Busy Weekend Visiting Community Groups - Sunday

On Sunday I attended two local community events.

The first was the launch of a Women’s Forum for women from Somaliland at the Hayes Campus of Uxbridge College in Coldharbour Lane, Hayes. Somaliland was a British colony and has maintained strong links with Britain. Local community groups have supported projects to assist schools and the university in Somaliland’s capital of Hegesa. The women’s forum will provide a vehicle for women to express their views and work together on different projects.

Later that day I visited the celebrations of the Hayes Gurkha Association at Hayes Football Club in Church Road, Hayes. The Gurkhas have a long and proud tradition of serving extremely bravely in the British army. On retirement from the army some Gurkha families have settled in Hayes and a couple of years ago formed a local Gurkha Association. The Association brings together the local families to celebrate the festivals and traditions of the Gurkhas. I was joined at the celebration by Hillingdon’s mayor and his wife.

There were many traditional songs and dances. I filmed a short dance sequence to give you a flavour of the evening. The Gurkhas are well known for their friendliness and hospitality. The mayor, his wife and I really enjoyed their company.

submitted by John on 14 Oct 2008 at 23:23