A SUFFOLK vicar has described his Olympic experience as a Games Maker as “fantastic” and hailed the true spirit of his fellow volunteers.

A passionate rower, The Reverend Canon Robin King, vicar at Bures St Mary, Assington and Little Cornard, spent a week leading a team at a security checkpoint at the Eton Dorney regatta – the scene of so many glorious achievements by Team GB.

With most of the spectators entering the venue by 10.30am, Mr King said soldiers from the Army would then close 38 of the 40 entry gates and take control of the last two to check-in any late-comers, allowing Games Makers the chance to enjoy the majority of the exciting rowing sessions.

He said: “The volunteers were very good and came across as happy, smiley, enthusiastic and proud and even though not all of them knew about rowing they were very good and jollying the public along.”

Mr King was not so won over by the now-famous “aubergine and tomato” Games Maker T-shirts - which he said made him feel like “a bit of a wally”.

He added: “During the races, it was wonderful standing in the grandstand. But sometimes we went to the other side of the lake and when we got over there and 25,000 people were all shouting, it was incredible.

“It was not like a football match where there’s shouting for a minute or so after a goal - this was a sonic burst of noise that lasted several minutes at every race. I’ve never heard anything like it.”