CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL: SUNSHINE'S ON ITS WAY, WHATEVER THE WEATHER

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Caribbean Carnival: sunshine's on its way, whatever the weather

by Yasmin Duffin

Thousands of people will enjoy a sunburst of colour this weekend as Leicester's annual Caribbean Carnival takes place.

Entertainers, floats and bands will take to the streets for the 28th carnival tomorrow.

The parade will leave Victoria Park, in London Road, at 1pm and enter the city centre before returning to the park at 4pm.

Celebrations will be taking place from at the park from midday until 8pm.

Entertainment will be provided by dancers, music and other performers throughout the day.

Carnival chairman Dennis Christopher said: "The theme is Colour My World because we want to bring all races and religions together."The street carnival will be full of beautiful colours.

"People should expect different foods, music, dance – from all cultures.

"Visitors can meet old and new friends and just enjoy themselves."The meaning of carnival, is emancipation of slavery – when slaves were freed, they did their own thing and that's what it's all about."

Mr Christopher said this was an important year for the carnival because of Leicester's bid to be UK City of Culture in 2017.

He said he hoped the carnival would play a major part in securing the coveted title for Leicester.

The carnival route will see the procession travel from Victoria Park, along London Road, Waterloo Way, Charles Street, Gallowtree Gate, Granby Street, Northampton Street, Waterloo Way and up London Road back to Victoria Park.

The main stage at Victoria Park will feature a variety of local, regional and national artists, ranging from the sound of R 'n' B, reggae, hip-hop and chart pop.

Mr Christopher said: "There will be all kinds of different music played but the majority will be calypso, steel band and soca – the rest will fit in between.

"I'm looking forward to it, I'm just hoping for a safe carnival and I'm keeping my eye on the weather.

"We've already started planning the 2014 carnival."

Police have given carnival goers advice on how to stay safe and crime-free at the event.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Prior said: "Last year around 15,000 people attended the event at Victoria Park and no crimes were reported.

"However, as with all events which attract large crowds, there are some simple steps that we urge people to consider to reduce the risk of them becoming a victim of crime."

To prevent the probability of crime, officers have suggested keeping valuables out of sight; keeping belongings with you at all times; keeping bags fastened securely and not to carry too much cash.

DOZENS EXPECTED AT CITY PEACE MARCH

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Dozens expected at city peace march

A peaceful procession to make a stand against extremism following the murder of Lee Rigby is to take place in Leicester tomorrow.

Dozens of people are expected to take part in a march from Town Hall Square to the war memorial at Victoria Park, where a two-minute silence and a wreath-laying ceremony will be held in memory of the soldier.

The event is being organised by Leicester Strong, a support group formed through Facebook, and will be followed by a family day to raise money for two forces charities – Help for Heroes and Scotty's Little Soldiers.

It is part of a nationwide campaign involving groups across the country and is being held to coincide with Drummer Rigby's funeral.

Co-organiser Julie Hogben, of Groby, said: "I come from a family of military people and when I saw what had happened to Lee Rigby it just devastated me. He had been to Afghanistan and survived then this happens on our own streets in broad daylight.

"We wish to invite people from all walks of life, regardless of colour or religion, everyone who wants to make this a safer place to live.

"We need to stand strong together against extremism and hate preachers.

"Our Government should be ensuring these people are off our streets."

Julie was hoping to see about 150 people taking part.

The family event will be held at The Donkey, in Welford Road, following the wreath-laying.

People who want to join the procession are asked to meet at Town Hall Square from 11.30am. The march will begin at noon, with the group set to arrive at Victoria Park for 12.55pm.

For more details, visit: www.facebook.com/ LeicesterStrong

APPEALS AHEAD OF EDL MARCH

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury (with an expanded version on its website):

Appeals ahead of EDL march

by Ciaran Fagan

Muslim community leaders have urged people to stay away from a protest against the English Defence League, (EDL), in Leicester this weekend.

The Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, (FMO), has written to its members, including mosques and various community groups, across the city and county ahead of Saturday’s planned event.

Leicester members of the EDL announced earlier this week that they intend to march from the Clock Tower to the war memorial in Victoria Park to lay a wreath in memory of Drummer Lee Rigby, the soldier who was murdered in London last week.

Leicester Unite Against Fascism is preparing a counter-protest.

Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for the FMO, said: “We are advising people it is better to stay away because of the risk of confrontation.

