Kirkburton policewoman swaps village life for Olympic fever

SHE may not have won any medals but a Kirklees policewoman has put in an Olympic effort at the 2012 Games.

Pc Sally Baines swapped the sleepy village of Denby Dale for a nine day stint at the 2012 Games.

Pc Baines, who works for the Kirkburton and Denby Dale Neighbourhood Policing Team, was one of six from Kirklees to be stationed at the London Olympics.

And she said she had “jumped at the chance” to get involved with the world’s biggest event.

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said.

“An email was sent round asking for volunteers and when I was chosen I was screaming round the office, I was really pleased.

“For security reasons I didn’t know what I was going to be doing until I got there. The rumour was it was going to be patrolling the Tube stations and trains with the British Transport Police so when I was told I would be in the Olympic Park it was fantastic.”

Pc Baines’ first shift was patrolling the park during the opening ceremony, where she got a glimpse of a host of the celebrities involved in the epic performance, including David Beckham and Sir Steve Redgrave.

She also clapped her eyes on Dame Kelly Holmes, cycling hero Bradley Wiggins and was treated to a rare trip to the top of The Orbit, the tower sculpture next to the Olympic stadium.

Pc Baines said day one had been the highlight of her Olympic experience.

“We were outside, but I could hear everything,” she said.

“I was on the phone to my husband who was watching it at home and he said there’s a helicopter with Daniel Craig and the Queen in it, and I said, ‘oh the one that’s above me’ – and then I saw two parachutes come out. It was bonkers!”

Pc Baines said the whole experience had been incredibly enjoyable.

She said: “We were put on the ‘Happy Bobby’ patrols around the Olympic Park.

“We were just walking up and down talking to people, having a laugh, it was brilliant.

“I love it up here but down there people were running up to us to have their photographs taken with us.

“Everyone was pleased to see us and it was a totally different atmosphere, it made a lovely change to be appreciated.

“Everywhere you looked there was something going on, it was brilliant, and there was no trouble at all.”