog going and also launching my Hethersett History project - to celebrate and protect those memories.
Even my memory of the lead up to the London Olympic games has become a little hazy. I remember being closely involved through my position as chairman of the sports association and football club and also being a member of the Hethersett Olympic Legacy Committee which organised many of the events under the leadership of Shane Hull.
Shane was instrumental in organising and launching the two mile village fun run which has been "running" or "walking" ever since.
The open weekend saw us receive a special national Olympic Inspiration award and helped us to become the first village in the country to receive a Big Society Award from the then prime minister David Cameron. I was very proud to go to Downing Street with Shane to accept it in 2013. The award was in recognition "of the work to improve residents' fitness and wellbeing and local facilities to keep the Olympic legacy alive."
The important thing is that, not only did Hethersett hold a host of events in support and in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympic games, it also continued to arrange events afterwards as part of an Olympic fitness legacy and, in the funrun, we have a permanent reminder that carries on to this day.
Below is the press release sent out by the Government in 2013. It sums up what was happening in the village at the time: I have come across some old web pages with lots of photographs on them which I have been unable as yet to save as jpeg files. If I find out how to do this I will post some. In the meantime there are a couple of photos that I was able to save.
Hethersett’s work in keeping the Olympic legacy alive has made them the first village to receive a Prime Minister’s Big Society Award.
Inspired by the 2012 Olympic Games, village groups and organisations in Hethersett worked together to create activities and sports associations with the vision of encouraging local people to commit to fitness.
From arranging Olympic themed weekends and the Norfolk Village Games, to setting up new clubs and a sports association, Hethersett’s commitment to sports has gained them national recognition for providing more events per capita than any other village, town or city in the country.
Since inception:
- over 20 fitness and wellbeing groups have been put in place
- over 200 residents are signed up the fitness related activities
- 5 different sporting associations and clubs have been set up since the Olympics
- £8500 in grants were given to schools in the Hethersett area in order to properly celebrate the Olympics
Other events have included ‘Hethersett’s Got Talent’, a major ladies five-a-side football tournament, a round-the-square two mile fun run, concerts, church services, swimming marathons and a “come and try” sports day offering over 20 sports for residents to play free of charge.
Health and nutrition related events also take place further promoting the fitness activities on offer in the village. A fittingly active Olympic Legacy committee was created to help ensure that the momentum and enthusiasm seen during the Olympics is not forgotten.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
"I’m delighted that the people of Hethersett were inspired by the Olympics to come together and promote sport and fitness for everyone in the village.
"This Big Society award recognises Hethersett’s achievements and shows what people in communities across the country can achieve when they get behind something and volunteer to make a real difference in their local area."
Peter Steward, Chair of Hethersett Sports Association said:
"We have increased people’s awareness of what is on offer in the village by ensuring all our fitness groups are inclusive and open to everybody irrespective of age, sex, disability, colour or creed.
"People coming to our village comment on our go-ahead and positive attitude, which comes through the number of people who give their time and energy voluntarily to enhance our environment and to work towards making us the ‘ultimate fitness and well-being village’. We are delighted to be recognised by the Prime Minister for our efforts. We believe anyone can do, and our village is an example of how to."
Hethersett’s commitment and contribution to the London Olympic spirit was further recognised during the Olympic torch relay in July 2012 with a special off-route visit from the London Olympic Torch.
Notes to editors - The population of Hethersett at the 2001 census was 5,441 people in 2,321 households.
Big Society style events have included an Open Weekend Line-up set up by the Olympic Committee, a 1948 Olympic exhibition during the 2012 games, newly funded play equipment supported by Norwich City midfielder Andrew Surman, an Olympic themed movie night at Hethersett High School, The Green Space health and wellbeing group and more.