PARADE PERFORMERS
DELUGED WITH PRAISE & PLAUDITS

It may have been the wettest parade in its 26 year history – but more than 8,500 performers in London’s New Year’s Day Parade have been deluged with praise and plaudits.
As Strictly Come Dancing star serenaded the huge crowd with ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ the heavens opened.
But in true British tradition most of the 500,000 plus street audience stayed to soak up the spectacle and cock a snoop at the wild wet weather.
Executive Director of London’s New Year’s Day Parade, Bob Bone said:”I believe that this event was the best yet – even if the performers in the second half of the parade got somewhat damp.”
The parade, which was relayed live to numerous nations, raised tens of thousands of pounds for the mayoral charities of the nineteen London boroughs that participated.
Parade organisers estimate that the event contributes more than £20 m to the economy of the capital thanks to the huge numbers that head pack the streets of the West End to watch it – and the thousands that fly to London to perform in the World famous event.
THE LET’S HELP LONDON CHALLENGE:
Nineteen London boroughs competed in The Let’s Help London Challenge – with an amazing array of entries that reflected the event’s twin themes of The Olympic Games and Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The result was nail bitingly close with the international panel of judges separating the top twelve entries by just 30 points.
In Joint First place came MERTON and The City of Westminster each receiving £7,000 for their respective mayoral charities.
Merton’s entry ‘From Horsepower To High Speed Rail’ featured some astonishing animatronics comparable with the puppeteering of hit West End Musical War Horse.
The City of Westminster’s entry ‘Peter Pan’ took place on a giant galleon with The Sylvia Young Theatre School and Councillor Robert Davis (as Captain Hook).
Coming a close third, winning £5,000 for their mayoral charity was Brent who conjured a cultural kaleidoscope which featured a massive model of the Wembley Arch.
Hammersmith & Fulham (4th winning £4,000) celebrated Walking With The Wounded’s forthcoming attempt on Mount Everest.
Dagenham & Redbridge came 5th (£3,000), Croydon came 6th (£2,000), Kingston 7th (£1,500), Barking & Dagenham 8th (£1,500), Enfield 9th (£1,500), Hounslow 10th (£1,500), Waltham Forest 11th (£1,500), and Lambeth 12th (£1,250).
Plans are already underway for London’s New Year’s Day Parade 2013.

FURTHER INFORMATION FROM DAN KIRKBY +44 (0) 7785 392735
www.londonparade.co.uk

Copyright Free pictures of London's New Year's Day Parade 2012 can be downloaded at http://panel.capitallifephoto.co.uk/
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