0:00:02 > 0:00:03It's four years
0:00:03 > 0:00:07since London hosted what the world's press called the best ever Olympics,
0:00:07 > 0:00:11and the most successful for Team GB in over a century.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16On Friday, it all starts all over again nearly 6,000 miles away
0:00:16 > 0:00:17in Rio de Janeiro,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21so today on Songs Of Praise, we've come back to the East End of London
0:00:21 > 0:00:25to the Olympic Park to meet with Olympic heroes and hopefuls.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31I'm here in the Lake District to mark the 150th anniversary
0:00:31 > 0:00:33of the birth of Beatrix Potter.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37And we meet the first of our unsung heroes who make up our
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Challenge Cup Choir, Phyllis from North Shields.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51First, we've got music from the Keswick Convention
0:00:51 > 0:00:55and an amazing performance from Gregory Porter.
0:00:55 > 0:00:56But our first hymn
0:00:56 > 0:00:59is one that I remember from school, and I still love it today,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02A joyous hymn of praise from St Alban's Cathedral.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Debbie Flood is a seasoned Olympian, having won two medals in rowing.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Her faith has always played an important part in her life,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42but initially her sporting career was on a different path.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Well, running was my first love, but judo was my main sport, really.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50So I got into the junior British team in the judo,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53and really we used the rowing machine for part of our fitness.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57And someone came up to me in the gym one day and said, "Are you a rower?"
0:03:57 > 0:03:59And I said, "No."
0:03:59 > 0:04:03- It was kind of, "Oh, I wonder what rowing would be like."- Yeah.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06And went on a learn to row course, and it kind of started from there.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Debbie and the team won silver in Athens and went into Beijing
0:04:09 > 0:04:13the favourites to take gold, but in the final moments of the race
0:04:13 > 0:04:17they were overtaken by China and had to settle again for second place.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20- Disappointments do come, and it can hit you hard.- Yeah.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23And I guess I learnt along the way to, you know,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25- not hold on to disappointment for too long...- Yeah.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27- ..to kind of brush yourself off. - Yeah.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30My faith was a central part in being able to do that.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34The world's view of you might be based on performances and
0:04:34 > 0:04:38your medals, but I know that God's view of me and his love
0:04:38 > 0:04:42doesn't change, whether I win or lose, that's completely unchanging.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44And it's been a real solid base for me.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47And did you find that you were able to grow in different ways
0:04:47 > 0:04:50- as a result of the disappointment? - Definitely.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53And it reminds you that, just because I'm a Christian,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56doesn't mean that I'm going to have worldly success, but actually
0:04:56 > 0:04:59- it's just walking forward faithfully and embracing life...- Yeah.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01..in front of you.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Debbie is now retired, but works with the group Christians in Sport,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08and so is off to Rio to support team GB.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10But before she goes,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13she's taking me out to see if I have Olympic potential.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16Flood and d'Arby. Our medal hopes.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Ooh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
0:05:22 > 0:05:23LAUGHTER
0:05:23 > 0:05:27- So who are our medal hopes this year?- The rowing team
0:05:27 > 0:05:30will definitely be bringing back some medals this year.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Really strong men's team,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36and a slightly smaller women's team than London this year,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39but still it's going to be a great team to be watching.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42You'll be an Olympic hero for many young rowers, I'm sure, Deb.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44Who are you Olympic heroes?
0:05:44 > 0:05:46It wasn't until I went to Athens
0:05:46 > 0:05:49that I really got to know Sir Steve Redgrave, actually,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52and of course he's a legend in his five Olympic gold medals,
0:05:52 > 0:05:56but he also gave up his day to come and talk to my crew
0:05:56 > 0:05:58and gave us hours of his experience.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00And I just thought, wow,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03that is someone who has massively put back into sport.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16# Here's to the heroes
0:06:16 > 0:06:22# Those few who dare
0:06:23 > 0:06:29# Heading for glory
0:06:29 > 0:06:34# Living a prayer
0:06:36 > 0:06:42# Here's to the heroes
0:06:42 > 0:06:47# Who change our lives
0:06:48 > 0:06:53# Thanks to the heroes
0:06:54 > 0:07:00# Freedom survives
0:07:09 > 0:07:15# Here's to the heroes
0:07:15 > 0:07:22- # Who never rest - They never rest
0:07:22 > 0:07:28- # They are the chosen - The chosen
0:07:28 > 0:07:34- # We are the blessed - We are the blessed
0:07:34 > 0:07:39# Here's to the heroes
0:07:40 > 0:07:46- # Who aim so high - Who aim so high
0:07:46 > 0:07:51# Here's to the heroes
0:07:51 > 0:07:57# Who do or die
0:07:58 > 0:08:04# Here's to the heroes
0:08:05 > 0:08:08# Who aim so high
0:08:11 > 0:08:16# Here's to the heroes
0:08:17 > 0:08:22# Who do or die
0:08:23 > 0:08:31# Here's to the heroes
0:08:34 > 0:08:40# Who do
0:08:40 > 0:08:47# Or die. #
0:08:52 > 0:08:55CHEERING
0:08:57 > 0:09:00The Olympics isn't the only major sporting event happening
0:09:00 > 0:09:02this summer. On Saturday 27th of August,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05the biggest date of the Rugby League calendar happens,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07the Challenge Cup final.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11So we went to meet super fan Phyllis to find out why she was chosen
0:09:11 > 0:09:14as one of our Challenge Cup final choir members
0:09:14 > 0:09:17singing Abide With Me at Wembley.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Phyllis became hooked on Rugby League when her three sons
0:09:22 > 0:09:24started playing the game at school.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26We as a family felt as if this was the family sport
0:09:26 > 0:09:29to be involved in, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33The passion was there, it was set, and that was the beginning.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Phyllis made sure her boys got to every match possible,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39no matter where it was in the country.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42There was limited competition in the north-east
0:09:42 > 0:09:44so we put ourselves forward and we played in the Yorkshire League,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47so obviously every other weekend we were travelling.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48He said to me,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51"Do you remember how many counties we've come through today?"
