Littlehampton pair join the celebrations as summer of sport ends

Paralympic torchbearer Mike Goody had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to take part in the Paralympic closing ceremony spectacular, on Sunday (September 9).

While Littlehampton woman June Hart joined in with the celebrations in London, on Monday (September 10), as part of the capital’s 2012 victory parade.

Mike, formerly of White Horses Way but who now lives in Felpham, had his left leg amputated following a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan, in 2008.

He was part of a team from Help for Heroes involved in the “human endeavour machine” display during the weekend’s stunning finale.

Watched by about 7.7 million people in the UK alone – with a global audience in the hundreds of millions – Mike, along with the other “band of brothers” from the charity team, helped manoeuvre the endeavour – a large, metal replica of a historic gun turret with a flag pole mounted to the top.

The 27-year-old, said: “It was completely epic. We had dozens of practice runs in Dagenham but it never really hit until we were in the stadium, looking at all the crowd – it was immense.

“I kept saying to myself ‘Oh my word’. There were so many people clicking and snapping pictures of us with 
their cameras.”

Mike has now been inspired to try and become one of the athletes taking part in Rio’s 2016 Paralympic Games.

He hopes to compete in either the 50m freestyle or the 100m butterfly.

June, 54, of Admirals Walk, was one of the privileged few Olympic “games makers” to be invited on the victory parade.

She was invited onto one of the passing floats – packed with GB Olympians and Paralympians – by one of the athletes.

Later, she had her photo taken with Olympic cycling legend Victoria Pendleton – who won a gold and silver medal at London 2012 – and show-jumping silver medallist Zara Philips. June said: “It was incredible.”