Olympic ceremony role dedicated to brother's memory (From Western Telegraph)

Olympic ceremony role dedicated to brother's memory

10:00am Saturday 11th August 2012 in News

A former Pembroke School pupil who performed in the Olympic Opening Ceremony has dedicated her appearance to the memory of her late brother.

Angharad Chapman, who now lives in London, says she wanted to dedicate her appearance in the spectacle to her late brother Toby who died of Cystic Fibrosis, as he was the one who had inspired her to become involved in performing arts.

She said: “He was the one who really got me involved in acting and dancing and it was always me and him together.”

Toby and Angharad were featured in the Western Telegraph as youngsters, for their involvement with the National Youth Theatre.

She added: “When I auditioned I said to myself if I got through, I’d dedicate it to Toby.

“I felt like he was there, it was very special to have that feeling and presence.”

She has been working with the Olympics for years in her job with the council in Newham, which is the host borough for the 2012 games.

Angharad, who was part of the 1980s and 1990s era of the dance section of the ceremony said: “It was a great experience to be part of it. It was a lot of team work and really quite exciting to be part of something you’ll never be involved in ever again.”

Although she enjoyed being part of the ceremony, she was less impressed with the costume she had to wear, describing it as “horrible.”

“It was bright neon with lots of face paint and a lots of distasteful clothes.”

Angharad still has a lot of family in Pembrokeshire with step-dad Michael Blake in Pembroke Dock and mother Twinny Chapman and brother and sister Rory and Lauren in Rosemarket.

She added: “We took a bow at the end and a got a massive applause.

“It made you feel it was a show rather than an opening ceremony of the Olympics, the greatest show on earth.”