0:09:51 > 0:09:54He says, "We've travelled through five." I says, "Is that all?
0:09:54 > 0:09:57"That's not a record by any means."
0:09:57 > 0:10:00But he says, "I don't know anyone else that would do that for me."
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Phyllis's dedication to the game and her boys paid off,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08as all three have played Rugby League to the highest level.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12They were making a career from a hobby, and the bonus,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16that it was professional, is absolutely awesome.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Once the boys were grown-up, Phyllis finally had some time on her hands.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24But not one to sit around, she has for the last 15 years
0:10:24 > 0:10:28been involved in the North Shields Live at Home scheme.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32'All live alone, all wish to stay alone in their own homes,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35'but we provide lunch, clothes and suchlike.'
0:10:35 > 0:10:38And they thoroughly enjoy the food, the company,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40the interaction with everyone,
0:10:40 > 0:10:42and it's companionship.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Because loneliness is a killer.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48I'd rather have you enjoy it than struggle.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51I would describe Phyllis, along with the other ones,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53as little angels.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57We take two buses to get here and then a little walk,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00but it's worth it, because it's a good time out.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Happy days.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Phyllis's dedication to her boys' love of rugby
0:11:05 > 0:11:08was why her friend Jane nominated her for the competition.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11I think because she's given up so much of her life to rugby,
0:11:11 > 0:11:13and this is something they can give back to her,
0:11:13 > 0:11:16an experience she's going to thoroughly enjoy.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19For Phyllis, the feeling behind the words of Abide With Me
0:11:19 > 0:11:23are just as important as singing them at Wembley.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28It's a hymn about giving strength through trials in your life,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32through troubles in your life, and just to keep you going.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35And if you watch the words,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37you listen to them,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40the emotion takes over, to be honest.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43And in case she gets any last-minute jitters, she can always turn to
0:11:43 > 0:11:45someone who's played in the final before...
0:11:45 > 0:11:47- I'm too old for this.- I know!
0:11:47 > 0:11:49..her son Chris,
0:11:49 > 0:11:53who captained Huddersfield into the Challenge Cup final in 2006.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57It's not just another day, it's not just another game. It's a final.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00It's about performing well, but it's also soaking up everything,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03soaking up the fans and the atmosphere, and the fact that
0:12:03 > 0:12:07- you're at Wembley Stadium, which is THE iconic stadium...- Yeah.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- ..in the history of sport. So, no pressure.- Yeah.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12I know I'll be nervous,
0:12:12 > 0:12:16- and I'm going to do my best to try and contain that.- Yeah.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18But just to believe in what I'm doing.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22And if you'd like to hear the stories
0:12:22 > 0:12:24behind all 32 of our winners,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26then please go to our website:
0:12:26 > 0:12:30bbc.co.uk/songsofpraise.
0:15:19 > 0:15:222016 marks a special milestone
0:15:22 > 0:15:25for one of the nation's favourite authors, Beatrix Potter.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28It's 150 years since her birth,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31and Pam Rhodes is in the Lake District to find out more about her.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40Beatrix Potter has inspired generations of children
0:15:40 > 0:15:43with her love of the countryside and its wildlife,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46and yet she was a city girl, born in London.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49But every summer the family escaped for a country holiday,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53often coming to the heart of the Lake District.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55And how's this for holiday home?