“It is right to pay respects to Drummer Lee Rigby but you have to ask whether it is necessary to march through the city centre.”

The EDL has said its members would not wear the group’s branded clothing, drink alcohol or chant throughout the march.

The march is also expected to only attract its local supporters.

Mr Nagdi also urged people not to react to rumours which may circulate on social networking sites or via text messages.

He said: “In many cases this information is not accurate. The police will be providing regular updates up to and including Saturday.”

Leicestershire Police said it was talking to both Leicester Unite Against Fascism and the EDL.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the force said: “We are expecting relatively small, low-key events, which will be peaceful and respectful in nature, and which will cause a minimum of disruption.

“We are not expecting people to travel from outside Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for either of these events – there are similar events in neighbouring counties on Saturday.

“We will adopt a low-key policing style, with appropriate contingencies in place.

“We do not expect either event to disrupt normal business in the city centre, and encourage people planning to visit the city centre on Saturday to continue with those plans.

“We are talking with the organisers of both events to remind them of their obligations to ensure safe and peaceful events.”

The three city councillors who represent the Castle ward, which includes the city centre and Victoria Park, jointly condemned the EDL’s decision to march.

Patrick Kitterick, Lynn Moore and Neil Clayton said the EDL should not be allowed to march through the city.

Councillor Kitterick said: “The English Defence League could pay its tribute without marching through the city centre. There is absolutely no need for them to do this.

“Any counter demonstration needs to be peaceful and respectful.”

In a joint statement, the three councillors said: “As Castle Ward Councillors we wish to totally condemn and dissociate ourselves from the potential decision by senior officers of the police and city council to allow the EDL to march in Leicester on Saturday.

“We wish it to be made clear that no consultation took place with ourselves before this decision was made and if it had we would have asked for the march to be stopped.

“We call on anyone who wishes to pay tribute to Drummer Lee Rigby to do so as individuals and communities as thousands have done.

“The decision of the EDL to do this as a group and incorporate a march through the city shows that they are cynically exploiting the death of a young man for their own political aims.

“We call on senior officers of the police and council to ban the proposed march which has nothing to do with paying tribute to Drummer Lee Rigby and everything to do with dividing our city.”

MERCURY OPINION: IGNORE THIS RABBLE & THEIR MARCH

This is from the Mercury Opinion column in today's Leicester Mercury:

Ignore this rabble and their march

The English Defence League are an organisation that we have no time for. They are an organisation that revels in causing divisions within our community. We frankly also have grave misgivings about those individuals that align themselves to this fringe group.

It is, therefore, with some trepidation that we report today that the EDL are apparently organising a march through Leicester city centre to the war memorial, in Victoria Park, to lay a wreath in memory of Drummer Lee Rigby, who was brutally murdered on the streets of Woolwich last week.

As everyone will remember, one previous demonstration by this rabble ended in violence that effectively closed our city centre on a busy Saturday.

On a second occasion, an excellent police operation kept disruption down to a minimum.

The soldier's death was indeed truly shocking and horrific, but it has nothing to do with this neo-political outfit.

The EDL, as they did on the night of Drummer Rigby's death, are simply seeking to exploit his murder for their own questionable ends.

We understand that this weekend's event is part of a series of marches and wreath-layings across the country.

It is expected to be small-scale and involve only local members and will not be the national EDL events, as was the case on previous occasions.

We would ask that opponents of the EDL, which should frankly be us all, ignore this event and that no-one mounts rival demonstrations.

Let the police do their job, marshal the event and get this group off our streets as quickly as possible.

Rival protests, however well meaning, simply play into the hands of these extremists and help them spread their intolerant and ill-founded message.

If the EDL had any credibility, they would simply go about their wreath-laying in private and mark Drummer Rigby's death in a dignified and solemn manner.

Instead, they choose to publicise their demonstration in the hope of promoting divisions within our community. We have a message for them – it won't work.

EDL IN LEICESTER TO PAY THEIR OWN TRIBUTE TO DRUMMER LEE RIGBY

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

EDL in Leicester to pay their own tribute to Drummer Lee Rigby

Members of the English Defence League say they are to gather in the city centre on Saturday as part of an event to pay their respects to murdered soldier Lee Rigby.

The EDL Leicester Division said it had asked supporters to meet in High Street, before heading to the Clock Tower, along Gallowtree Gate, Granby Street, London Road and into Victoria Park.

