This time a year ago/The Passport Saga 

This time a year ago I was preparing to go to Paris for the Paralympics to watch and support my client Chris Hunt Skelley MBE and his wife, Louise Hunt Skelley PLY. 

My husband Steve and I had booked our tickets well in advance, and we’ve received our Paralympian goodies, which included the Paralympic Phryge mascots, and t-shirts etc.  We’d planned our journey, where we were saying and were incredibly excited about the event. Everything was planned for what was going to be a brilliant trip, particularly as I would see Chris in action, going for Gold. 

However, about a week before the trip we had a huge setback. I couldn’t find my passport! 

We searched everywhere. I had the kids searching too. We turned the house upside down; and the car, the caravan, my coat pockets (as we’d just returned from a holiday) – we looked everywhere imaginable.  But it was well and truly lost. 

I phoned the passport office to order an emergency new passport, only to find the rules had changed around what constitutes an emergency – and I didn’t match their criteria. I was gutted. 

As you can imagine, I was distraught. I felt I was letting Chris down by not being there after making such a big thing about going. Chris and his wife Louise are not just clients; they’ve become friends too. It really hurt that I’d managed to lose my own passport at such an important time.  

Of course, after the disappointment of not being able to go and after ordering a new passport, typically, I eventually came across my old one where I hadn’t expected to find it. 

Chris was set to defend his judo title, having won Gold at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020 and we had to watch on TV! 

As a family we all sat down in front of the TV, and although we have a very large screen, it was nowhere near the experience we would have had being present in Paris. Had we been able to go we’d have been in the centre of it all; the noise, the excitement and the anticipation. Having been to a previous Olympics, we knew what we were missing, which probably made it worse. It was a bitter-sweet experience having to watch from our sofa!   

However, it was wonderful to see him in his match, which was well fought, and Chris came home with a Bronze medal. We also watched the emotional interview after his win, by his wife, Louise Hunt Skelley PLY who was at the Paralympics, commentating for Channel 4. 

However, our disappointment was lifted when Chris came home. His family and friends organised a party in his honour, and we were invited. It was wonderful to be able to share his victory and celebrate with those who love him. I was even allowed to wear his medals! 

I know exactly where my passport is now!