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Review: My First Justin’s Jokes

IamMummyMatters — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:01:42 +0000

Ok I admit it, I’m one of those terrible mother’s who just cannot laugh at their children’s rubbish jokes, I just don’t have it in me. You’d think by now I would have learnt how to do it, afterall Curly is 10 years old so I’ve had plenty of practice. Curly loves to tell jokes, unfortunately he’s rubbish at them because most of the time he tries to make them up himself. Occasionally he will come out with a gem of a joke which someone has told him and then I really do laugh, like the one about the spider but on the whole they won’t be winning any prizes.

Now to make matters worse Little Bean has decided to join in the joke telling stakes and she is even worse than her brother. Yesterday as we got in the car on the way to school she said “Mummy, why did the monkey cross the road?”, “I don’t know, why did the monkey cross the road?”, “because he wanted to see his friends on the other side” – ha ha boom boom! Do you see what I have to put up with?

Then a few weeks ago a little angel must have heard my cries as I said “please no more rubbish jokes, my ears can’t take it anymore” because an email pinged into my inbox saying “would you like to review My First Justin’s Jokes”. WOULD I!!!!!!

Not only is Justin Fletcher like a King in our house, all the children love him, but he’s really quite funny too so he’s bound to have a few good jokes up his sleeve which are more for children’s ears than Daddy’s jokes are.

The book is bright and cheerful with lots of lovely child-like images which grab the children’s attention and there are plenty of images of Justin pulling various funny faces. As for the jokes, they are perfect for wanna-bee comedians of the pre-school and primary school years.

A few of Little Bean’s favourites are:

Why did the toilet paper roll down the hill? To get to the bottom.

Why was the sea wet? Because the seaweed.

What did one snowman say to the other snowman? Do you smell carrots?

What’s really good about all of these jokes is that they are simple enough for young children to remember so there is less chance of getting them wrong. You can’t beat a bit of laughter to make you feel good so I would definitely recommend this book for your little joker, if nothing else it will save you from the painfully not funny jokes they make up themselves!

Come on readers, tell me, what’s the funniest joke that your youngster has told you I’d love to know?

MY FIRST JUSTIN’S JOKES Justin Fletcher 3 May 2012, £4.99 paperback original, ebook £1.99

DISCLAIMER: For the purpose of this review I was sent a copy of My First Justin’s Jokes. All words and opinions are my own and may not be copied without my express permission.

“The Day is Here” to support Monkey Music and Nordoff Robbins

IamMummyMatters — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:00:51 +0000

In case you haven’t heard of Monkey Music let me tell you a little bit about them. Monkey Music are a premium UK music group for pre-school children and they have recorded a special charity song in celebration of the fantastic summer of sport ahead of us. The single entitled “The Day is Here” which was recorded by a group of children aged 7, 8 and 9, will be sold online to the families and friends of Monkey Music’s 10,000 children. Monkey Music are hoping to raise much needed funds for music therapy charity, Nordoff Robbins.

Nordoff Robbins

Nordoff Robbins delivers over 50,000 sessions of music therapy every year to people in schools, hospitals and care homes throughout the UK. Specially qualified music therapists help people with a range of challenges including autism, dementia, mental health problems, stroke, brain injury, learning difficulties and depression. In some cases they also provided therapy for those with terminal illnesses such as cancer.

“The Day is Here” tells the exciting story of running a race and is heartwarming to listen to especially when you consider all the great events which the UK has ahead of us this summer.

Angie Coates, Founder of Monkey Music, said;

“Both Monkey Music and Nordoff Robbins offer children fresh opportunities and life changing experiences through music. We believe that by working together we can raise awareness of the benefits of music for everyone. It’s lovely to use 2012 and the summer of sport to engage the very youngest of children in the excitement of sport and the joy of music.”