They plan to lay wreaths and flowers at the park's war memorial and hold a minute's silence for Drummer Rigby, who was killed last week in the street near Woolwich Barracks, in south-east London.

Although the police say they expect the gathering to be small and "peaceful and respectful", previous EDL events in Leicester city centre have sparked confrontations between its members and supporters of Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and local youths.

The Leicester UAF, on its website, has urged its followers to gather at the same time and place as the planned EDL event in what it describes as "a peaceful show of unity".

Leicestershire Police has appealed for people to respond reasonably to the event, which is likely to be one of many the EDL are planning this weekend in the wake of Drummer Rigby's death.

A police spokeswoman said: "We are aware the EDL intends to hold a small event to pay their respects to Drummer Lee Rigby in Leicester on Saturday, June 1.

"We ask for people to be reasonable in their response to this event which we expect to be peaceful and respectful."

The EDL's Leicester Division's Facebook page has asked participants not to drink, chant, sing or wear political or group colours during Saturday's gathering.

The UAF claim the EDL is using the soldier's death to stir up trouble and Islamophopia.

The police have not yet said if they will increase the number of officers in the city centre.

ASYLUM SEEKER'S FRIENDS HOPING FOR LATE REPRIEVE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Asylum seeker's friends hoping for late reprieve

by Tom Mack

Supporters of a failed asylum seeker from Afghanistan are hoping for a last minute victory as he prepares to be deported.

Yesterday, Abdul Ghafar Rajabali, 23, was moved to a detention centre near Gatwick Airport ready to be flown out of the UK.

The news came as a shock to his friends in Leicester.

At the same time on Sunday afternoon, about 60 of his supporters gathered in Victoria Park, Leicester, where they had planned to sing to Abdul down the telephone to show their support.

Colleen Molloy, who helped organised Sunday’s event, said: “It was quite traumatic.

“We had all come together to make one final plea for him and we rang him up hoping to sing to him.

“We thought he was still at the detention centre in Lincolnshire.

“We couldn’t get through when we tried his phone and a while later we got a call to say he was being transported to a detention centre at Gatwick Airport, which was why his phone was off.

“He never got to hear the crowds singing for him.”

Orphan Abdul fled to Leicester when he was 16, in August 2006, to escape being forced to fight for the Taliban rebels in his home country.

He fears that he will be killed if he is sent back because he has converted to Christianity.

He went through the usual channels to apply for asylum but after missing an important appointment he went on the run from the authorities and lived rough, eventually ending up in Leicester.

He was detained on May 10 by the Borders Agency.

Speaking to the Leicester Mercury from the Lincolnshire detention centre last week, Abdul said: “I am scared. I cannot go back to Afghanistan, I will be killed because I am now a Christian.

“I love England and I love Leicester.”

Colleen said lawyers were still hoping to stop Abdul being put on a plane home.

She said: “He has a legal team and they’re still working on his case and they’re hoping to get a reprieve at the last minute.

“Abdul’s only ambition is to be at peace.

“He arrived here alone and terrified and he is the sweetest, kindest, gentlest person you could know and he is feeling not just stressed about what he expects to be his impending death if he’s returned to Afghanistan, but all about all the people he misses so much in Leicester.”

Supporter Dave Jones, 23, of Leicester city centre, who used to play football with Abdul in Victoria Park every weekend, said: “Abdul is really integrated here and he’s one of us.

“He’s been let down by the authorities time and time again and now they want to send him to Afghanistan - it just makes no sense.”

A Home Office spokesperson said the Government and the courts were satisfied there was no reason to allow Abdul to stay in the UK.

ITV FILMS RALLY FOR ABDUL IN VICTORIA PARK

Friends of Abdul at the rally in Victoria Park. Photo by Ambrose Musiyiwa, publishing as Civic Leicester (used with permission)

At Victoria Park this morning, for an open-air protest against the impending deportation to Afghanistan of Abdul Ghafar Rajabali. The rally, organised by Abdul's friends in Leicester City of Sanctuary, takes place on the five-a-side pitches, where Abdul would turn out on a Sunday morning for FC Kolektivo Victoria. His team mates are here supporting it too.

One of his friends places a call to Abdul in IRC Morton Hall, where he's been held, so that he might hear some of our support for him this morning. She's shocked to hear that Abduk has already been removed from the detention centre and is on his way to Gatwick, where he'll be put into a holding area to await his flight to Afghanistan. He's not scheduled to leave till after midnight on Wednesday 22nd. This doesn't mean that all is lost; his friends will keep working for his release till the last possible moment.