0:15:55 > 0:15:59This is Wray Castle where Beatrix and her family came on their
0:15:59 > 0:16:01very first day in the Lake District,
0:16:01 > 0:16:06and where she met a man who was to make a huge impression on her life.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10He was Canon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley, the vicar here at Wray.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13They were quite a well-to-do family, came to stay here in the castle,
0:16:13 > 0:16:15and obviously the local vicar would be
0:16:15 > 0:16:18one of the people that they would entertain while they were here.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20He was a charismatic gentleman,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23and she absolutely picked up on his passion for the outdoors
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and country life, and that really began to influence her thinking,
0:16:26 > 0:16:28and looking after the countryside.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30And would she have felt comfortable
0:16:30 > 0:16:33- in the company of a religious man, the local vicar?- Absolutely.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Religion was something that they grew up with,
0:16:36 > 0:16:37went to church every Sunday.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40She was actually a Unitarian and her family went to a Unitarian church
0:16:40 > 0:16:43in London, so having a religious gentleman come round as part of
0:16:43 > 0:16:46their discussion would have been quite a natural thing to happen.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Did he encourage her writing?
0:16:48 > 0:16:52He did, he saw the original story letter that she'd written to
0:16:52 > 0:16:55her friend, which was the original story of Peter Rabbit,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58and encouraged her to turn that into a storybook.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00And he also introduced her to Frederick Warne and Son
0:17:00 > 0:17:02who eventually published the story.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08Beatrix became one of the most successful children's authors ever,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10often writing here at Hill Top Farm,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14'the house she bought with the profits from that very first book.'
0:17:16 > 0:17:19Hill Top was always Beatrix's bolthole, and became the inspiration
0:17:19 > 0:17:21for many of her stories and characters.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25For instance, Samuel Whiskers and Tom Kitten is set around the house,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29and she exactly copied bits of the house to put into the illustrations.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31PAM LAUGHS
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Now, what happed her faith as life went on?
0:17:34 > 0:17:35There's evidence around the house
0:17:35 > 0:17:39of various different influences upon her faith,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41but I think it was of comfort to her,
0:17:41 > 0:17:43but she wasn't tied to any particular church.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45She found an affinity with the Quakers.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49She would often go to the meeting house there.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52- I see she has a family Bible here. - Yes.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Beatrix is well-known as a sheep farmer, and it's quite interesting
0:17:56 > 0:17:59that the Bible seems to naturally fall open at Psalm 23.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03Beatrix took great comfort in memorising passages of the Bible,
0:18:03 > 0:18:07and would come back to those passages in more gloomy times
0:18:07 > 0:18:09to comfort her.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11What would you say is her legacy?
0:18:11 > 0:18:15First of all, she left her land and property to the National Trust,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18which amounts to 4,000 acres of the Lake District,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21which is there for everyone to enjoy forever.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27And also, these characters that generation after generation
0:18:27 > 0:18:29seem to find so endearing.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37This is so clearly the garden which Beatrix Potter pictured
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Peter Rabbit and his friends at play, and the same was true
0:18:40 > 0:18:43when she went a little further north and she came up with
0:18:43 > 0:18:46the characters of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Squirrel Nutkin.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48That was near Keswick,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51and that's where we're off to now for our next piece of music.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36It's just six weeks to one of the jewels
0:22:36 > 0:22:39of the Songs Of Praise calendar, the Big Sing.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42And it promises to be a spectacular event
0:22:42 > 0:22:44with our magnificent stage choirs,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47a 5,000-strong audience and star guests
0:22:47 > 0:22:51all introduced by our very own Aled Jones and David Grant.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Tickets are available now from the Royal Albert Hall box office.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13You can find more information on the Songs Of Praise website:
0:23:18 > 0:23:22Gregory Porter performed at the Big Sing back in 2014,
0:23:22 > 0:23:26but here's a brand-new performance by him recorded especially for us.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33# Amazing grace
0:23:33 > 0:23:39# Shall always be my song of praise
0:23:41 > 0:23:44# For it was grace
0:23:44 > 0:23:49# That brought my liberty
0:23:51 > 0:23:54# I do not know
0:23:54 > 0:23:59# Just how he came to love me so
0:24:01 > 0:24:07# He looked beyond all my faults
0:24:07 > 0:24:10# And saw my need
0:24:12 > 0:24:16# I shall forever