Jo Carter, Director of Fundraising & Communications Nordoff Robbins said:

“We are delighted to be working with Monkey Music, to be sharing our mutual believe in the power of music and to help raise funds to continue transforming the lives of vulnerable children and adults across the UK. As a charity we rely entirely on voluntary donations, so the Monkey Music song released this summer is a great way to raise funds and awareness.”

Over the next few weeks Monkey Music will be teaching “The Day is Here” through their classes and from the end of May the single will be officially released and available to buy online so keep your eyes peeled for news of it’s launch, you won’t want to miss it!

New research reveals how to enjoy the perfect cup of coffee

IamMummyMatters — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:01:24 +0000

New research released today from Carte Noire Instinct shows Brits just how to enjoy the perfect cup of coffee. And it doesn’t take place in a trendy coffee shop with a handsome barista as you might expect, but at home – sitting on a quality leather chair, listening to the silky tones of saxophone based jazz, surrounded by the deep colour purple, with the coffee served in a porcelain mug and accompanied by a simple but satisfying Victoria Sponge.

The research, commissioned to mark the launch of Carte Noire’s new Wholebean Instant coffee, Carte Noire Instinct, and conducted by MMR Research Worldwide, set out to establish what factors enhance the enjoyment of coffee and how those factors can combine to create the perfect coffee moment. Two extensive qualitative and quantitative sessions revealed that a relaxing break is the key to the perfect cup of coffee and the best place to enjoy it is at home.

So forget the fancy croissants, flapjacks and finger cakes of today’s coffee shops, a good old fashioned Victoria Sponge is what really sets off a cup of coffee. Plus there is no need for fiddly cups and saucers or long-necked glasses, a standard white porcelain mug is the ideal, three quarters full with hot coffee. The surrounding environment proved equally important, with people favouring a homely leather armchair, furnishings of deep purple and the silky tones of saxophone based jazz, to the heavy wooden furniture, bright lighting and popular modern music that is favoured in modern coffee shops.

The research was carried out by sensory experts MMR and researcher James Gater says, “Because coffee has such a full flavour, the best accompaniment is something simple and light like a Victoria sponge, rather than cakes with a very rich taste or heavy texture. The smooth mouthfeel of coffee, is best complemented by furnishings made of quality leather that have a silky feeling against the body, as opposed to something that is rough like wooden chairs or cold like marble tables. And in terms of sound, the seductive sound of saxaphone jazz best enhances the intense aromas of coffee. Ultimately the research found that people consider the coffee moment as a relaxing daily ritual, so an uncomplicated but sophisticated porcelain mug is the perfect way to serve coffee, as opposed to the traditional cup and saucer.”

Taste expert Tristan Stephenson says, “The way the brain untangles and identifies flavour is a complicated thing and many more factors come into play than just our taste buds. Different environments, with different sounds, smells and temperatures all affect the way we perceive the flavour of the liquids we drink and the foods we eat. Coffee has a bold taste and a strong smell, so the multi-sensory elements of flavour – such as colour, sound, smell and texture – are all vital to our enjoyment and appreciation of the product.”

Now Carte Noire Instinct will bring to life the research findings in an exclusive London event. The Silk Rooms will be the world’s first optimised Wholebean Instant coffee tasting experience and will take guests on a multi-sensory journey, which will culminate in the ultimate coffee moment. To find out more about the event, the research, or new Carte Noire Instinct, please visit www.facebook.com/CarteNoireUK.

About Carte Noire

Carte Noire is a premium French coffee made from 100% Arabica beans. The Carte Noire range includes Instant, Roast and Ground, Cappuccino, Tassimo and now new Carte Noire Instinct. Carte Noire Instinct is available in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Morrison’s, as a 100g tin (RRP £4.99) and an 80g refill pack (RRP £3.49).

Baking the easy way with children and Stork plus Cherry and Almond Muffin Recipe

IamMummyMatters — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:01:25 +0000

There is one activity that I couldn’t wait for Little Bean to be old enough to take part in with me and that’s baking. I had always done baking at home with Mum when I was a little girl and I wanted to share that with Little Bean too. I very often save it as a special treat for her rather than doing it every week, I want it to be a special occasion for her and so far that seems to work. She gets very excited when I tell her that we are going to do some baking.