A film crew from ITV records the event today. A report was broadcast this afternoon and can be seen on YouTube.

I should say that I'm here in a personal capacity, rather than representing Leicester Council of Faiths. However I'm here, I'm glad to be able to give whatever support I can.

For more information about the ongoing campaign to keep Abdul in the UK and to see what you can do to help, even at this late stage, visit the Facebook page.

SO. FAREWELL THEN, SUGHRA AHMED

At the Bombay Pavilion, Victoria Park, for a surprise going-away party in honour of Sughra Ahmed. Sughra has been a stalwart of Leicester Council of Faiths all the years I've been in post. She has recently resigned from the Board of Directors as she is leaving Leicester to take up a post with the Woolf Institute, based at Cambridge University. That's her cake in the photo above, with her edible face on it.

Sughra has worked as a Research Fellow in the Islamic Foundation’s Policy Research Centre, based at Markfield Institute of Higher Education. She remains a Trustee of the Interfaith Network UK. She published Seen and Not Heard: Voices of Young British Muslims. She organised flashmob iftar during Ramadan and “Picnic in the Park” thereafter, feeding homeless people and refugees, coordinated through Facebook. She has been of considerable help to me in my post, most notably when she came forward to be one of a panel of speakers at the Amplified Leicester event I hosted at Phoenix Square in March 2011, Amplified Communities of Faith or Belief. I also recall, in particular, how she lit up our display in Highcross on a busy Saturday afternoon during Inter Faith Week 2010, like a flame attracting moths, at ease with the crowds that busy day, able to persuade people to stop and talk or to to take literature as they passed by. She did that gig better than just about anyone else ever involved in it. Not what I expected from someone whom I had thought of up till then as being something of a dry, closeted academic. How wrong could I be about a person, faithful reader? Seeing her in action that one afternoon completely rewrote the script. She also organised a successful seminar for Leicester Council of Faiths during Inter Faith Week 2012, under the title, Faith in Family.

There's a good turnout in her honour this evening and it's clearly been kept secret, to judge by the look on Sughra's face when she arrives.

Several friends and colleagues say their bit about how they got to know Sughra, what she means to them and how they're going to miss her. In the photo above, Rupal Rajani (from BBC Radio Leicester) is doing just that.

We all wish Sughra well in her new role and in her future. Personally, I'll miss her calling me "Georgie". I can't imagine anyone else doing that until I'm sitting all day in a high-backed leather chair, wearing a drool bib and being told to eat up while being fed Ready Brek by means of a plastic spoon. I'll be staring into the distance, trying to recall ... someone ... or something ... Anyway: good luck Sughra! Keep in touch.

HANNUKKAH MARKED BY LIGHTING OF A MENORAH

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Hannukkah marked by lighting of a menorah

Jews celebrated the eighth evening of Hanukkah with the lighting of a giant nine-light menorah.

The ceremony, in Victoria Park, was performed by Lord Mayor of Leicester Councillor Abdul Osman.

Councillor Osman said: "It is very pleasing for me to be invited to join our Jewish family to perform the ceremony for the third time.

"This ceremony at one of the gateways into Leicester shows the diversity of the city."

Leon Charikar, chairman of Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation, who led a brief service of hymns and prayers, said: "I would like to welcome the Lord Mayor and thank Leicester City Council for again erecting the menorah in Victoria Park.

"We are a small community of about 300 people. Hanukkah is a festival which celebrates religious freedom and we are pleased to share it with the people of such a diverse city."

The festival celebrates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish defeat of a regime that denied them freedom to worship, and also celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

In the photo above: Leon Charikar, Lord Mayor Abdul Osman and Lady Mayoress Shaina Osman light the Victoria Park menorah

FUN AT CARNIVAL WAS RESTRICTED

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Fun at carnival was restricted

I would like to share my thoughts with you regarding last Saturday's Caribbean Carnival.

It has been shrunk down to a small area of Victoria Park and had security Guantanamo Bay would have been proud of.

There were cameras watching everything.

I have attended the carnival since the year it began and have enjoyed the atmosphere and the freedom that it inspires.

This year was like something from George Orwell's 1984!

