Mensa members Neil and Theresa Goulder sang to what they thought would be their biggest audience at the end of March. They sang as members of Rock Choir at Wembley Stadium to a live audience of more than 60,000 people... supporting McFly as entertainment at the Harlequins versus Saracens rugby match.

But that is nothing compared to what Neil taking part in the Olympics opening ceremony before a worldwide television watching public of some four billion people.

Mensa Magazine Editor, Brian Page spoke to him before the event:

“It is a scary thought,” Neil says. “But I am absolutely thrilled with the opportunity to take part.” Neil, who with wife Theresa (and her mum Liz) perform regularly with Rock Choir, read about the auditions for one of the biggest televised events in world history on the 2012 website. He applied more in hope than expectation...

“I thought it would be interesting to go along and see what happened. I thought it would be fun.”

It might have been fun but it was also a little nerve-wracking. “At the first audition there was a fairly rigorous dance session; I had to learn two dances as well as doing some freestyle. And I don’t do dance! Everyone there was younger, fitter and better looking and I really thought I had no chance of going through. I had just settled for what was a fantastic experience.

“I really didn’t think I had a hope in hell of being selected. But I suppose enthusiasm must have counted for something!” Neil was, however, called back for a second audition was put through another exacting challenge.

“I had to learn a brand new skill which I had not done before and we went through some pretty intensive workouts to learn that skill. “Again, I really did not think I would get through.”

But there was another call - and Neil was told he would be taking his place among the other performers for the grand opening ceremony. “I was absolutely stunned and absolutely delighted,” he says.

Like all of those taking part, Neil is sworn to secrecy about the actual make-up of the ceremony. “We were told that if anyone asked what we were doing we were to say that were wrestling anacondas,” he laughs. “It’s really strange, Theresa and I were expecting to watch bits on the telly but now I am going to be in the opening ceremony. If you look closely you may even see me as a pixel on your TV set!”

 

Originally featured in Mensa Magazine, April 2012 edition.