A few weeks ago we were sent something which would make our baking much easier for Little Bean. The first part of baking is always the hardest, getting the butter/margerine to an easy consistency for Little Bean to mix. We have tried melting it a little first but it takes too long for Little Bean’s patience. Stork have launched its first new product in almost a century – Stork Easy to Mix Baking Liquid. The new easy-to-use format is perfect for baking with children and it’s also suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

We used the Stork Easy to Mix Baking Liquid to make ‘Nanna’ some birthday fairy cakes and it couldn’t have been more simple, just pour it straight into the mixing bowl with no need for melting or softening. The side of the bottle has markings so that you know how much you have used and it the bottle has a screw cap making it easy to seal to keep it fresh in the refrigerator for your next baking expedition. As you would expect from Stork it still has the same great taste and quality, meaning our cakes tasted gorgeous. We did try a few before we decorated them, we wouldn’t want Nanna to have a dodgy batch now would we!

Stork Baking Liquid is in store now and can be picked up for just £1.59 per bottle. Find more recipes and baking inspiration at www.bakewithstork.co.uk

We made Nanna chocolate cupcakes but you might like to give this tasty recipe a try;

Cherry and Almond Muffins
Servings: makes 12
Preparation time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking time: 20-25 minutes

Ingredients:
175g (6 oz) Stork Baking Liquid
175g (6 oz) golden caster sugar
300g (11 oz) self raising flour, sieved
3 medium eggs
5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon almond essence
½ teaspoon baking powder
250g (9 oz) fresh cherries, stoned and quartered

Method:
1. Place 12 muffin cases into a muffin tray
2. Add all the ingredients except the cherries into a bowl, and beat with a wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth
3. Reserve some cherries for decoration and fold the remainder into the mixture
4. Divide mixture evenly between the paper cases, and decorate the tops with remaining cherries
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes oven 200°C, 180°C (fan assisted), gas mark 6. Dust with icing sugar to serve

If only she knew . . .

IamMummyMatters — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:20:53 +0000

I’ve had a really nice day with Little Bean and Beanie Boy today. We haven’t done anything particularly outstanding or impressive, just hung out at home; played a little playdoh, built Little Bean’s Wendy House for some role play fun and visited friends. Little Bean has been a really good girl, very sweet and loving but as usual the day turned sour around 5.30pm when we reached mealtime. She asked me if she could have chicken nuggets and chips, by that she means one chicken nugget and about 5 chips. I really thought that her eating was starting to improve a little but who was I kidding? As the food was placed on the table in front of her, that familiar expression spread over her face and she started to pull away from her plate. I told her that was all that was on offer and if she didn’t want it she could leave the table and go to bed. She messed around with her food, ate some, pushed it around the plate and left most of it. I tried to explain to her about the children in Niger who would LOVE to eat the food that was left on her plate. I felt guilty throwing her leftover food into the bin for the hundredth meal in a row. Little Bean is such a caring little girl, she would feel terrible if she knew about those poor children. If only she knew . . .

>" align="right" />Jonathan Hyams is a member of the Emergency Response Staff from Save The Children currently based out in Niger, a country in the middle of a food crisis which threatens the lives of millions of children. He is witnessing first hand the devastating effects of malnutrition. Last week he met Abdoul, a 10 year old boy who told him “I am so hungry right now because I have not eaten since yesterday” “A good friend of mine died 3 months ago because his parents didn’t have enough food to feed him and so he got very sick. I am so upset to have lost him”. Constantly being hungry means that Abdoul is starved of the vital nutrients his body needs in order to grow properly and make him more susceptible to disease. Hunger is the biggest global killer of children, taking the lives of 300 children per hour!!

