LIS students enter the hustle and bustle of the Olympic Stadium to perform

Manor Park students formed the River Thames at Olympics Closing Ceremony

Melissa York, Reporter Thursday, September 6, 2012
5:00 PM

Lucky students from a school in Manor Park were chosen to represent Newham in the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Paige Morgan and Chymaya White rboth aged 12

Six schools were picked from each of the east London boroughs and Little Ilford School in Browning Road took part for the young people of Newham.

Dressed and painted from head to toe in glittering bright blue costumes, 30 students helped to form the flowing River Thames wending its way through London as part of the ‘Greatest After Show Party on Earth’ held at Stratford’s Olympic Stadium.

While they glided around the stadium, the soundtrack was none other than The Kinks’ Ray Davies singing his ode to our capital city ‘Waterloo Sunset’.

Beginning rehearsals in April, the students put in over 80 hours of rehearsals to play their part in history by being one of the select group of performers in the Ceremonies team for London 2012.

Pamela Tapuj, a pupil at Little Ilford School, said: “This is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.

“It’s been an amazing summer for us all.”

Little Ilford students even found themselves rubbing shoulders with celebrity guests also asked to perform in the Closing Ceremony while they waited around for their chance to shine.

In the wings, the students hung out with electronic dance duo the Pet Shop Boys and X Factor boyband sensations One Direction.

Some of the teachers also helped out acting as chaperones during rehearsals and the night itself including Science teacher Neena Ranchod-Shaw.

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