There were guards with metal detectors, searching bags and restricting alcohol to be taken into the site.

"Drink it before you go in," we were advised – by the security guards. So, cans of beer that would last all of the carnival were polished off in 10 minutes!

Better than taking it slowly over time!

Meanwhile, the official purveyors of beer onsite were charging £3 a can.

Mine were 95p from a shop!

Abbey Park music festival ended due to these draconian measures and I can see the carnival going down the same pan.

The site is a public park and a public open space.

Please Leicester City Council, don't tell me how to enjoy myself.

I will not be attending that prison they call Summer Sundae.

Phil Rowe, Knighton Fields

CITY SWAYS TO CALYPSO BEAT

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

City sways to calypso beat

Thousands of people lined the streets of the city on Saturday as the colourful spectacle of the Caribbean Carnival came to town.

Spectators danced to a thumping beat and blew whistles and vuvuzelas as the procession snaked its way in and out of the city centre.

Leaving Victoria Park at about 12.45pm, it made its way down London Road and into the city centre along Charles Street and later on to Granby Street, where rain fell on the parade.

But scores of swaying umbrellas only added to the colour of the occasion.

The line of lorries, floats, hundreds of dancers and young people wearing feathered headdresses and huge sparkling costumes arrived back at Victoria Park at about 4.30pm for the traditional Caribbean party.

Among the crowds enjoying the procession in London Road were Sharon and Charlie Starbuck, of Bagworth.

Sharon, 51, said: "We have been coming for about 10 years and it is the best gig in town.

"The atmosphere is wonderful and joyous. It is simply the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon and evening."

Husband Charlie, 55, said: "What I love about it is that it is totally inclusive. It does not matter who you are, it's a party and everyone is invited irrespective of colour or creed. It is what we love about Leicester."

Charlotte Brown, 25, of the city centre, said: "It is amazing.

"The costumes are so colourful and creative. It is an incredible spectacle and something Leicester should be proud of."

Her brother Julian, eight, said: "It is perfect. I have got a whistle and I love blowing it as loud as I can."

Sharon Thomas brought her daughter McKenzie, seven, into town to see the parade.

Ms Thomas, 41, of Narborough Road, said: "I have seen this procession before and it is a sight to behold. I don't know who comes up with the ideas for the costumes but they are incredible."

McKenzie, seven, said: "It is very good. I would like to be in the parade one year if I could because it looks so much fun."

The party carried on into the evening at Victoria Park.

Stalls selling traditional West Indian cuisine did a roaring trade as people tucked in.

Other stalls providing free activities for children were kept busy as the carnival's family atmosphere prevailed.

The music continued to pound out from a main stage and other stages as the dancing continued despite more rain.

At the park, friends Sophie Barby and Kay Simmonds got into the party mood.

Sophie, 22, of Queens Road, said: "Great atmosphere. Spicy chicken. Banging music. Bring it on."

Kay, 21, of Glenfield, said: "I can't believe how fabulous the whole carnival is. Everyone is here and everyone is just having a great time. It's brilliant."

Nevin Moledina had wandered over to the park with friends from her home in nearby Clarendon Park.

She said: "We come every year to enjoy the lovely relaxed atmosphere.

"It seems to be a bit smaller than previous years but it still a party not to be missed."

Superintendent Stuart Prior, the senior officer in charge of policing the carnival, said: "The carnival has been a great success and has passed off safely with no arrests made.

"I would like to thank the event organisers Leicester Caribbean Carnival, Leicester City Council and the other emergency services for working with us to ensure the event went smoothly.

"It was great to see so many people supporting the carnival despite the heavy rain at times.

"I would like to thank those who attended for their co-operation and motorists for their patience during the procession through the city centre."

Dennis 'Sugar' Christopher, of Leicester Caribbean Carnival, said: "It has been a really successful day with everyone enjoying themselves."I would like to thank each and every one who supported the event and all the agencies and staff who worked to make it possible."

The Leicester Mercury has published a gallery of photographs from the Caribbean Carnival. The pictures in this blog entry are to be found on that gallery. And if you think the face inside the hoop in the costume pictured above is familiar, it's an iconic image of Janet Leigh in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho! On the Mercury website, this article is entitled, "Thousands line streets to enjoy Leicester Caribbean Carnival's sights and sounds".