This week David Cameron will be attending the G8 Summit and he has the ability to reduce the number of children dying from malnutrition. This is your chance to show your support and make a stand, you’ve got 48 hours to do it. Tell David Cameron to break the chains of hunger. It costs you nothing but it could save a child’s life.

To follow Jonathan’s update’s from Niger you can catch them every Tuesday on Facebook.

Cybher gave me food for thought . . .

IamMummyMatters — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:54:49 +0000

So on Saturday I toddled off down to London all by myself. With no children in tow I felt a little lost to say the least, I even had to carry my own bags because of the missing pushchair and that was a wake-up call in itself. Mind you I did have a rather lovely bag, or so people kept telling me.

The night before Cybher as I put together everything that I thought I would need, my kitchen worktop look like a gadget shop, I had everything plugged in so I had full charge for the day ahead, smartphone, camera, flip camera (well you never know), emergency phone charger, iPod, iPad and iPad keyboard. But of course the one thing I forgot when I packed my bag was my book to read on the train, I haven’t quite got into the realms of reading on my iPad or iPod yet. So as the train pulled out of the station 20 MINUTES LATE!!! I sat back, plugged myself into the iPod, sat back and relaxed, something I rarely do. By the time I arrived in London I felt chilled and ready for the day ahead. I changed the music on my iPod from mellow to thumping and popped down to the underground for the final leg of my journey. Standing on the tube as it pulled up to the platform at Embankment I spotted a shock of red hair and knew instantly that it could only belong to the lovely Kate Sutton with whom I had been tweeting earlier in the morning. Kate was forming a conga line to Cybher so I joined in and got in line.

8 Northumberland was the destination for Cybher which was buzzing from the moment we arrived, Cybher women everywhere were recognising each other, exchanging hugs, kisses and business cards. Entering registration all eyes fell on the rows of gorgeous leather satchels in a rainbow of colours all emblazoned with the Cybher logo and filled with Cyher goodies. I chose pink and I love, love, love it!

The brainer bloggers among us quickly realised that if you scanned the QR code on the front of the notebook you could download the schedule for the day ahead, I was NOT one of the brainy ones and when I did try I got peeved with my QR code reader pretty quickly.

Down in the meeting room coffee, cookies and various other refreshments were ready and waiting to be devoured and a host of companies ready to tell us all about their latest releases, campaigns and projects. I flitted around like a birthday girl trying to greet all her guests, although it wasn’t my birthday and they weren’t my guests but as I began each conversation another face would move into my field of vision. It was especially lovely to catch up with Maria Halse and her new baby Elias who had flown back from Madrid especially for the event, how’s that for dedication?

The best thing I took with me for the day was without doubt my iPad and Keyboard as it made note-taking so much easier. In my opinion the sessions had all been well thought out and planned, giving us the keypoints of information we needed to go home and make worthwhile changes or improvements to our blogs. I particularly found the Competitions, Ask a WordPress Geek and Photography session (see photos I took to the left) really useful and I have already begun putting their advice into action.

As usual the day passed far too quickly and thanks to my lack of planning (strange for me) I felt rather like a lost puppy as the day came to a close. I had no specific reason not to drink, or to stay late but I hadn’t made any plans for afterwards and I’m not the sort to gate-crash or invite myself along to someone else’s party so I snuck off before the end and made my way back to Kings Cross and managed to get home in time to read my babies a story and tuck them up into bed (after I had wrestled my new pink Cybher satchel from Little Bean – s’mine!).

So to Sian and all her Cybher team I would like to say “well done on a very successful first Cybher, it really was fab and I shall look forward to attending again next year”.

To Fisher Price, I would like to say “thank you for making it possible for me to attend Cybher and I hope that our partnership can continue for many moons to come”.

And finally to all the lovely bloggers who I spoke to, new friends and old (not age old!), thank you for making my day more special by being in it and I hope to see you all again soon.

