Local Couple Witnessed UK’s Olympic Elation And Terrorist Aftermath

By John Voket

Charles Dickens was referring to the French Revolution when he wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” But a pair of Newtown shopkeepers likely witnessed what was one of the brightest and darkest days in London’s recent history.

“It may have been one of the worst times since [the city was bombed in] World War II,” said Nigel Whitmore, who along with his wife Lisa operates the UK Gourmet on Mt Pleasant Road. “I think it was made worse coming off the immense high the city was experiencing following the Olympics announcement.”

During their recent trip to the UK, the Whitmores were coincidental witnesses to the announcement that London would host the 2012 Olympic Games. And less than a day later, they also saw first-hand aftereffects of terrorist bombings on city subway and bus lines that killed more than 50 and injured hundreds.

What was expected to be a routine trip, the couple’s first to visit the Whitmore family in Gloucester, turned into a bittersweet experience. Ms Whitmore told The Bee Monday that once their family visit was complete, she and her husband made the two-hour trip back to London for some last-minute sightseeing before returning to Connecticut.

Mr Whitmore said the decision was also a matter of convenience. The couple was looking forward to taking a fairly inexpensive ride on the underground, or tube, to get from their London hotel to Heathrow Airport for their flight back.

They never expected or planned to be among the thousands of hopeful Brits who gathered in historic Trafalgar Square July 13 to await word on the International Olympic Committee’s choice for the 2012 games. They just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

And when the word came down that the games were coming to London, the Whitmores were among the jubilant masses cheering and celebrating the decision. In fact, Ms Whitmore kept a copy of the afternoon London Times that features a foot-and-a-half-wide photo spread of the revelers.

“It was just an amazing thing to be a part of,” Ms Whitmore recalled while looking over the picture.

As they rose early on their departure day, the couple decided to squeeze in just a couple more sights before they headed off on what they thought would be a quick and easy ride to Heathrow. First on the agenda was breakfast overlooking Parliament and the spires of the Tower Bridge on the Thames.

“While we were eating breakfast, we started hearing sirens,” Mr Whitmore recalled. “We just thought it was a traffic accident. But things started getting more intense. A lot more sirens, but we still didn’t know what was happening.”

They decided to walk the few blocks to Buckingham Palace but upon arrival, they were greeted by uniformed bobbies moving toward with bullhorns shouting for everyone to evacuate the area.

“The flag was up, which meant the Queen was home,” Ms Whitmore said. “So I’m sure they were on high alert.”

Unfortunately, in a matter of a few minutes, virtually everything in London’s transportation infrastructure, from subways to water taxis to the famous red double-decker buses, were all evacuated and frozen in place. The Whitmores dashed back to the hotel, only to learn the concierge could not even secure a cab to get them to the airport.

“One bellman said he heard the tube was running again, but it turned out they weren’t,” Ms Whitmore said.

Mr Whitmore headed out to the street to try and flag a passing cab, but was unsuccessful even when he offered one driver stopped at a traffic light triple the fare.

“He didn’t want to gamble that he would get stuck at the airport,” Mr Whitmore said.

Eventually, a friendlier cabbie came along and agreed to get the couple to Heathrow, straight fare.

“But what should have taken a half-hour took two and a half hours,” Ms Whitmore recalled.

And once they arrived at their gate, they learned that many pilots and crews were stranded because of the transportation freeze, so they ended up on a triple-booked flight, making it safely back to New York only a few hours after their anticipated arrival.

“I knew if [Prime Minister Tony] Blair didn’t ground the airlines, everything was going to be okay,” Ms Whitmore said.

Now that the couple has had a chance to reflect on their experience, along with the knowledge of a second round of bombings and attempted bombings, the local merchants are still in awe of the resolve they witnessed as the elation of the Olympic announcement turned quickly to terrorist backlash.

“The people really didn’t seem to be terribly put off,” Mr Whitmore said. “It’s was like, you slap us down and we’ll get right back up again.”

Both the Whitmores had nothing but praise for all the law enforcement professionals they encountered during both the Olympic celebration and during the aftermath of the bombings the next day.

“Even when it seemed like everyone was panicking, there were plenty of police around keeping up with their routine duties while paying close attention to their radios,” Mr Whitmore observed.

“They were very good about helping to keep people calm by being there and counseling them that everything was under control,” Ms Whitmore continued. “Being there Wednesday, right in the middle of the Olympic celebration, was so exciting…and to wake up and experience that terrible Thursday…nobody was smiling anymore.”

Mr Whitmore recalled the attempts he and his wife had made to get word out to loved ones that they were all right. But because of the transportation crisis, most of the cell and phone lines were hopelessly jammed.

“I finally got a text message from my daughter, but I couldn’t even get a signal back out to her,” Mr Whitmore said.

Eventually, the couple was able to connect with loved ones, including Ms Whitmore’s mother who was back in Newtown, literally minding the store and watching all the mayhem unfold on television.

In the days and now weeks following the first round of bombings, the Whitmores are feeling the outpouring of concern for Londoners by customers who are coming into their store.

“Some people have just come in to pick something up to help the British economy,” Ms Whitmore said. “Everything we carry is imported directly from England, Scotland, and Whales, so in some small way it’s making a difference.”