LEICESTER CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

I take Harry and Grace into the city centre this afternoon, to see the Caribbean Carnival (both the procession down London Road and the main event in Victoria Park). We take our position outside the railway station, perched on the fence dividing the two sides of London Road (which is closed for this period, of course). I don't know what's up with this spot, but it seems hard, if not impossible, to get a decent photo of the procession here. I know I'm just using an iPhone, but then again, a bad workman blames his tools. I've put a photo at the top of this post, taken at the same position from which we watched the procession, by a better photographer than me, with a better camera. These photos are taken from the Leicester Festivals & Events Facebook album, Leicester Caribbean Carnival 2012. Check it out for a lovely selection of pictures. I took the photos below though. The fellow carting the big union flag behind him is on roller skates. There should be on Olympic event dedicated to doing what he's doing!

Though I don't have figures or any such evidence, I get the feeling that the procession is smaller than on previous occasions. But it's still wondrous to behold. There are some good causes promoted through the floats, including the Watershed Youth Centre, where ReMit (Leicester City Council's education provision for adults with long-term mental health issues) was located when I went to work for them several years ago.

We reach Victoria Park for the main static part of the Carnival (just as the rain begins to fall). First order of business is getting some grub (especially as my blood sugar is getting low).

The carnival takes up much less space in the park than I've seen it do before. There are food stalls, bouncy castles, vendors of ephemera and memerobilia (especiall stuff marking the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's independence this year). But the big rides, major concession stands and tents and the variety of VCS organisations on show is well down on previous years. The biggest single display is taken up by Time to Change. This is currently the biggest project in England working to end stigma and discrimination against people with mental health problems. Time to Change has a pop-up village in the park today. You can read their own report about it on their website. I speak to a few of the organisers in their pop-up village; hopefully these conversations will have practical and mutually beneficial outcomes.

Time to Change pop-up village at the Caribbean Carnival in Victoria Park

LEICESTER CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL 2012 KICKS OFF TOMORROW

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Leicester Caribbean Carnival 2012 kicks off tomorrow

The streets of Leicester will be filled with the sounds, sights and smells of the Caribbean tomorrow, when the annual carnival gets under way.

Now in its 27th year, the Leicester Caribbean Carnival is one of the biggest celebrations of its kind in the country.

Championing Caribbean culture and heritage, the carnival is a flurry of brightly-coloured costumes, floats, dance troupes and traditional food.

Set against a backdrop of Caribbean soca music, the event attracts more than 100,000 people every year.

Juliet Brade, coordinator of the carnival, explained the event is first and foremost a celebration of the emancipation of slaves.

“A lot of people really don’t know what the carnival is about,” she said. “It’s an expression of people of the Caribbean, expressing themselves and keeping the culture alive.

“It has always been on the first Saturday in August - emancipation day. People celebrate the freedom, although it was not really complete freedom as such.”

Ms Brade continued: “People came to the Caribbean from Africa and they were enslaved by the English, French, Dutch etc. If you were lighter-skinned you were hired to work in the household, and if you were darker-skinned you became a field slave.

“The house slaves heard everything in the house, so on Sundays, the one day they were free to do as they pleased, the house slaves would join the field slaves and they would mimic what happened in the household. They used to dance, do flamenco etc.

“They put their own spin on it, and as time went by you had amalgamation of African tradition mixed with Dutch, Spanish - the powers that be at the time. It changed constantly.”

Ms Brade heaped praise on the local community, and said without them the carnival could not go ahead.

“People from the community put their hand in their pockets to make it work,” she said.

“We are pulling it together but it’s a community-wide event. So you cannot say we are organising the event - so many people are important to us to achieve our objectives.

“People come from all over, it’s not just about Leicester. It’s the largest multi-cultural event in the Midlands, but it attracts people from all over.”

Turning to the financial difficulties the carnival has faced, Ms Brade said: “The costumes cost us an arm and a leg. The expense to the groups is very, very high, so they really cannot do some of the things that they would like.

“We are struggling because we are one of the groups that have been targeted for cuts from city funding, so we have to find somewhere to fund the shortfall.”

But the hard work has paid off - the carnival is back on the move again after a lack of funds saw last year's event restricted to Victoria Park.

“People will be doing all kinds of things; they enjoy food, see friends they haven’t met for many years,” Ms Brade explained.

Some 42 young people who for months have made costumes at the carnival arts centre are due to take part, as are three carnival queens and a number of performers.