Mums beat Cheryl Cole & Kate Middleton as most positive role model for young girls

IamMummyMatters — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:01:19 +0000

Dove Self-Esteem Programme Working with Mums to help boost Self-Esteem among 11-17 year olds

According to new research commissioned by Dove, young girls are shunning female celebrities and looking to their mums as the most positive role models in their lives.

Mums soar above the rest with 37% of the votes cast. In a not-so-close second place, came Cheryl Cole (8%), with Angelina Jolie coming in third with 4% and Kate Middleton fourth with 3% of the votes.

These findings demonstrate that as Dove launches the 2012campaign for Dove Self-Esteem Programme (DSEP), now, more than ever, positive role models, such as mums, are needed in young girls’ lives to boost their confidence and help them achieve their personal and professional ambitions.

The top role models for girls were:-

Mum 37%

Cheryl Cole 8%

Angelina Jolie 4%

Kate Middleton 3%

Jessie J 2%

Rihanna 2%

Beyonce 2%

The research carried out by Dove looks at the effects of self-esteem among 11-17 year old girls and reveals how prevalent low self-esteem is among this age group.

Despite the positive role models in their lives, young girls are still discontented with their appearance and this is at the heart of the low self-esteem issue. The research showed:-

· Nearly half (45%) describe themselves as ‘average’ and ‘ordinary’ with a further 10% feeling ‘plain’, ‘unattractive’ and ‘ugly’. This is in stark contrast to the attributes these girls most often associate with beautiful women, which are ‘confident’, ‘happy’, ‘smart’ and ‘friendly’.

· The effect of peer-to-peer pressure is even more alarming with negative comments from other girls being the most damaging factor to their confidence. Over half of 11-17 year olds (57%) agree that they worry more about what their girlfriends might say about their looks than what boys might say.

Looking at pictures of models and celebrities in magazines is another common confidence-damaging experience for young girls, as 22% feel they don’t match up to the images portrayed, despite there being a high awareness (83%) that these images are airbrushed or digitally enhanced.

Dove has developed the Dove Self-Esteem Programme to make a real change to the way young girls perceive and embrace beauty. Through the DSEP, Dove will be reaching out to young people in the UK through self-esteem workshops, which will be held in schools all over the country. Any Dove product bought between 26^th March – 15^th May 2012 will help to give a girl a self-esteem education. This will be delivered through a Dove donation of a minimum of £250,000 to BEAT (the UK’s leading charity for those affected by eating disorders) to deliver self-esteem workshops in schools.

Mums can also get involved by visiting www.Dove.co.uk to access the DSEP Mother & Daughter Discussion and Activity guides, providing a useful aid in helping to boost girls’ self-esteem.

Ali Fisher, Dove Marketing Manager says “We are passionate about our social mission and want to continue to help young girls and women develop a positive relationship with their bodies. We’ve already reached over 800,000 young people in the UK as part of our Dove Self-Esteem Programme and our aim is to reach 1 million by the end of 2012. We really hope to create a step change for self-esteem with our 2012 campaign”.

Dove has worked with some of its most accomplished supporters to highlight how low-self esteem issues, if not addressed at an early age, can impact the number of successful women in the future. Successful women such as Chemmy Allcott (Olympic skier), Michelle McDowell (Civil Engineer and MBE), Jane Fallon (Author) and Karen Gill and Maxine Benson (MBE & founders of Everywoman) have been photographed by Rankin with their younger aspiring counterparts to highlight the importance of raising self-esteem among young girls and to ensure aspirations for future generations.

On the research findings, Chemmy Allcott says, “Mums are probably one of the most positive and inspiring role models that young girls have in their life, encouraging them to reach their full potential, no matter what their personal interests and goals are. My own mum has been hugely influential in my life and has always encouraged me to be the best person I can be”.

