SSC 8 June 2019

Explored! Thank you very much :-)

SATURDAY SELF-CHALLENGE
8 JUNE 2019
STATUES AND MONUMENTS

Plan A, on Wednesday, was to go to Oxford where there are lots of monuments and statues. Things started off okay with lovely warm sunshine but by the time I got to Oxford the sun was being obscured by thick cloud. I took photos of several statues and monuments but the photos were pretty disappointing :-(

Plan B on Thursday was to look around Aylesbury, my hometown, after being at the barbers. I came across this scene but only had my phone with me. I thought I could come back another day with my camera but, in the meantime. I grabbed a few shots. After looking at the photos on the computer I decided to stick with this shot :-)

This is one of three statues inspired by the Paralympics. Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury is considered to be the birthplace of the Paralympics. The following words come from information supplied by Aylesbury Vale District Council -

"The Paralympic movement was born at Stoke Mandeville Hospital thanks to the hard work and dedication of Dr. Ludwig Guttmann. Dr. Guttmann was asked by the British government to set up a spinal injuries centre at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in order to care for and assist those who had been injured during the war. In 1948 Dr Guttmann organised the first competition for wheelchair athletes which he named the Stoke Mandeville Games. He held this competition on the same day as the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London and 16 injured servicemen and women took part in an archery competition. Eventually the games expanded to include more sports and evolved to accommodate athletes from countries all over the world. In 1960 the International Stoke Mandeville Games officially became the Paralympic Games in time for the 1960 summer games in Rome."

And, for Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music

♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ Statues ~ Nina Nesbitt