Singing the praises of the Games

To celebrate the start of the Commonwealth Games the BBC rolled into town with presenter Pam Rhodes for a special outside celebration of Songs of Praise.

Teams of people from Bolton Council, the BBC and the More Than Gold scheme organisers have been working for months to put together the unique programme from the heart of Bolton.

And yesterday prayers for good weather were answered as more than 3,000 people packed into Victoria Square in brilliant sunshine for an afternoon of favourite hymns co-hosted by Victoria Hall superintendent minister Rev Phil Mason.

One of the highlights of the occasion, which drew dignitaries and VIPs from all over Greater Manchester, was the children's choir, made up of more than 300 pupils from primary schools across Bolton.

They made an impressive display in multi-coloured t-shirts across the steps of the town hall and the singing was enhanced by the sound of the award winning Smithills School Senior Brass Band and the Rob Wilding musicians.

People got an insight into the work and effort which goes into producing a programme for television.

Cajoled and encouraged by the ever cheerful conductor, Bromley Cross man Nigel Swinford, the audience did not seem to mind rehearsing the hymns over and over and doing two or three "takes" just to make sure that when the programme is transmitted on July 28, the music will be perfect.

Eight hymns and songs were sung throughout the afternoon but the finished programme will look very different to that experienced by the people on the ground yesterday.

Following the Songs of Praise tradition the music will be linked togeother with interviews with people of faith who have a connection to the Commonwealth Games such as triple jump Olympian Jonathon Edwards and former Commonwealth gold medallist Diane Modhal.

Miss Modhal was in the audience as well with her family and spoke about how much the Games will mean to the athletes taking part.

A committed Christian herself she later told the Bolton Evening News that the Songs of Praise event had brought two of the biggest parts of her life together - her religion and competitive sport.

"The particular relationship I have with my religion has been the backbone of my career in the good times and the bad," she said.

The multi-national nature of the games was reflected in the music with a lively display of African drumming and dancing from Bolton based group Osegefo.

And there was plenty of audience participation during the Manchester Wave, a specially written song for the Games which has the crowds doing a spectacular version of a Mexican wave.

The flags of all the nations taking part in the Commonwealth Games proved a fitting finale to the event and many were carried aloft into the square by local people who have connections with the foreign countries.

Proudly heading the parade, which marched in to the rousing singing of "Thine Be the Glory" was former Bolton mayor Campbell Benjamin, with the flag of Antigua and the crowds got a chance to join in the fun waving their own BBC flags, which had been handed out prior to the recording.

Everyone concerned pronounced the afternoon an incredible success.

"It has gone even better than I hoped," said Bolton Council organiser Norma Rutherford.

Her comments were echoed by the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr John Walsh.

"If there had been a gold medal for hymn singing the Bolton would have won it," he said.

"This afternoon we have done Bolton proud."

As people finally drifted home, wondering if the cameras had managed to pick out their faces in the crowd, organisers were pleased that the event will give the rest of the country a special glimpse of Bolton.

About five million viewers around the UK are expected to tune into the programme, as well as viewers abroad in places such as Australia, South Africa and America.

Pam Rhodes said: "If the Commonwealth Games is even half as good as this then you are in for a fantastic time."