Life's a beach at fiesta in the sun

21 July 2010

Party time: Sir Robin joins celebrations as carnival launches show

WITH some of the best summer weather to date, almost 50,000 people flocked to Central Park, East Ham, on Saturday and Sunday for the annual Mayor's Newham Show.

The sun-drenched spectacular featured a host of free activities.

Fancy that: Capturing the carnival spirit

And for many families it was like an old fashioned day at the seaside with a huge, man-made sandy beach where children could build sandcastles, or take part in a traditional fancy dress competition and enjoy donkey rides.

The fun was launched on Saturday with an amazing carnival involving local schoolchildren who filled the park's neighbouring streets with colour and music in a glittering procession.

Knockabout fun: Youngsters donned Sumo-style fat-suits for some real belly laughs

Olympians Sally Gunnell and Newham Sports Academy chief Tessa Sanderson were on hand to lend their knowledge and expertise to the borough's burgeoning athletes.

The weekend left Mayor Sir Robin Wales almost speechless.

He said: "I'm already looking forward to next year."

Full story by Pat Coughtrey in a two page photo special in this week's Recorder