Stoneyfield Park Family Fun Day

Stoneyfield Park Family Fun Day

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Mayor Ian Duckworth opened the King Street East Residents' Associations' (KSERA) Family Fun Day at Stoneyfield Park on Boundary Street on Sunday.

The highlight of the event was a Kabaddi match between teams from Lancashire and Yorkshire, with Team Rochdale winning. The winning team captain Nisar Ahmed, from Rochdale Kabaddi Club, and the runner up, were presented with trophies by Councillor Zaman, Chief Superintendent JP Ruffle and Shahid Sardar.

The fun day had activities for all ages, including face painting, fun fair rides, bouncy castle, and bungee jumping. Stalls included cupcakes and sweets, jewellery and accessories, and Asian clothes.

Entertainment was provided by an African dancing troupe, followed by the Emerald Bollywood Dance workshop.

There were martial arts demonstrations, including Tae Kwon Do and Kick Boxing from local clubs.

The police brought their vehicles for children to sit in and turn the lights on, they could also try on the junior police uniforms – which the children loved wearing them.

Shahid Sardar, chairman of the organising committee, said: “This community event  served as a great way for communities, professionals and stakeholders to learn more about each other, begin dialogue and help to break down barriers and challenge misconceptions.

“Thank you to Keith Hicks and Tony Schiavo from Rochdale Football Club who engaged with young people, doing some football skills work and running a brilliant tournament.

“The club has offered ongoing support and we welcome that.

"Thanks to Tracy Hibbert and the team at Rochdale Council’s Environmental Management - they did an amazing job of preparing the park.”

Councillor Mohammed Zaman said: “Our ambition was for the fun day to be truly inclusive – and it most certainly was.

“By including and involving the local and wider community we know that we have started a process of fostering better community cohesion between different communities, generations, faith and cultures.

"There was something for everyone, we even had the weather on our side. It was a beautiful, warm, colourful and fun packed day and, according to the police, we had over a thousand people visit us from across the borough of Rochdale. We even had families travelling in from Castleton and Middleton who stayed for the day, enjoying a picnic." 

Chief Superintendent Ruffle said: “I was really honoured to be invited to be part of the event, and it was my pleasure to be asked to hand the trophies for the Kabaddi match.

"I am really proud that so many people came out to enjoy the activities with their children and families on such a beautiful day.

"It was a brilliantly organised event bringing our diverse communities together, enjoying themselves, dancing and eating together – and to be part of that really makes me even more proud of Rochdale.

“I have spoken to Shahid, the chairman of the organising committee about making this an annual event.

"I especially loved watching the Kabaddi (South Asian traditional wrestling) – it will be great to have a police team next year.”