World Peace Day commemorated

A small crowd and local dignatories gather to commemorate UN Peace Day.

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The UK's official observation of United Nations Peace Day once again centred on Rochdale.

Now in its fourth year, Peace Parade UK held a parade and two minute silence in the town centre to mark the United Nations International Day of Peace and Non-Violence.

The parade was led down Yorkshire Street by blind land speed world record holder Mike Newman driving his MG, while Minister of Sport Gerry Sutcliffe met with local dignatories at the cenotaph to observe the silence and address a small crowd.

Mike Newman said: "The speed of peace needs to increase! I was delighted to lead this important event and hope that together we can inspire ambitions that lead to action - Peace is the most important gift we can give to each other."

There was also a short message on behalf of the United Nations Secretary General by Anne Ashton of the United Nations Association UK.

Joining the parade were children from schools across the borough and representatives of many faiths and communities including the Archdeacon of Rochdale, Dharmacari Buddharaksita from the Manchester Buddhist Centre and the Dynamic Ladies of Greater Manchester, who bring together African women in the Greater Manchester area to promote African culture, and Wardle High School Samba Band.

Also attending were Mayoral representatives from Bury, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan, alongside Rochdale's Mayor Councillor Keith Swift, who also addressed the crowd.

After the peace flag had been raised outside the Town Hall, the local school children went inside to view a special video sent by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to mark the occasion.

The Prime Minister said: "I would to personally like to thank Peace Parade UK for this day and the other peace related activities. I would like to encourage towns and communities across the UK to follow Rochdale’s example in bringing communities and especially young people together."

Schools that did not take part in the parade watched the unique video message from the Prime Minister, Nancy Dell’Olio, Colin Parry OBE, who lost his son Tim in the Warrington IRA explosion of 1993, and the Minister of Sport.

This afternoon there was a public exhibition of young people’s peace artwork and poetry in the Town Hall as well as a video diary room where people could record their own messages of peace.