Vintage-kat
Join Together
This month is the 35th anniversary of the Xth British Commonwealth Games - the "Friendly Games" as they came to be known (for our overseas friends, think the Olympic Games, but on a much smaller scale!)
I was just six years old in 1974 but so much from these Games remains vivid and clear in my minds eye. Why that should be I have no idea but it's almost like my childhood memories "kickstart" from this particular moment in time.
I clearly remember Dick Taylor running away from the rest of the field for gold in the 10,000 metres.
The legendary Graham May toppling over during the Super Heavyweight Weightlifting, the bar rolling off the stage onto the lap of Princess Anne and his wonderful classic 70s black-rimmed spectacles smashing on the ground.
John Walker and Rod Dixon vainly trying to chase down the magical Tanzanian Filbert Bayi in the 1500 metres (still - IMHO - the most memorable moment ever in New Zealand sports).
Probably most of all, however, I remember this song: Join Together
"Join Together" was the theme song for the Games and was written by a fellow called Steve Allen (real name: Allen Stephenson). "Join Together" is my favourite piece of music ever - joyous, happy, innocent, basically New Zealand how it used to be and will never be again.
I actually came to know Steve quite well when he ran a magazine shop in Napier in the mid-1990s. I whiled away many a rainy lunch hour yarning with Steve who - it turned out - was an even bigger sports nut than me.
Anyway, this very long-winded spiel is my introduction to our latest Flickr pic - yours truly in a genuine mint-condition 1974 British Commonwealth Games Officials Uniform.
I found this over Christmas and can still scarcely believe my luck. This isn't just any other piece of Commonwealth Games memorabilia - this is the "Holy Grail". The only other complete uniform I have ever seen is at Te Papa -and that was the womens' version.
I have been pondering for a little while now how best to raise this minor but notable New Zealand sporting anniversary. It took a bit of arm-twisting but I finally persuaded my lovely wife to take some pics of me today (hair plastered down in classic 70's style bowlcut style) to post on here to share with you all as my own small but personal tribute to the greatest Games of all. Enjoy everyone!
Join Together
This month is the 35th anniversary of the Xth British Commonwealth Games - the "Friendly Games" as they came to be known (for our overseas friends, think the Olympic Games, but on a much smaller scale!)
I was just six years old in 1974 but so much from these Games remains vivid and clear in my minds eye. Why that should be I have no idea but it's almost like my childhood memories "kickstart" from this particular moment in time.
I clearly remember Dick Taylor running away from the rest of the field for gold in the 10,000 metres.
The legendary Graham May toppling over during the Super Heavyweight Weightlifting, the bar rolling off the stage onto the lap of Princess Anne and his wonderful classic 70s black-rimmed spectacles smashing on the ground.
John Walker and Rod Dixon vainly trying to chase down the magical Tanzanian Filbert Bayi in the 1500 metres (still - IMHO - the most memorable moment ever in New Zealand sports).
Probably most of all, however, I remember this song: Join Together
"Join Together" was the theme song for the Games and was written by a fellow called Steve Allen (real name: Allen Stephenson). "Join Together" is my favourite piece of music ever - joyous, happy, innocent, basically New Zealand how it used to be and will never be again.
I actually came to know Steve quite well when he ran a magazine shop in Napier in the mid-1990s. I whiled away many a rainy lunch hour yarning with Steve who - it turned out - was an even bigger sports nut than me.
Anyway, this very long-winded spiel is my introduction to our latest Flickr pic - yours truly in a genuine mint-condition 1974 British Commonwealth Games Officials Uniform.
I found this over Christmas and can still scarcely believe my luck. This isn't just any other piece of Commonwealth Games memorabilia - this is the "Holy Grail". The only other complete uniform I have ever seen is at Te Papa -and that was the womens' version.
I have been pondering for a little while now how best to raise this minor but notable New Zealand sporting anniversary. It took a bit of arm-twisting but I finally persuaded my lovely wife to take some pics of me today (hair plastered down in classic 70's style bowlcut style) to post on here to share with you all as my own small but personal tribute to the greatest Games of all. Enjoy everyone!