Tring Honours Martine Wright - the Town's very own Courageous Olympian

A public gathering to recognise the achievement of Martine Wright who participated in the Paralympic Games took place in Church Square, Tring on Saturday morning, 27th October . Cllr Nick Hollinghurst, the Tring Town Mayor, said,

"We are all happy to be gathered here this morning to thank Martine Wright, our very own Tring Olympian for her terrific achievement in competing in the Paralympic Games as a representative of the UK.

She reached a very level indeed with Team UK in her chosen sport of Sitting Volleyball - a fast, furious and immensely strenuous sport.

But it's not just to thank Martine for her achievement on our behalf.

We are also here to thank her for her wonderful example of the sustained, disciplined dedication that training to a high level any sport demands.

Any Olympic athlete is in a real sense a hero, but a Paralympian doubly so - since they have also to overcome personal difficulties and disabilities in order to compete.

But Martine is a very courageous and a very special sort of heroine. In her case she had to endure and overcome appalling injuries, cruelly inflicted at random by a murderous gang of wicked and deluded young men.

That she has successfully done so is a personal achievement of the highest order.

That she has gone on to a high standard of athleticism is doubly so.

And that she has done all this while also being a successful wife and mother is a shining example to us all.

And that is also what we are here to recognise.

Martine,

This event and the scroll which it is my honour to present to you on behalf of the people of the town is a token of the admiration which we all feel for you.

Well Done! "

The Mayor, then presented Martine with a commemorative scroll from the Council signed by the Town Mayor and the Chairman of the Tring Youth Town Council, Xavier Cohen. Members of the Tring Youth Town Council presented her with a bouquet of flowers

The Mayor thanked everyone for coming along to support Martine and show their recognition for what she'd achieved. The event had been organised by the members of Tring Youth Town Council with help and assistance from Tring Together and he particularly thanked Mrs Emma Cave, Clerk of the Tring Youth Town Council and Mrs Vivianne Child of Tring Together.

The event in Church Square was well attended by over 100 people and everyone took the opportunity to talk to Martine and congratulate her personally.

Following the Church Square presentation, a number of invited guests then walked round to the Temperance Hall in Christchurch Road for a reception as guests of the Tring Youth Town Council.