By Pam McClounie

Published at 10:49, Saturday, 18 August 2012

A Carlisle woman now living in Syria landed the role as an audience leader at the Olympics in London.

Jill Jordan in her outfit at the Olympics closing ceremony

Jill Jordan was at the opening and closing ceremonies of London 2012 encouraging the audience to dance and get into the festival spirit.

She said: “It was an amazing experience and I loved every minute of it. I had an audition for the job and got it and I came back over from Syria to do it.”

Although Jill did not have tickets for any of the Olympic events she got to see the rehearsal for the opening ceremony five times.

She said: “I was really lucky because I got to see the whole thing. I just danced the whole time and I was at the rehearsals. Some people just got to perform in the bits that they were in and didn’t get to see the rest of the show.

“We got to wear different costumes. It was really incredible.”

Jill, 37, watched some of the Olympics on the big screen in Hyde Park and in the Olympic village. And during a rehearsal she carried the flag for Syria – where she now lives with her husband Saf.

Jill, a former pupil of Trinity School in Carlisle, said: “It was so emotional carrying the Syrian flag given all that is going on there right now. I cried and cried when I saw the team come out. I was jumping up and down.”

Jill married Saf in Syria earlier this year and had a centuries old druid marriage ceremony at Castlerigg Stone Circle, near Keswick, in April.

She said: “It’s been one hell of a year for me. I’ve just found out that I’m pregnant as well and I had my first scan over here. The baby is due in February.”

Jill, who was working as a social worker in London, is looking to fly back to Syria in the next few weeks.

She said: “I’m trying to get a flight back. I was talking to Saf about where I should have the baby either in Syria or over here.

“I don’t know what to do really. We live in Aleppo about three miles from where the bombing is right now.”

Aleppo is Syria’s second city. Jill is currently staying with her mum, Barbara Thomas, who lives on Geltsdale Avenue in Botcherby, Carlisle.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk