United Nations International Day of Peace and Non-Violence
September 21st 2006
Rochdale
At 11am, the children and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang arrived at the parade starting point. The sun was shining and the sky was blue! The parade was joined by Wardle High School Brass Band and at 11.30 am off we went.
Led by our very own Peace Wagon, we were followed by the Mayor of Rochdale seated in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Wardle High School Brass, members of all political parties and faiths and, of course, hundreds of school children proudly who were displaying their giant peace doves.
The parade worked it's way through town, passers by smiling and waving to all, and headed towards the Cenotaph. After assembling at five minutes to Noon, we all awaited the moment for Rochdale to be the first town in the UK, if not the world, to publicly and officially observe 1-minute of silence for
United Nations Day of Peace and Non-Violence.
Without request, and at the stroke of noon, the police stopped all traffic passing the Cenotaph, and for just one beautiful minute, we all fell silent.
We hope that thoughts were with those around the world who face violence and conflict on a daily basis.
Never before had so many children in this town gathered together for one joint cause. A cause that was not born out of competetiveness or self-aggrandisement, or for which the religious or social-economic background mattered not.
September 21st 2006
Rochdale
At 11am, the children and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang arrived at the parade starting point. The sun was shining and the sky was blue! The parade was joined by Wardle High School Brass Band and at 11.30 am off we went.
Led by our very own Peace Wagon, we were followed by the Mayor of Rochdale seated in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Wardle High School Brass, members of all political parties and faiths and, of course, hundreds of school children proudly who were displaying their giant peace doves.
The parade worked it's way through town, passers by smiling and waving to all, and headed towards the Cenotaph. After assembling at five minutes to Noon, we all awaited the moment for Rochdale to be the first town in the UK, if not the world, to publicly and officially observe 1-minute of silence for
United Nations Day of Peace and Non-Violence.
Without request, and at the stroke of noon, the police stopped all traffic passing the Cenotaph, and for just one beautiful minute, we all fell silent.
We hope that thoughts were with those around the world who face violence and conflict on a daily basis.
Never before had so many children in this town gathered together for one joint cause. A cause that was not born out of competetiveness or self-aggrandisement, or for which the religious or social-economic background mattered not.
Observing silence at 12 noon
Everyone participated!
Song for Peace ...
Representative from all local political parties and faiths ... together for Peace
Our Giant Peace Dove!
All gathered at the Cenotaph
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang leads the way ... !
Peace Day Guests (left to right): Paul Rowen MP, Karen Davies of the United Nations, The Mayor of Rochdale and Colin Parry OBE
children first and foremost.
Children for peace ...
... and ours!