'I squealed like a teenager': Family's joy at Stonehenge brush with Barack Obama

[babylonsister]

'I squealed like a teenager': Family's joy at Stonehenge brush with Barack Obama
by Stephen Jones - last updated Fri 5 Sep 2014


Janice Raffle posted this picture on Twitter after her chance meeting with the President. Janice Raffle posted this picture on Twitter after her chance meeting with the President. Credit: Janice Raffle


An excited young British family has told ITV News they are "euphoric" after meeting Barack Obama during his impromptu visit to Stonehenge this evening.

Janice and James Raffle and their three sons live a mile up the road from the ancient landmark.

They were playing in the garden when they heard helicopters overhead, and decided to make a dash up to the site after hearing the President may be in the area.

After a quick drive, they got even more than they bargained for, when the leader of the free world waved to them and then began approaching for a chat.

The family were told by security officials to "just walk slowly", which they duly did before meeting Mr Obama.

He waved at us and we waved back - next thing he was walking towards us.

At that point he shook our hands and asked if we lived in the area... he asked our names too as he's a polite man.

Security officials told the Raffles to Security officials told the Raffles to Credit: Reuters

The Raffles were just as polite - welcoming Mr Obama to England.

"Not just England, not just any part of England," he responded.

It was clearly a thrilling experience - and not only for boys Angus, 8, Joshua, 7, and Barney, 3.

"I squealed like a teenager. You'd think I would know better," Janice said.

Mr Obama said Stonehenge had always been on his bucket list. Mr Obama said Stonehenge had always been on his bucket list.

Eldest son Angus was equally enthusiastic: "It was awesome," he said. "I shook hands with him."

And even the President himself seemed excited by the whole experience - proclaiming Stonehenge somewhere he had always wanted to visit.

"How cool is this?! It's spectacular!" he exclaimed as he roamed the ancient landmark, followed by press.

more...

http://www.itv.com/news/2014-09-05/barack-obama-nato-stonehenge-visit/

[BeyondGeography]

1. "He was worried about Janice on the barbed wire fence."

From the clip on your link. Beautiful family.

[riversedge]

2. Great to see this story and glad Pres. Obama is having

some fun.

[Politicalboi]

3. Don't they know that

Obama is unpopular. How many rounds of golf did the president play with this family. Better get Gretta or Hannity over there ASAP!!!!

[LisaLynne]

4. I would probably babble like an idiot.

[B Calm]

5. They'll never forget this! How nice of Obama to take time to stop and chat with them!

[Mika]

6. "the leader of the free world"

[lpbk2713]

7. People always warm up to Mr Obama

They are proud and happy to be in his presence.




Unlike some other presidents I could think of.

[treestar]

9. Bush wouldn't have been curious enough to go and see Stonehenge

Or, if he went, he'd have said something stupid.

[lpbk2713]

11. His keepers would have advised him to stay away.

They knew from experience he would have found a way to embarrass us all.

[longship]

12. Or, "George W Bush accidentally topples ancient Druid landmark"

Goofing off at Stonehenge, President Bush toppled over several of the iconic large stones on England's Salisbury plane. The secret service had to intervene, but not before the President had several of the large stones on the ground. An anonymous member of the president's security detail said, "It's almost as if, after he got the first one to drop, he couldn't stop himself. He was giggling. Luckily we had zip ties to restrain him before the whole thing was toppled over."

And that's what likely would have happened if G W Bush had visited Stonehenge.

[Stargazer09]

13. Either that,

Or he would have done something worse.

[treestar]

16. lol

[TheDebbieDee]

8. Our President is good people....

[madokie]

15. What you said

[mnhtnbb]

10. Guess what photo will be on their Christmas card/letter this year?

How totally cool!

[Helen Borg]

14. "just walk slowly" and stop squealing!