At least 100,000 people are expected to attend the parade, and another 20,000 are set to be at the park. “But they won’t all come at once, they come and go, they do their own thing,” said Ms Brade.

“We have booked sun,” she added. “The rain has never stopped the carnival. One year it was raining and people didn’t care if they got wet. I’ve been soaked through before. We’re immune to rain,” she joked.

Tomorrow’s festivities kick off at 11am, with the opening ceremony taking place at 12.30. The parade sets off around the city immediately afterwards.

Organisers encourage carnival-goers to donate at least £1 to clearly identified collectors on the day, to help cover the growing cost of the event. Collectors’ buckets will carry the Leicester Caribbean Carnival Logo.

To find out more about the carnival, visit www.leicestercaribbeancarnival.co.uk

HEALTH HELP IN VILLAGE AT CARNIVAL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Health help in village at carnival

A pop-up village at the Caribbean Carnival on Saturday will aim to help people with mental health issues.

The idea is part of the national Time to Change campaign to tackle discrimination.

The village will be staffed by volunteers with mental health problems – including some from the British Caribbean community – with the aim of encouraging people to talk more openly about issues.

Staff from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which runs mental health services in the county, will also be on hand.

There will also be entertainment including face painting, arts and crafts and jewellery making.

Sue Baker, director of Time to Change, said: "By being at this event we will bring people with and without mental health problems together to get new conversations started, which helps to tackle stigma and misunderstanding."

Saquib Muhammad, from the trust, said: "If we can tackle discrimination, people will find it easier to seek help."

The village will be open from 2pm to 8pm in Victoria Park.

CARNIVAL RETURNING TO STREETS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Carnival returning to streets

Caribbean carnival-goers will be back on parade this weekend.Last year, a lack of money meant organisers were unable to hold the procession through Leicester's streets.

But this year, they hope 100,000 people will watch its return or join the celebrations in Victoria Park.

The procession will go from the park to the Clock Tower, while people in the park can enjoy Caribbean specialities such as jerk chicken and listen to steel bands and calypso music.

Organiser Dennis "Sugar" Christopher said the music would reflect the carnival culture of the Caribbean and have more acts aimed at youngsters.

He said: "I've been listening to people who say the carnival does not cater for young people.

"So this year I've taken a leaf out of the book of the Olympics, where the opening ceremony had young people lighting the cauldron.

"On the park, we're going to have more youngsters performing as well as national and international acts and bands."

Many young people will also be among the 1,000 dancers taking part in the carnival procession, which will set off from Victoria Park at 1pm on Saturday and pass down London Road into the heart of the city and back up Gallowtree Gate.

London Road to the south of the park will remain shut throughout the procession, while temporary road closures will affect Granville Road, Northampton Street, Charles Street, Belgrave Gate and Granby Street.

However, the longer-term future of the carnival remains uncertain.Leicester City Council is reviewing how much money it contributes to the event.

The carnival costs about £200,000. The council is considering gradually reducing its contribution from £100,000 to about £60,000 in three years' time.

Mr Christopher said it was important the Caribbean Carnival continued as an annual event.

He said: "People enjoy the carnival – the procession, music, floats, costumes and performances.

"The University of Leicester did research last year and found a wide range of people come to the carnival.

"It also brings a lot of people to the city and helps businesses."The carnival brings serious wealth to Leicester.

"We've got to do a lot of fund-raising ourselves and there will be buckets on Saturday so we ask people to come along and to please give generously."

Councillor Piara Singh Clair, assistant city major for leisure, said: "There is a review going on but we are very keen to promote processions and activities like this in the city.

"I think we do need to keep it going.

"I've been the past couple of years and I'm looking forward to going again on Saturday."

CELEBRATING HANUKKAH WITH LEICESTER PROGRESSIVE JEWISH CONGREGATION

Official lighting (at 1700) of the public Menorah for Hanukkah in Victoria Park (opposite Mayfield Roundabout). This is hosted by the Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation, with special guest, Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Abdul Osman (on the platform on the left of the photo above). The programme states that Sir Peter Soulsby, Mayor of Leicester, would be attending, but due to extenuating circumstances, who is unable to do so.

Despite having received an invitation to this open air event each year since I took up my post with Leicester Council of Faiths, this is the first time I've actually been able to attend. Cold or flu or bad weather (or a combination of both) have prevented me from coming along to this before. It's been bucketting down most of the day, but thankfully it stops half an hour or so before the ceremony begins.

