Picture the scene...

450 athletes (all female), 500 spectators (mainly female), 150 staff, over 15 events, 40 sport competitions plus a cheerleading competition, banner competition and staff 'Olympic' parade.

It's Plumstead (All Girls) School Sports Day - think High School Musical meets YMCA video meets 'We are the Champions' and you get the picture!

Lesson 1 - You can never think of everything in Security!

We think we've got it covered, but no-one thought about the fact a sports stadium with a 1000 teenage girls might attract the attention of the local boys school on their lunch break!

Lesson 2 - 8 hours in a sports field on a sunny day is bad news for gingers

It's a good job I'm off next week, it'll give my face time to cool down, despite borrowing some of Christian's (fellow ginga) Factor 100 lotion I still get burnt.

Lesson 3 - Helping run a sports day makes for a great team building event

Forget abseiling, potholing, putting up tents blindfold - get out there - learn some useful stuff about running a sports event, have some fun, get to know London's communities and build the team, for free!

Raking the long jump:


Lesson 4 - The simple jobs rarely are

My role - in the 100m sprint, record the time and the number of the 7th placed athlete. You try it without technology and photo finishes!

Lesson 5 - Bell ringing is a buzz!

My next job - ringing the bell to signal the last lap in the 800m finals - get carried away and ring it louder than the final round of a heavyweight boxing match - burst the Sports Mistress's eardrum.

Lesson 6 - I could get used to being called 'Sir'

450 polite kids that think you're a teacher and call you Sir, think I'll introduce that one at home.

Lesson 7 - Dress like your peers if you don't want to stand out in a crowd (or race)

Matt turns up in shorts an trainers thinking no-one would notice the big lad with hairy legs in an all girl 100m race!

Lesson 8 - The taking part is what counts

We saw girls who could conceivably be competing on a world stage one day; others who weren’t quite sure where to point a javelin. Either way, they got something out of the day. (So too, for that matter, did the supporters screaming at the finish line, the artists who created vibrant banners and the cheerleaders with their top talent.)

Lesson 9 - Don't believe all that you read!

We gave out 1,000 brand stickers - everyone loved them, young and old, and wore them with pride and a smile.

Preparing the stickers:


Lesson 10 - We should do this more often

I for one will be back at a Sports Day next year.