What’s brewing in the tea world

IamMummyMatters — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:01:31 +0000

The loose leaf tea renaissance

As a nation we enjoy drinking 165 million cups of tea on a daily basis, according to the Tea Council. However our taste in tea is changing as the loose leaf tea and infusion sector of the market is growing. So why the renaissance in loose leaf tea? Claire Trumper owner of www.trumperstea.co.uk with 25 years tea industry experience believes it’s down to: improved taste, provenance, health benefits and a return to traditional values within our homes, to take time for the ceremony of tea. Claire comments;

“As the name suggests loose leaf is made with whole tea leaves and it smells, looks, feels and tastes completely different from tea leaves that have been cut and processed into tea bags. Almost all of the true flavours of the pure tea leaf are lost in this process. With a plethora of new varieties and brands within the marketplace, tea buffs are the new wine buffs and many are seeking out loose leaf teas with good provenance and particularly with tea that is fairly traded. Having launched my own range of loose leaf teas, I love the fact I can show and tell people just where my tea is sourced, the land it is grown on and the people who benefit from our trade”

Claire spends a lot of her time visiting the producers and is a huge advocate for Fairtrade and also Concern Universal to improve the livelihoods of the producers she works with.

There are also a growing number of studies that show the health benefits that tea can have on our lifestyle. On-going research is discovering that drinking just 4 cups of tea a day may offer significant health benefits. Indeed many teas are calorie free, contain powerful anti-oxidants and are great for hydration for the whole family to enjoy.
Is the art of making a proper cuppa lost to many of us though? The sheer ceremony of making a proper pot of tea is in itself comforting, stress relieving and social. Here Claire shares her tips for the perfect cuppa using loose leaf tea. You will of course need the smartest teapot you can find and your best china, visit www.bettytwyford.co.uk for some great products. Don’t forget your tea strainer, a basic one is perfect!

How to make a good cup of tea in a proper teapot! – view online atwww.trumperstea.co.uk

1. Put fresh water from the tap into your kettle- water left in a kettle looses it oxygen and the tea lacks flavour.

2. Warm the teapot, whilst the water is boiling, so that the leaves are warmed before the water is added- it enhances the flavour!

3. Add loose leaf tea to a teapot or mug filter- if using a teapot add one spoon per person plus one for the pot!

4. Add water just off boiling and brew for three minutes

5. Put milk into your cup first- it instantly cools the tea and stops china cracking

6. Put your feet up and enjoy! Don’t forget to pop your tea leaves on your compost!

DISCLAIMER: I was sent the above products to try for myself and it is very true that loose leaf tea has much more flavour than tea bags.

Cybher: This time tomorrow . . . .

IamMummyMatters — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:43:52 +0000

This time tomorrow I will be three quarters of the way through my/the first ever Cybher event and I must say I’m really looking forward to it. Less than a month ago I thought that I wouldn’t be able to attend the event as I hadn’t got around to finding myself sponsorship and I knew that I couldn’t afford to do it by myself but thankfully, for my great love of Fisher Price, this little Cybher can go to the conference and I really can’t wait.

My Sponsor; Fisher Price

Fisher Price has been in my life since the moment I was born, my Mum and Grandparents always bought me Fisher Price toys and accessories, some of which I still have today for my children to enjoy. With both of my children I have used all manner of Fisher Price products from feeding bottles to pacifiers, bibs to balls, teethers to toys and car seats to pushchair. Fisher Price have got it all and they have got it all right, their quality is second to none and they never fail to inspire play. So thank you Fisher Price, for not only providing lots of fun and laughter for me as a child, for my children as babies and toddlers and now even as an adult you’re still allowing me to Play – with my friends at Cybher, Laugh – I’m sure there will be plenty of that throughout the day and Grow – I’m hoping that my knowledge will grow substantially with all the sessions I’m hoping to fit in tomorrow!!

About Cybher

I love the taglines for Cybher; because geek is the new chic – for women who blog! Cool line if I ever I heard one, suddenly I don’t mind being a little bit geeky.

