The borough’s birthday extravaganza saw thousands flock to the Mayor’s Newham Show for two days of sun, sports, sand and singing.
Under scorching skies in Central Park, children’s yells of joy rang out from boxing tents, shaving foam pits, disabled basketball courts and the hoola-hooping cabaret area, where ‘Happy birthday’ was sung to a grandmother, Yvonne, alongside the 50-year-old Newham.
The carnival on Saturday afternoon was the icing on the cake, as schools, charities and community groups shimmied past in a kaleidoscopic parade of colour, music and laughter.
“My son has been absolutely loving it,” said Jade Griffiths. The 27-year-old former Beckton resident spent the morning playing with son Tate, 3, in the Under 5s tent.
“Tate’s been excited for the last two weeks. It’s such an amazing atmosphere. If people don’t have money to do anything they can still come and spend the whole day here.
“It’s not something that you go to for half an hour and then you go, it keeps on going for the whole day.”
Six-year-old Priyan Rajamohan, who tried out the boxing in the ActiveNewham area, took to the sport like a pro.
“I was learning to box like real boxing. I’ve never done it before, it was my first time,” said the Kensington Primary School pupil, who lives with his parents near Central Park.
“The man taught me how to box, I started out with the basic move and I got really fast and encouraged my speed. I did my best and I never gave up. I’d like to do it again, I really like it!”
To find out more about the show and check out more photos from the weekend, pick up a copy of the Newham Recorder this Wednesday, July 15.
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