'Taking part in the Olympic Opening Ceremony was awesome' (From Times Series)

'Taking part in the Olympic Opening Ceremony was awesome'

3:00pm Monday 30th July 2012 in News By Natalie O'Neill

A part-time tutor from Hendon was “delighted” to perform in the Olympic Opening Ceremony last Friday.

Miranda Salter of Edgeworth Avenue danced and played the drums as more than one billion tuned in to watch Danny Boyle’s spectacular journey through British history.

Dressed in period costume, Mrs Salter played a plastic drum as large chimneys emerged from the ground to represent the Industrial Revolution.

The 49-year-old said: “Danny Boyle spoke to us just before our performance. He said ‘in ten minutes we’re going live to the world’ and I had goose pimples.

“I was so nervous but when we got out there it was the most awesome thing. All you saw was flash photography everywhere. I was drumming and dancing – it was very exciting.”

Mrs Salter, who was a youth worker for the London Borough of Barnet for 20 years, signed-up for the ceremony last September.

She took part in three “crazy” auditions where she was asked to play plastic drums, dance and run short distances.

She said: “They wanted to check our reflexes and energy levels. I was smiling a lot in the hope they’d notice me, but I never thought in a million years I’d actually get through.”

But after receiving an email congratulating her on her performance, Mrs Salter took part in 30 rehearsals before the big day.

She said: “I was delighted to be picked. Danny Boyle was very hands on from the beginning. He was really nice and very approachable. I also got him to sign my drumsticks literally before we went on to perform on Friday.”

Mrs Salter is looking forward to starting rehearsals for the closing ceremony on Wednesday, July 30. Husband David and children Daniel, 15, and Emma, 17, are looking forward to cheering her on with friends and family.