0:24:16 > 0:24:20# Lift my eyes to Calvary
0:24:21 > 0:24:25# To view the cross
0:24:26 > 0:24:31# Where Jesus died for me
0:24:33 > 0:24:37# How marvellous
0:24:38 > 0:24:40# That grace
0:24:41 > 0:24:46# That caught my falling soul
0:24:48 > 0:24:53# He looked beyond all my faults
0:24:54 > 0:24:58# And saw my need
0:24:59 > 0:25:03# I shall forever
0:25:03 > 0:25:08# Lift my eyes to Calvary
0:25:10 > 0:25:13# To view the cross
0:25:14 > 0:25:22# Where Jesus died for me
0:25:22 > 0:25:26# How marvellous
0:25:27 > 0:25:29# That grace
0:25:30 > 0:25:37# That caught my falling soul
0:25:40 > 0:25:43# He looked beyond
0:25:45 > 0:25:49# He looked beyond
0:25:51 > 0:25:54# He looked beyond
0:25:56 > 0:26:01# All my faults
0:26:01 > 0:26:07# And saw my needs. #
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Today, the Olympic Park is alive with the sound of the crowds
0:26:17 > 0:26:21that have come to cheer on the athletes on the Anniversary Games,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24many of whom will hope that this will result in them booking
0:26:24 > 0:26:27a place as part of Team GB in Rio.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31One of them is 15-year-old Kare Adenegan from Coventry
0:26:31 > 0:26:35who four years ago didn't even take part in sport.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38It was really tough at school because I couldn't do sport
0:26:38 > 0:26:40for health and safety reasons and I lost
0:26:40 > 0:26:42a lot of confidence and self-esteem through that,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45but watching the London 2012 Paralympic Games
0:26:45 > 0:26:47I saw athletes like Hannah Cockcroft and David Weir
0:26:47 > 0:26:50participating in wheelchair racing
0:26:50 > 0:26:52and at the time I didn't realise
0:26:52 > 0:26:55that people with disabilities could do athletics.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59She's rapidly risen to compete with her heroes in wheelchair racing
0:26:59 > 0:27:03and now has to juggle her sport, school and spiritual life.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Monday is usually a rest day. Tuesday, I'm in the gym.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Wednesday, I'm on the track. Thursday, I'm swimming.
0:27:09 > 0:27:10Friday, I'm on the track.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Saturday, usually I've got a competition and Sunday,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15I'm on the track to race, as well.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18- So it's a lot to try and balance. - Is your church supporting you?
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Yeah, my church has been so amazing.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22I go to Renewal Christian Centre in Solihull,
0:27:22 > 0:27:26and they've been so encouraging and every time I go they're always like,
0:27:26 > 0:27:27"How are you doing? Are you all right?"
0:27:27 > 0:27:29And I just know that they're praying for me
0:27:29 > 0:27:32and they're supporting me and watching my races. It's really good.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Do you get nervous before a race?
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Yes, I get really, really nervous before a race, yeah.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39I just try and focus my mind.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42I listen to a lot of Christian music before my races
0:27:42 > 0:27:45and that just encourages me and keeps me positive.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50One of Kare's mentors is Paralympian Anne Wafula-Strike.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Born in Mihuu, Kenya,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Anne contracted polio when she was two and a half years old.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58As a result, she lost the use of her legs.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00But the villagers thought she was cursed.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Some actually thought that it was witchcraft,
0:28:04 > 0:28:05some thought it was
0:28:05 > 0:28:06a curse from God.
0:28:06 > 0:28:07My parents must have done something
0:28:07 > 0:28:09very terrible, therefore,
0:28:09 > 0:28:10they were being punished.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13And because of that, we became outcasts and the villagers
0:28:13 > 0:28:16asked my parents to give me up to die.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20And that's why we flee because they actually tried to burn our house
0:28:20 > 0:28:23twice and my father was so afraid
0:28:23 > 0:28:26and he decided to move us all into the capital city.
0:28:27 > 0:28:31Since retiring from racing, Anne works with disability charities
0:28:31 > 0:28:35and UK Sport mentoring young athletes like Kare.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38I look back now and I believe that God put me
0:28:38 > 0:28:43on this platform for a reason, to be able to reach out to other people
0:28:43 > 0:28:46with disabilities and actually say to them,
0:28:46 > 0:28:50if you embrace sport, if you find a sport that you are good in,
0:28:50 > 0:28:53it will empower your life in a different way
0:28:53 > 0:28:55or in a different capacity.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59On race day, all the training paid off as Kare achieved
0:28:59 > 0:29:01a personal best time in the 100 metres,
0:29:01 > 0:29:06a silver medal and a place in the team competing in Rio.
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Really good that I could show good form,
0:29:08 > 0:29:10especially at such a big event.
0:29:10 > 0:29:11There's so many people watching.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14I've never really done a PB at an international meet before, so
0:29:14 > 0:29:18I am so, so happy and I'm really excited for the future.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56We wish all of our athletes the best of luck
0:31:56 > 0:31:59in the Olympics and Paralympics.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02At great sporting events there is naturally an outpouring
0:32:02 > 0:32:04of pride and support for the countries taking part,
0:32:04 > 0:32:09but our final hymn today reflects the whole world cheering as one.