What’s in a name?

Invictus - The Rugby World Cup

South Africa vs New Zealand

Invictus portrays an important historical moment when Nelson Mandela, in his own unique way of binding the nation, wore the South African Rugby captain Francois Pienaar’s green and gold shirt depicting the Springbok emblem when they won the world cup.  Watch the film and you will understand why this was so significant.

The Springbok emblem has a personal meaning for me – had it not been for apartheid, I would have had my junior Springbok colours in squash.

I love rugby, my eldest son plays, I love watching him play as well as England and South Africa (as long as they aren’t playing each other, then I have a bit of an internal conflict!)

Invictus - The poem

by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.

Invictus Games

The Invictus Games were set up to recognise sport as part of the rehabilitation process for servicemen and women injured in service.

I am passionate about recognising the ability in disability (my Mum was disabled from age 50) both in and out of the workplace. I support voluntary organisations like Ride to the Wall who raise funds for the National Memorial Arboretum and have been to Delville Woods where my husband’s grandfather went missing in action during WW1.