Our latest tweets (click to read more)

Hollingbury Park Avenue Street Party 2008

Saturday July 19th 4 till 7pm

The Hollingbury Park Avenue Street Party was first held in 2003 to commemorate the centenary of the building of the houses. Emily Jose, a street resident, was keen to celebrate by holding a street party, and within two months miraculously put one together. All monies raised during the first couple of years was donated to the National Children's Homes charity.

In 2005, with the looming threat of the closure of St Matthias Church, it seemed that our community was to be wrenched apart. It was agreed that that the Street Party would be the ideal opportunity to raise money to support St Matthias and to raise awareness of its plight. The church congregation - which until then had felt isolated from local residents - came to realise how much they valued the church's presence.

These events are an ideal chance to meet neighbours you might otherwise rarely see. With the ever-popular competitions, it has become an opportunity to show off one's cake-making and garden-sculpting prowess.

Over the last two years themes have been introduced, featuring Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Percussion and Dance, the 1940s, and this year it's a 1960s and 1970s theme. It's always fun to dress up and make a lot of noise!  But it's not compulsory.

Each year in the past we have raised around £1000, and last year we also received a local community grant. However, this year we are returning to the style of a traditional street party and focusing on the community-gathering rather than the fundraising aspects.

In February this year we had a fish and chip quiz night, which will be returning by popular demand in October. The plan for this year, apart from the theme, is to have a more traditional street party. We propose to have music from local residents during the afternoon, as well as an expanding selection of competitions: cake-making, garden sculpture, flower arranging and fancy dress all feature this year, giving residents the chance to be creative and demonstrate their skills.

The children of the street are invited to do a ‘Swap Shop' of outgrown toys and games, etc. as well as encouraged to show the adults how it's done in the competitions!

This year the Street Party will be followed by an amateur concert in St Matthias Church, the second of its kind this year.

 

Posted: 28th of June 2008