I have read and re-read the schedule, I have hunted high and low on the internet to find one of those clock things that Hermione had in Harry Potter so that she could be in two places at once as you might guess that there are always two sessions I want to attend at the same time!!!! Turns out I can’t find one anywhere so I have written down my top choices and will make last minute decisions tomorrow.

I’ve been tweeting with friends so I know who else is going and now all that’s left to do is pack my bag and buy a jacket because I don’t have one in my wardrobe that I like so I’ll have to say bye bye for now, it’s time to hit the shops before they close.

See you at Cybher!!!

My Top 10 British Olympians

IamMummyMatters — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:32 +0000

I recently had a very interesting conversation with someone about how much our children know about our Olympians past and present. It was during a conversation with her teenage son that she began to question what had been taught at school since her son asked the question, “Who is Seb Coe?”. She was shocked that her son asked such a question since he is such a figurehead for the Olympics. This year is a landmark year for our country as we are hosting the London 2012 Olympics and so we were both a little surprised that more emphasis hadn’t been made on such an event at school, although perhaps they are leaving it until a little closer to the event?

Of course it’s important that the youth of today learn about our ancestors and our country’s heritage like King Henry Viii and Queen Victoria but what about teaching our children pride in other areas of our heritage? Fuelling their enthusiasm for our sportsmen and women is surely an achievable goal for them?

So as the London 2012 Olympics draws ever closer I bring you ‘my’ top 10 British Olympians;

Linford Christie

Linford Christie (or “the guy with the lunchbox” as I will always remember him) had an amazing victory in the 100m in 1992. He is a Jamaican-born sprinter who beat Dennis Mitchell and Leroy Burrell to win even though he was not the favourite in Barcelona.

Bradley Wiggins

Track and Road Cyclist who won bronze at the 2000 Summer Olympics, 3 more medals at the Athens 2004 Olympics and 2 golds in the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Chris Hoy

Track Cyclist representing Great Britain and Scotland. Winning 5 medals so far including 4 gold and 1 silver. After winning 3 gold medals in Beijing Chris became Scotland’s most successful Olympian and the most successful Olympic male cyclist of all time.

Mary Rand

Born in Somerset Mary was the first female to bring home a gold from the Olympics. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics Mary initially jumped 6.59m for a new British record and then managed a world-record jump of 6.76m which put her in a league above her opponents.

Ben Ainslie

It’s not all about the track and field, this Macclesfield-born sailor won silver in 1996 and followed it up with a further 3 Olympic golds at the 2000 Sydney Games and Athens 2004.

Daley Thompson

Who can resist the charms of this powerhouse of a man who won the decathlon in the 1980 Moscow Olympics and then again Los Angeles 1984.

Seb Coe

Before becoming a Politician and heading up the bidding for London to host the 2012 Olympics Seb Coe was a pretty nifty little fella. He was a middle distance runner who won 4 Olympic medals, including golds for the 1500m in 1980 and 1984. He 8 outdoor and 3 indoor world records for middle distance track events.

Kelly Holmes

Kelly still holds records for the 600, 800, 1000 and 1500m distances, she won her first Olympic medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and then went on to win gold for the 800 and 1500 at the 2004 Athens Olympics and has set many a record during her career. Kelly is now retired.

Matthew Pinsent

During his rowing career Matthew won gold at four consecutive Games, three of these with Steve Redgrave. Born in Norfolk he began by winning the coxless pairs in 1992 and then again in Atlanta 1996. At the Olympics in 2000 Matthew, along with Steve Redgrave, James Cracknell and Tim Foster won gold as part of the coxless fours. In 2004 Athens Olympics Matthew again won gold with Ed Coode, James Cracknell and Steve Williams.

Steve Redgrave

Steve Redgrave is an Olympic legend, winning bronze at 1988 Summer Games he went on to win gold at 5 consecutive Olympic Games between 1984 and 2000. Steve Redgrave has twice carried the flag at the opening of the Olympic Games and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2011.

Now if that isn’t a Great British bunch to be proud of, I don’t know what is!!!