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“THESE ARE INCREDIBLE seats, how did Jonathan manage this?” Elizabeth said settling into the section where the girls were sitting together behind Sir Jonathan. Who was in front of them with a few of his old cronies from MI6.
“It's who you know mother,” Jane said nodding towards Uncle Jonathan, who was leaning across a divider speaking with Sir Winston Churchill. Whom turned and waved at the four of them but paused when he saw Sue Lee. Winston said something to Sir Jonathan, who turned to Sue Lee and waved at her to join them. Sue Lee moved to the front row and shook the ex-prime minister's hand, exchanging a few words, and then he introduced her to the gentlemen sitting on his left.
“I didn't know Sue Lee knew Winston?” Lucie said as they all watched her go into a huddle with the ex-prime minister and his gentlemen friend.
“She told me she met him once in Jonathan’s office.”
“She must have made quite an impression on Winnie!” Lucie said taking back the opera glasses from Elizabeth.
They watched as Sue Lee shook hands and returned to her seat next to Jane.
“Blimey, I can't take you anywhere, you know everyone!”
“I did tell you I met him once. Your uncle Jonathan did the introduction. I'm very flattered he remembered me. He's such a gentleman. However, I'm going to have to skip joining you and your family at your Bahama home. I need to return to San Francisco to my company lawyers to create a proposal. That gentleman with Mr. Churchill is Mr. Wandi. He has a need for our shipping services from South Mumbai India to several world ports. I believe our new schedule will fit in with his logistics. But enough of business I want to enjoy this.”
“Oh, look, King George is entering followed by Queen Elizabeth, and there’s Queen Marie along with the rest of the Royal Family,” Lucie said excitedly!
“Isn't this something, they say there are eighty-thousand people here!” Elizabeth shouted to be heard when the crowd too saw the King and Queen.
After the Royal family was settled the competitors from fifty-nine nations entered the stadium in a procession. The last team to arrive was Great Britain. It was then that Lord Burghley a gold medal winner from the 1928 Olympics gave his welcoming speech to all the athletes.
When Big Ben, the official symbol of the 1948 Olympic Games, was showing four o'clock, the King declared the games open. The Olympic Flag was raised followed by a twenty-one gun salute while the last touch carrier entered the stadium circling the track and climbing the stairs to the cauldron. He turned and held his torch high before lighting the Olympic flame.
“Now let's proceed with the betting. Jane who was that Dutch women, Fanny something?” Sir Jonathan said with his pencil poised over his betting sheets while walking to their waiting car.
“Fanny Blankers-Koen, ‘The Flying Housewife!” Jane shouted over the vehement throng leaving the stadium.
“Oh put me down for a fiver, on that one, my ladies' bridge club is really enthusiastic about her!” Elizabeth said to the surprise of everyone.