This is the last of three community celebrations of Hanukkah to which I've been invited this week. I was correct in thinking that I'd be the only person in Leicester to attend all three of them (having been to the communal indoor lighting in the Town Hall with the Leicester Hebrew Congregation on Tuesday, then the celebration at Teshuvah Messianic Synagogue last night). I wasn't going to let a bit of rain or a few sniffles keep me from setting that personal record. After all, I can't assume I'd be able to do this next year.

There are speeches and songs of course, although they're kept to a minimum, since we're out in the cold and the dark (and at rush hour, the Friday before Christmas in one of the busiest parts of the city for traffic). Then we go back to Neve Shalom on Avenue Road, for a brief Shabbat evening service and refreshments, continuing the celebration of Hanukkah. 

I enjoy the hospitality, informality and spontaneity at Neve Shalom, emphasised this evening in several ways. The seats are arranged in a circle, there's a variety of Menorah on a central table (some homemade, one where the candlesticks take the form of stereotypical Jewish community characters) which the children light. When the table is cleared away after the service, the children play with their dreidels, winning chocolate coins.

The plaque attached to the public Menorah (photo above) contains the following words:

The lights on the Menorah commemorate the miracle of Chanukah. They celebrate religious freedom and the ever growing victory of light over darkness

Below this text, the plaque bears the seal of Leicester City Council. I wonder how many other cities in the UK have a public Menorah - if any. A quick google search proves inconclusive (it's hard to find the right search terms that will yield the answers I'm looking for). This Menorah is a very distinctive feature, especially as it's not in the grounds of one of the city's synagogues, but in such a prominent public place. Arguably, more people will have seen the public Menorah than will know actually what it is, due its busy location and the fact that it isn’t a permanent, fixed feature and is taken down as soon as Hanukah is over. I'd be interested in finding out if there's anything similar to this in other parts of the country.

Just as there are variations in the way that Hanukkah is celebrated, so there are various ways of spelling the name of this special occasion in the Jewish community calendar. In each of these three blog entries, I've spelled it as it appears on the invitation from the respective host community.

ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR

Here's the poster put up around town for Billy Bates & Sons Fun Fair, currently at Victoria Park. In an interesting example of diversity, the poster states that Billy Bates is "Supporting Leicester Pride" and extends an invitation to "Celebrate Eid at the fun fair". Not often you'll see those two occasions linked together, faithful reader - gotta love Leicester!

SHARING IS CARING: FLASHMOB IFTAR

At Victoria Park this evening, supporting the "Sharing is Caring" Flashmob Iftar. Iftar is the name given to the evening meal with which Muslims break their fast each day during Ramadan. Similar events were held here during Ramadan 2010. They were successful and attracted some positive media attention; I only got to go to the last of the weekly meetings though. I'm glad to see this return and I'm keen to see how it goes this year.


Harry, Grace and I have been down to De Montfort Hall and Gardens to get our wristbands for Summer Sundae Weekender, checking out what's happening onsite the night before the festival proper begins tomorrow. It's just a short step over to the Pavilion, where the Flashmob Iftar is taking place. The point of this is to extend charity and hospitality to some of the people who virtually live in Victoria Park or who are based in some of the hostels nearby. I used to teach in some of these hostels, when I worked for Leicester City Council's ReMit and Reach programmes, so I'm interested in this event from more than one perspective. I'm also happy to get Harry and Grace involved.


There are more people here this evening than I recall being at the one I managed to attend last year - both from the local Muslim community and the intended beneficiaries of the event. There's more of a mixed turnout in terms of people helping out from other communities. In the photo below, Sughra Ahmed and Selma Ravat (from the Islamic Society of Britain) flank Lesley and Alan of Street Pastors. Lesley and Alan are wearing hi visibility orange  vests, which say "Community Mediator" on the back. they also appear to glow in the dark, judging by their effect on the picture!

When I introduce the kids to some of my friends here, more than one remembers that I told them how Harry stood up for Leicester's Muslims at school, when rumours and falsehoods were being spread about them in the days before the English Defence League visited Leicester in October last year. I was proud of him for doing that and am glad it's not been forgotten.


This event - and others to follow weekly on Thursday evenings during Ramadan - has been organised by Farhaanah Surti on behalf of the Islamic Society of Britain. It's been coordinated largely through the Sharing is Caring page on Facebook.