‘Oh I really love doing the float!’ said Nick. ‘I can’t believe we have to wait a whole year before we can do it again! It’s the best day of the whole year! Why can’t we have one every month? Then we wouldn’t have to wait so long!’
Such was the comment of one young participant at the end of the parade! Well who needs judges and prizes with such expressed enjoyment from one of our regular attendees? Nick loves getting involved walking alongside the float, rattling his bucket and checking with glee how many coins the generous people of Altrincham and Timperley have offered. 7th July 2012 was a very special day in AIF group’s year. Our theme was ‘Team Spirit’ and there we were with the biggest Olympic flag you will have ever seen as the central banner of our float display, surrounded by masses of white, blue, black, red, yellow and green balloons. Flags from Great Britain, Australia, Pakistan, Italy, India, Ireland, and Scotland, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Malta and England all fluttered in the wind as more balloons enhanced their colours, while the National anthems of all those countries were played. Mary ‘pulled’ the float along (with bunting!) from the front whilst Haj danced his way to the music bringing up the rear. What a day we had! Worries about the torrential rain of the previous day were distant memories as the sun shone in an intense blue sky and the temperatures soared. All the noisy fun of the fair awaited the parents and children alike on Beechfields.
Friendships made and renewed between young people of all faiths: that is what this day is about! Next month might be just a little too soon for the organisers but Nick is our best advert and will have to be patient and wait till next July to have another go on the float!
Does his enthusiasm give you a flavour of what you might have missed today?
