The Olympics comes to Grey Fox country

Attending the Olympic Opening Ceremony, and watching the road races and time trials over the last few days, have been experiences I will never forget. The cycling has taken place in Grey Fox country on the edge of London - at the end of our road and through the local park. A great privilege and an unrepeatable experience.

The Opening Ceremony was stunning; an unforgettable mix of British humour, culture and history. The transformation from Britain's green and pleasant land to post-industrial revolutionary chaos, the forging of the Olympic rings and the Queen's excellently-acted piece with James Bond were highlights for me. It was also special for me as a national charity run by a close family member was particularly honoured.

The men's cycling road race was disappointing for Team GB who were marked men from the start. Nobody would help the favourites and, as a result, the gold medal was out of reach. Lizzy Armitstead's silver medal in the women's race and gold and bronze for Wiggins (see photo below) and Froome respectively in the time trial  was an excellent consolation for GB cycling .

What has this got to do with this blog? Well, this is a record of influences and what could be more inspirational than a local Olympic Games? [All photos by Grey Fox]

The Flame is lit.

The breakaways start as Team GB tries to control the race on Box Hill.

Bradley Wiggins flies past the end of the road on his way to Gold in the Men's Time Trial.

The excitement mounts - contrasting styles of the London Olympics

The last time I saw my mother before her sudden death was the day we learned that London had won the 2012 Olympics. She told me about her experiences as a teenage volunteer at the 1948 London Olympics. Below is a picture of the Olympic scarf she gave me. The style reflects an optimistic, colourful and exuberant time when the War was still a recent memory, London was being slowly rebuilt after the Blitz and a new age beckoned. The scarf underneath is the 2012 scarf.

The excitement of the 1948 Olympics contrasts with the commercial machine that is the modern London Games. The sponsors of the modern Olympics have made it a very different event. The amateur innocence of a past Olympics has long gone.

However, London is really looking forward to it. As I write this the sky overhead is humming with helicopters as the flame passes along the River Thames near where I live (photographs below). I am lucky to be going to the Opening Ceremony and have tickets to see athletics and track and road cycling in both Olympics and Paralympics.

These pictures were taken earlier this morning as the flame was lit for its final journey along the Thames on the Gloriana to the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony tonight.

How can a man of style celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics?

We are now celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee here in the United Kingdom. With a token apology to overseas readers, I have been thinking about what is available to a man of style who wishes to celebrate. I don't think we can be coy about this; these events happen rarely and seldom coincide with a local Olympic Games! Here are a few of my favourite items.

Herman Miller Aeron office chair

Barbour for John Lewis dog coat

John Lewis ironing board

John Lewis storage trunk

Barbour

John Lewis

Asos

Barbour

Rhino GB

Play.com

Vivienne Westwood

And a present for the wife, girlfriend, daughter - some wristwarmers from Brora -

Patriotic style for the Queen's jubilee - Fashion and the Flag, Brighton Museum

The exhibition in Brighton, Fashion and the Flag, celebrates the Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics. On display are outfits from the best of British designers including Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Jasper Conran, John Rocha, Alice Temperley, Stephen Jones, Barbour and Doctor Martens. It runs from 3rd May to 25th November at the Fashion & Style Gallery, Brighton Museum

All this got me thinking about what might be available to a man of style who wishes to celebrate these historic events. I'll cover that in another post!

Dress by Jasper Conran - Image copyright Paul Grove 

Sir Paul Smith looks at the London 2012 Velodrome

Last week I was lucky enough to have a ticket to see part of the London Prepares World Cup cycling event at the new London 2012 Olympics velodrome. It's a stunning and beautiful structure, as designer Sir Paul Smith, a long-term cycling fan and mid-life man of style, tells us here -