16 Sep 2010

Memories of John Paul II’s 1982 papal visit

Decades after the last papal visit Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Britain. Channel 4 News speaks to Clare Ward who has special memories of John Paul II in 1982 including ham sandwiches and sequins.

My memories of 1982 of really are just of sheer joy. I was about 9-years old, I went with some members of my family including granny who came along with us.

I remember it took ages to get to Wembley and we seemed to have to walk for miles and miles and miles but the joy when we got there, the atmosphere was just absolutely electric. The stadium was packed with people all excited they all seemed to have ham sandwiches and just having a lovely day out.

Then when the Pope came everyone just went absolutely ballistic in the best possible way, it was just so exciting.

On the day at Wembley, I insisted I went in my Polish national costume because I’m half Polish.

I had the sequined jacket on and the ribbons and the two plats and I was convinced that because the Pope was Polish and I was half Polish as he went round that massive stadium he was going to see me and wave at me personally and I convinced myself he had.

It was just joy, just joy and I felt that connection as someone who shares something of that heritage and I felt so proud and my only memory is of real happiness.

Looking back on it, it’s emotional in the sense that I remember the joy and that feeling of joy; it’s emotional in the sense that granny’s no longer with us so it’s lovely to have that memory of that day.

I do remember the liturgy and the music and the prayer. Obviously as a child I wouldn’t have understood it all but I do remember sitting in the quiet and listening to the silence, as well as all the joy and the singing, and I remember that feeling too.