The festival saw Irish folk music, an acoustic set from Hillz FM’s new Irish presenter Michael Gallagher and Irish dancers, Bollywood dancers, a gospel choir and two little girls who sang and danced away who are bound to be the next Britain’s Got Talent Winners!
WATCH Ltd hosted the return of a traditional Hillfields Gala Day as part of Positive Images Festival to bring together new and existing communities which included performances, dance competitions and over 20 local community exhibitors.
We also had a traditional Thai Chi demonstration; as music came to an end the Afghan community gave a very humble dance to traditional Afghan music.
Local community groups shared information including the Time Union based at Leigh Street Allotments where residents were able to plant seeds to take away; Local resident Mumtaz provided free Henna and local organisations WEA and FWT held children’s activities.
Also in attendance were Abraham’s Seed, Coventry Adoption and Fostering, NEA providing free energy efficiency advice, The Church of God of Prophecy Food Bank and Lower Ford Street Baptist Church (Chat Shack) who provided free refreshments.
Stalls included Gradtutors who were selling traditional Asian jewellery, Hillfields Library and Hillfields Readers Association second hand book stalls and also a tombola which Hillfields Pharmacy, International Supermarket and Londis stores kindly donated to.
During the afternoon we had a dance competition which saw children from different communities come together to party to a variety of pop songs winning prizes which were kindly donated by Sainsbury’s Trinity Street Store.
Local photographer Jason Tilley was on hand to take Portraits of Hillfields Residents as part of the Imagine Project and of local residents who had come in their traditional cultural dress.
The festival which celebrated diversity in the local community was attended by the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor Michael Hammon who awarded Peter Fitzgerald on behalf of WATCH for his contribution to volunteering in Hillfields.
Trisha Evans, Centre Manger of WATCH said,
“This has been a great day to bring together the different communities in Hillfields, to see faces old and new, next year we would like to make the gala day even bigger and work in partnership with other local organisations. Thank you to all peformers and stall holders who helped make such a brilliant day.”