When Bournemouth University trampolinist Millie Harvey received a message from a friend’s circus company asking if she’d like to be part of a new show they were working on, she had no idea she would soon be embarking on a stadium tour with one of Britain’s biggest bands.
Several months later, Millie has completed her final performance on stage as part of Take That’s Circus tour.
Explaining how she felt when she found out, Millie said, “I was just beaming. It didn't really feel real at first and even now after I've finished the tour, I still can't fully grasp what I've just experienced.”
With her synchronised trampolining partner, Max Middleton, Millie has been performing acrobatic routines in front of crowds of thousands throughout Take That’s set list.
Reflecting on the experience of being on stage in front of such enormous crowds, Millie said “It felt surreal, I remember the first show in Southampton during the opening I had to hold back the tears because I had never imagined myself being a part of such a big show. Seeing how excited the fans were and watching the Take That boys was just amazing.”
Before she set off on tour, Millie had just completed her Psychology with Counselling degree at Bournemouth University, where she received a sports scholarship to support her competitive trampolining.
In the last year she and Max have competed at the senior world championships in Spain where they made their first world final. She also reached the semi-finals in the individual event at a World Cup in Italy.
“My scholarship has allowed me to feel supported when things have got difficult, helped me get stronger both physically and mentally and has heavily supported me in achieving my dreams,” Millie said.
The scholarship has also helped her balance the pressures of her studies with the pressures of training and competing as an athlete. “I also have an identity outside of sport and remind myself that outside of sport is just as important an area to explore as well as my identity within sport. My studies have given me an option for after sport and I've thoroughly enjoyed exploring that part of me.”
Millie’s standout moments of her time with Take That include performing in her home city of London where her friends and family were in the audience cheering her on and the Amazon Prime livestream from Manchester where she knew her friends would be watching her again from their homes. Seeing her parents cheer her routines from in front of her trampoline at the Coventry show was also a special moment.
She also has fond memories of meeting Gary, Mark and Howard. “The boys are honestly the most lovely, down to earth, amazing people. They are so hardworking and always made everyone feel so welcome when they saw us!” she said.
Credit: @ellisgrover on Instagram
