Last year I helped organise a street party in Clarence Street, Southall to celebrate the Royal Wedding. It was a great success celebrating an important British event with a local connection and showed how the community can come together to both enjoy themselves and be part of mainstream society.
Inspired by the success of that event I wanted to scale up and have an even bigger celebration for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in Southall Park and also get other street parties organised.
With the full extended weekend of celebrations for the Queen's remarkable achievement of 60 years of service to the nation I was not disappointed - except only by the weather that was typical of a British Bank Holiday!
The celebrations began with the family event on the Sunday in Southall Park that I was able to organise through A&H Events, local businesses and Ealing Council. Despite the weather it was a lively and enjoyable day of music, Tai-kwon-do demonstrations, funfair rides and a magnificent celebratory cake provided by Kool Cakes of Southall. Kool Cakes were also honoured with the opportunity of providing a similar cake for the Queen at her own Buckingham Palace Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The clouds parted and the rain cleared on the Monday and I was able to join a fantastic street party in Adelaide Road, Southall. With the street closed to traffic and a stage erected hundreds of residents were able to enjoy the music and dance performances.
On the Tuesday I was able to join the retired Army Band as they led local school children and community representatives and organisations in a march from Southall Town Hall to the Oswald Road street party in Southall Broadway. Union Jack bunting decorated the street and faith leaders led a service of thanksgiving to the Queen from the stage where later community organisations were recognised and musical performances enjoyed. Again the rain intervened but it did not dampen spirits as the Oswald Road Gurdwara and local restaurant Chadni Chowk provided free food to hundreds of local people enjoying the occasion.
Finally on the Wednesday evening I attended a celebratory meal hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community with all the different faith leaders in Southall. It was an opportunity to reflect on the value of this and other community celebrations like Vasaikhi, Eid, Diwali, and Christmas as they bring communities and individuals together creating cohesion, education, tolerance and respect for all.
The Diamond Jubilee celebrations were a superb example of community cohesion and unity where all the different communities came together and celebrated this great national occasion and sent their thanks and congratulations to the Queen for her unstinting service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
