Kent's Dame Kelly Holmes

Kent's Dame Kelly Holmes

Dame Kelly Holmes

Our Golden Girl on becoming godmother to P&Os largest ever passenger ferry and her move into the health and fitness industry

I had the honour of being asked to be godmother and naming P&Os largest ever passenger ferry to cross the Dover Strait, the Spirit of Britain. The ship weighs a staggering 49,000 tons which will carry 2,000 passengers and will make five round- trip visits to Calais a day.

The naming ceremony began with a speech from P&O Ferries chairman, Robert Woods, followed by ceo Helen Deeble and a Blessing by the Reverend Tom Heffer. I was then asked to read the naming speech in front of 300 VIP guests to officiate my role of godmother to the ship.

To seal the naming of the ship, I was asked to pull a lever to release the traditional celebratory Champagne bottle, which successfully (and thankfully) smashed against the ships bows, to a round of applause. Apparently there were two bottles in reserve just in case! I then drew a cord to reveal the silver plaque confirming that the vessel had been officially named.

I also enjoyed a wonderful lunch in the company of the chairman and guests and a relaxing sail around Kents beautiful coastline.

I was later presented with a beautiful gold necklace and matching bracelet from Markku Uusitalo, project manager for STX Europe, a gift from the makers of the ship, whose shipyard is based in Rauma, Finland.

It is their tradition to offer the godmother a gift which ceremonially links her with the vessel in perpetuity. I was told it was made by a local jeweller in Rauma and its design depicts that town's long tradition of lace-making.

Finally, the ships captain showed me around the bridge and his very own sat nav, which is not that dissimilar to that found in a car! It was an amazing day and I am extremely privileged and honoured to be asked to carry out these roles.

With my business Double Gold Enterprises Ltd we are having a complete re-brand and moving into the health and fitness industry, so visiting The Vitality Show at Londons Earls Court seemed a logical thing to do.

The largest health, beauty, fitness and wellbeing event for women, I was asked to attend the annual four-day event by my publisher Hay House to promote my new book Just Go for It.

The focus of my book is on achieving goals by using six simple steps to help find the motivation to success. I took the health and nutrition stand and spoke about the six steps I think can help you achieve success:

Step 1: Setting goals: ones youre really going to reach

Step 2: Getting organised: fast track success with the right preparation

Step 3: Thinking positive: secrets to staying confident

Step 4: Overcoming obstacles: the will to win

Step 5: Motivation secrets: how to tap into your willpower

Step 6: Enjoying the journey: rewards of perseverance

More than 300 companies attended the event to give their expertise in their fields. The public are able to take part in free fitness or dance classes and pick up secret beauty tips from the experts and next year I hope to have my own stand.

I get to attend some great events and this meant I was invited to The Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Awards at Claridges. I was in the company of some very successful business women such as Martha Lane Fox founder of lastminute.com and the winner, Michelle McDowell.

Her significant work in championing engineering as a career for all has also led to the creation of a BDP scheme at New Hall, University of Cambridge to provide bursaries to female students of engineering.

But the best part of the night.... the pink Champagne!

Just Go For It,

6 Simple Steps to Achieve Success, by Dame Kelly Holmes (Hay House, 10.99) For more information, please visit:

www.doublegold.co.uk and www.weareengland.org