Dudley Council back Halesowen civic reception for Olympic hero (From Halesowen News)
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Dudley Council back Halesowen civic reception for Olympic hero
8:20am Monday 13th August 2012 in News
Dudley Council are set to pull out all the stops for the official civic reception in Halesowen for Olympic gymnast Kristian Thomas.
The civic reception, which was brainchild of chairman of Earls Gymnastic Club, has now got the full weight of the council behind it as the town welcomes back the bronze medalist from London 2012.
The Mayor of Dudley has pledged to be there on Tuesday, August 21 at the club at Earls High School to celebrate Kristian’s achievements.
Councillor Melvyn Mottram, Mayor of Dudley, said: “I am delighted to have been invited to the reception to thank Kristian personally for his efforts in putting this borough well and truly on the map.
"We are all enormously proud of him and everyone at the club in creating home grown sporting stars from Dudley borough.”
Jon Caulwell, chairman of Earls Gymnastics Club, said: “We are extremely proud of Kristian’s fantastic achievement; he has worked tirelessly with his personal coach Michelle Bradley to reach the very top of his sport.
“Kristian has helped raise the profile of his sport, his club and the Black Country and truly deserves the hero’s welcome we are organising.”
He added: “We are excited at the prospect of working with Dudley Council to secure the immediate and long term future of our Olympian producing club, from which our borough can benefit.”
Councillor Tracy Wood, cabinet member for environment and culture, also announced she will be attending along with representatives from the town’s sporting community.
She said: “We have a wealth of sporting talent in this borough and Kristian epitomises what you can achieve with hard work and the support from an excellent club like the Earls Gymnastics Club.
“I’m looking forward to speaking to him on the night and perhaps some more stars of the future.”
Dudley Council will provide the bunting and banners for the reception and is also working with the club to help them attract external funding to help them continue their work.
