By Ian Jobling
With months before discussions begin on the Tokyo Games Olympic historian Ian Jobling suggests Olympic enthusiasts tune in to the ABC’s Songs of Praise 27 September program on iview featuring Lord Burghley which has been among topics in his regular Olympic Talks, as he discusses here.
The program features Burghley House and the nearby Stamford Anglican Church in Lincolnshire, England. The choral music is stunning, as is the voice a young soloist.
An added bonus for ‘Olympic-enthusiasts’ and/or those who have been advised of the ‘Spirit of Olympia” concert series, which was to be held in May 2020 but like the Tokyo Games has been deferred to 2021, a major theme is the history of Burghley House, originally built by Lord Cecil in the 1500s. A more recent family member and resident is the Lord David Burghley, Olympic gold medallist in the 400 Metre Hurdles at the Amsterdam Olympic Games in 1928.
Yes, 1928. You may recall the character ‘Lord Lindsay’ (played by Nigel Havers) in the film ‘Chariots of Fire’ about the 1924 Paris Olympics. Well, Burghley was unplaced in the 110m Hurdles in those Paris Games, but film producer David Putnam and director Hugh Hudson decided he would have the ’hurdler Lord Lindsay’ win that medal in 1924. (So much for historical accuracy)
And there’s more. In this week’s ‘Songs of Praise’ feature, Nigel Havers actually recites a poem pertaining to running from the Bible, followed by modern adaptation of a hymn based on that passage from Isiah.
Of course, I am assuming everyone has seen the multi- BAFTA and -Oscar award-winning film! If not, there is no need to do so before watching this ‘Songs of Praise’.
Now for ‘Downton Abbey’. There is a most interesting interview with Sir Julian Fellowes, English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter. More recently he has been acclaimed as the writer and executive producer of the multiple-award winning television series ‘Downton Abbey (2015) and the even more recent film (2019) with the same title.
So, I feel this week’s ‘Songs of Praise’ a most eclectic 30-minutes of ‘culture’ with, of course, a Christian theme is a beautifully presented scenic, historical, architectural treat with wonderful music.
(Ian Jobling is Honorary Director of UQ Centre of Olympic Studies)
