Hang out the bunting and celebrate!

11:32am Thursday 18th September 2008

Community spirit is running high in several Waltham Forest roads and many attribute it to a revival of street parties which are pulling families together. MHAIRI MACFARLANE looks back over the years at this English tradition.

FOR many communities in the borough, their first experience of street parties was the celebration of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee on June 7, 1977.

Tables stretching the length of the road were surrounded by children in fancy dress waving flags, while pictures of the Queen were pinned in windows.

Families in Chester Road, Walthamstow, held their first street party in 1977 and have been holding one almost every year since.

Rita Everitt, 75, was on the original committee of mums.

She recalls: “I have great memories of the street parties. Each child was given a bottle of pop, and a mug with the Queen’s face and a commemorative coin in a box.

“Everybody did their bit. We had lots of acts, and one committee member was a great singer and we were all singing along to Rod Stewart songs. Everyone decorated the front of their house, we had a competition for the best one, and we were all excited about the Jubilee because we love the Queen.”

Anna O’Rourke, 68, lived next to Mrs Everitt in Chester Road for more than 30 years and remembers dressing up her sons, Tony and James, now ward councillor for Walthamstow High Street.

“I remember the fun dressing the children up, and my son won first place which was a highlight for me and for James. To see the long table with all the children and everyone joining in making food was magical.”

Mrs Everitt added: “Not so many streets get together now. In the 1970s most women weren’t working so they had time to organise it, but now they have to work to pay for their high mortgages. My daughter has three jobs.”

Earlier this month, Chester Road continued the tradition by holding its annual street party – in the rain. The format has changed slightly, with marquees, bigger sound-systems and more of an evening party of international food and drink and dancing.

Darren Willoughby organised it along with his partner Alan Suri, both 38, and the Neighbourhood Watch group.

Mr Suri said: “I haven’t known so many people in my street since I was a child living in the Midlands. But we have got to know people through the parties and we look out for each other. Chester Road is a community within a community.”

The week before, neighbours in Elmfield Road, Walthamstow, also gathered for music, food from around the world and games. Posters and table displays were also put up displaying street parties in both 1935 and on VE Day in 1945.

Cllr O’Rourke attended both parties, but said the Chester Road one was particularly poignant for him.

He said: “Street parties are a great community event, encouraging residents to meet their neighbours and other people within the local area they might not have already met.”

Great-grandmother Mrs Everitt said the face of Chester Road may have changed since 1977, but the spirit remains the same.

She said: “In 1977 everyone had lived here all their life. It was very close-knit, but it is still very friendly. We have so many different races in the road now. Everybody brings their national dish so we all get to try it and everyone mixes together.

“You read in the paper that people don’t even speak to their neighbours. It is horrible. But we are a lovely lot and are very neighbourly.”

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