The Paralympic Opening Ceremony
I belong to an organisation called Amputees in Action and they invited me to go to an audition to do ariel work for the opening ceremony of the Paralympics to be held at the 3 Mills Studios situated almost in the shadow of the stadium.
Jenny Sealey, the Artistic Director of the Paralympic Opening Ceremony, who so professionally and sensitively dealt with all the disabled performers, watched as Steve tried 3 harnesses on me - the first attempted to change the pitch of my voice - the second tipped me upside down - the third had me perfectly balanced and I was hoisted about 40 feet in the air was taught to do backward and forward somersaults. I found out later that the last time the harness had been used it was fitted to Tom cruise in Mission Impossible when he leapt from the office building. My wife was disappointed that I didn't come home looking like him!
I didn't get chosen to fly and only realised later that I needed two hands to manipulate the props in the air, but what an experience, sorry no photos it was all high security at that stage.
I did get asked to be part of a choreographed protest group so, with best dancing legs to the fore, I was included in the Team.
Rehearsals at the old Ford site in Dagenham