For students at Bedford Academy, feeling the rhythm and feeling the rhyme was top of the agenda on Wednesday (18 June) as former Jamaican bobsled team captain, Dudley ‘Tal’ Stokes visited for an unforgettable and memorable inspirational talk.
Stokes, now 62, has had a wonderfully varied life that has taken him from helicopter pilot to the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, becoming one of the first two Jamaicans in history to compete at the Winter Games; in the two-man bobsleigh event alongside Michael White.
It doesn’t take long for the film ‘Cool Runnings’ to enter the equation whenever anyone mentions the 1988 Games, but while the Hollywood references roll off the tongue, Stokes was in Bedford to remind local students that the real story includes more profound lessons of hardship, perseverance, and redemption.
“If you are ever responsible for failure, own it”, says Stokes.
“Feel the pain, and don’t dodge it – embrace and learn from it. Work hard and control the things that you can. Don’t worry about the things you can’t. Life is full of opportunities – they will come.”
Stokes also shared his experiences of improvising to get the best out of his team, using a shopping trolley to prepare for the Olympic Games in the absence of proper training equipment in the Jamaican heat.
“You have to find your meaning – and you still have to discover that,” he said.
“It normally comes after experiencing something deeply emotional. From finding your meaning – you find your purpose.”
This impactful session served as a timely reminder for students that resilience, accountability, and purpose are essential for navigating life’s challenges – and that greatness often begins with overcoming adversity.
The students from Year Eight through to the Sixth Form at Bedford Academy held on to every word as Stokes told his story, from the tropical climate of the Turks and Caicos Islands to the ice of Calgary and Nagano in Japan; the scene of his final Winter Olympics appearance in 1998.
Jordan Gatehouse, Director of Directional CIC, a national organisation that provides mentoring, school interventions, and alternative education, organised the visit alongside Bedford Academy.
Gatehouse closed the session with a powerful message of his own:
“When we think about how things are in the world now – and they are not perfect – the biggest takeaway is that when you encounter a hurdle, you have to overcome it and build resilience.
“Dudley is a huge part of history, not just for Jamaica, but as a symbol of what it means to keep going.”
