From 1,000 to 2,000 people attended the Watford Celebration on Bank Holiday Monday 30 May. This year, due to the refurbishing of the Colosseum, the Watford Celebration team had to find an alternative venue and decided to come back to the Multi-Cultural Community Centre (MCCC) where Celebration was originally started in 2005. The minister of St Michael and All Angels, the church next door generously opened his door to Celebration which allowed us to set stalls for close to 50 organisations. The church’s vestry was also used as the Sacred Space a place for interfaith dialogue. The Community Centre hosted the performances and the popular international buffet coordinated by the Chinese Association and a third building between the church and the MCCC was reserved for the children’s activities.
The atmosphere throughout the day was of openness and friendship. A great diversity of charities and groups from around Watford was represented: Christians, Muslims, Spanish, Africans, Sikhs, Jews, Japanese, Latino Americans, Chinese, Russians and more showed cased their unique and fascinating tradition through dances, music, talks and food. The public flowed from one building to another and enjoyed a stimulating afternoon discovering the rich diversity of their town. This year our fundraising effort was focused on the victims of the earthquake tsunami, which swept Japan early this year. Demonstrations of Kendo and the Sakura Club, a marvellous choir of Japanese ladies in kimono, gave the public a flavour of the Japanese culture. Our event was mentioned on the website of the Japanese embassy.
The Bridge of Peace Women’s Federation for World Peace, responsible for coordinating the stalls around the church and the layout of the event, had its own stall at the front of the church. The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire spent some time at the stall inquiring about our aims and activities. The Mayor also visited us and addressed the public praising the achievement of the Watford Celebration. To support the fundraising effort for Japan, the Bridge of Peace displayed origami cranes and taught the public how to fold them. The Bridge of Peace had also supplied the international buffet in the MCCC with sushis and with around 500 fairy cakes creatively decorated.
Around 2.30pm the Sakura Club sang in the church creating a moving atmosphere just before the start of the Bridge of Peace Ceremony. It brought tears to some people in the audience. After a short introductory talk, Helena Stout - our MC, invited the public to take part in the ceremony. Around 30 to 40 ladies and men came forward and crossed the Bridge. Smiles were on their faces as they met underneath the arch and walked together hand in hand. Muslims, Pakistanis, White English, Japanese, Africans and more came together and the atmosphere in the church was transformed. Spontaneously people came forward to sing and some even assembled around the piano and sang together.
We would like to thank everyone who came to support this amazing event: Helena Stout, Monica Bateman, Chikako Raineri, Christa Rennie, the Sakura Club, Peter Stephenson who took the pictures and all those who came and gave their support.
From 1,000 to 2,000 people attended the Watford Celebration on Bank Holiday Monday 30 May. This year, due to the refurbishing of the Colosseum, the Watford Celebration team had to find an alternative venue and decided to come back to the Multi-Cultural Community Centre (MCCC) where Celebration was originally started in 2005. The minister of St Michael and All Angels, the church next door generously opened his door to Celebration which allowed us to set stalls for close to 50 organisations. The church’s vestry was also used as the Sacred Space a place for interfaith dialogue. The Community Centre hosted the performances and the popular international buffet coordinated by the Chinese Association and a third building between the church and the MCCC was reserved for the children’s activities.
The Bridge of Peace Women’s Federation for World Peace, responsible for coordinating the stalls around the church and the layout of the event, had its own stall at the front of the church. The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire spent some time at the stall inquiring about our aims and activities. The Mayor also visited us and addressed the public praising the achievement of the Watford Celebration. To support the fundraising effort for Japan, the Bridge of Peace displayed origami cranes and taught the public how to fold them. The Bridge of Peace had also supplied the international buffet in the MCCC with sushis and with around 500 fairy cakes creatively decorated.
Around 2.30pm the Sakura Club sang in the church creating a moving atmosphere just before the start of the Bridge of Peace Ceremony. It brought tears to some people in the audience. After a short introductory talk, Helena Stout - our MC, invited the public to take part in the ceremony. Around 30 to 40 ladies and men came forward and crossed the Bridge. Smiles were on their faces as they met underneath the arch and walked together hand in hand. Muslims, Pakistanis, White English, Japanese, Africans and more came together and the atmosphere in the church was transformed. Spontaneously people came forward to sing and some even assembled around the piano and sang together.
