Exclusive - Dame Kelly Holmes Wants a Futuristic Youth Club for Tonbridge

Tonbridge People is delighted to share an exclusive Q & A interview given by local hero Dame Kelly Holmes. 

Read on to find out who she tips for 2012, how she can't resist sweets, her praise for her Hugh Christie PE teacher -  and her ambitious dream of a futuristic youth club for Tonbridge kids

Tonbridge People: What advice would you give to 2012 hopefuls and who do you tip to do well?

Dame Kelly Holmes: I would

say have 2012 in your sights but be clear about the steps you have to take

between now and then to actually get there! It's hard to tip people for success

at this point, as it's still two years away, but we should be really positive

about building on the success in Beijing. From a Kent point of view I hope Lisa

Dobriskey does well!

TP: How

did Hugh Christie school contribute to your success?

DKH: My PE

Teacher Debbie Page who still teaches at Hugh Christie today spotted I could

run and gave me the chance to run at schools cross country. I haven't looked

back since!

TP: Did you always thrash the other kids at sports day?

DKH: 'Fraid

so..... Yes! Lol. And I still like to win everything now...!

TP: What's the naughtiest thing you ever did at school... and the thing you are

most proud of?

DKH: To be

honest, I didn't really do anything that bad at school. Proudest moment was

coming home after winning my first 'English Schools'.

TP: What is your vice and do you give anything up for Lent?

DKH: Umm, my

weakness is sweets and chocolate, but I don't give anything up for Lent. I am

trying to cut back a bit though.

TP: What is your exercise routine like nowadays?

DKH: I try to

train most days, but with all the different work I do, travelling with my On

Camp With Kelly Programme and supporting my charity the DKH Legacy Trust, 

I don't do as much as I would like but play squash as often as possible and of

course go on the stepper in the gym.

TP: If money were no object and you were asked to contribute something to the

people of Tonbridge, what would it be?

DKH: A

futuristic youth club that meets the needs of local kids with the kind of

support and activity they would like and need today.

TP: What is your fondest memory of Kent?

DKH: It would

probably be my home coming parade when I came back from the Olympics. That was unbelievable,

so many people came out to welcome me back. It was amazing, with all my family

on the bus.

TP: Is it difficult to be ambitious and remain motivated after so much success?

DKH: Well, it's

hard sometimes to find new goals and ambitions, but I am a very motivated

person and I want to be successful in everything I do, so whatever it is I am

involved in I put in 100 percent, no question.

TP: Did Olympic success bring you happiness?

DKH: It

realised a dream I had held for 20 years, so in a way it did, but happiness is

such a broad thing, I think you need other things in your life too, like your health,

friends and family.

TP: What is Kelly's Charity Fundraisers all about and how can tonbridgepeople get

involved?

DKH: Kelly's

Charity Fundraisers gives people the chance to support my charity the Dame

Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust by getting involved in some type of activity and then

choosing to fundraise for us. One way people can do this is by running for us,

and we have three free places in the Lucozade Sport Race your Pace Half Marathon on the 28th

of March available for tonbridgepeople who would like to run for us.

Come an join

our team,  and by doing that you will help us inspire more talented young

sports performers, like we have recently been doing through the BT Backing

Talent programme in East London. There, we worked with the over 50 elite young

sports performers and their families, helping them understand what it takes to

reach the top in world class sport.

TP: Have you got anyone signed up from Tonbridge already?

Not for

the Race your Pace half marathon, but local Doctor Paul Goozee is running for us in the

Boston Marathon on the 19th of April... my birthday! That’s a

huge thing he is doing, so please pop into his surgery and sponsor him if you

know him!

TP: Thank you Dame Kelly and good luck!