Wednesday 29 July 2009

"Glamour" was the call of the day when the contestants for the 2009 Redbrige Carnival Queen took the stage. All the women and girls were bright, intelligent, dressed immaculately and caused the judges no-end of trouble as the margins between them were difficult. The event was delayed by over 30minutes as the judges battled it out to have their favourite candidates win. The judges include The Mayor Cllr Chan, his wife Madame Mayor Chan, Jean Challis (a former Romford Carnival Queen and a founder member of the original Redbridge Carnival from 1968), Alison Upchurch (0ne of the very early Redbridge Carnival Queens) and Punit Hare the first ever Redbridge Carnival Queen from the new association.

The Selected Carnival Queen is Kaijal Pahl from Ilford (centre)
The first Princess is Jessica Baker from South Woodford (left)
The second Princess is Katie Woolnoth from South Woodford (right)



The winners were chosen after assessment of their commitment, voluntary/community work, communication and manner - this is not a beauty contest!. It is hoped that they will represent the borough as Ambassadors and will be present on the Mayors New Years Day Parade Float. The Carnival Queens will now lead our procession on the 6th September 2009 and they will also be present over the two days of carnival. We hope that they will provide an enduring image of professionalism and community to all who attend. Dont forget from 12:00 - 20:00 on the 5th and 6th Septmber 2009 our event will be in Valentines Park (Melbourne Fields).

Throughout the event we were entertained by live DJ and wonderful performances by Alexandra School of Performing Arts (Thriller rendition and cabaret acts), Khatak Dancing, and Elektra (tribal fusion belly dancing See picture). Our thanks to all the performers. It should be noted in particular that the two princesses performed in 3 ASPA cabaret performances and still displayed the correct poise, demeanour and appearance to impress our judges!

Sunday 26 July 2009

Jessica Baker

Hobbies:

My passion is dancing, I love to perform! I also enjoy singing and acting and go to a Performing Arts school.

Interests:

I love music, shopping (of course!!), watching films and spending time with my family and friends. Yet again dancing is what I enjoy the most!

Aspirations:

In the future I would love to pursue my hobby as a dancer and maybe perform in the West End. Also after completing my A levels at sixth form I hope to then go onto University to perhaps study Maths as it is what I love at school.

What you believe gives you Star Quality:

I am a young positive teenager who has a lot of ambitions. I am dedicated to my education and hobby. I love to teach dancing at the weekend and to perform and share my talent with younger children - some with special needs.

Katie Woolnoth

Hobbies:

I am a very active person who loves to dance, sing, act and participate in various sports. I studied P.E at GCSE and enjoy spending my free time at my local performing arts school- The alexandra school of performing arts.

Interests:

When I'm not performing im at home or out and about with my family and friends! I love music and have played a variety instruments in my childhood- such as the violin and drums! I also have a great interest in make-up and beauty.

Aspirations:

Following my passion for make-up and beauty it may be a career path that i follow in the future after completing two years at sixth form.

What you believe gives you Star Quality:

I'm a lively, bubbly teenager, who's always up for a challenge (and a laugh!). I share my talents at my dancing school where I teach younger students of many different ages and abilities.


Saturday 25 July 2009

Rachel Daniel

Hobbies/Interests :

I enjoy live performance; theatre, live music, comedy shows.
I am an avid Tudor historian.
I collect vintage accessories.
I like baking cakes.
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Aspirations:

I hope to be a successful playwright.
I would love to travel round the world in a VW campervan.
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What you believe gives you Star Quality:

I am confident, and articulate. I would be a great Carnival Queen because I am very encouraging and supportive; an excellent ‘cheerleader’.

Jaya Nuckched


Hobbies:

My hobbies are cooking,swimming,watchig new hindi movies,shopping and many more.
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Interests:

My interest are to learn dancing, shopping ,going to parties,attend weddings, reading newspapers and many more.

Aspirations:

To be a dance

Star Quality:

I believe I am a good designer.

Emma Rengasammy

Hobbies:

During my spare time I enjoy reading a variety of genres. I also love cooking and baking all sorts of dishes. I enjoy swimming and love to try new things- for example next week I will be trying some ice skating! I also enjoy creative writing. I enjoy going out and spending time with my friends and family. Anything creative!
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Interests:

I am interested in languages and different cultures. I love travelling to different parts of the world. I love television, music and film. I also enjoy voluntary work and taking part in charity work. Aspirations:I would like a career in science- I am particularly interested in becoming a scientist one day.
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What you believe gives you Star Quality:

What I believe gives me star quality:I'm sweet, have a great personality and am always smiling. I have a good sense of humour and love being part of the community. I am someone people can relate to and I'm a good listener.

Anam Naib


Hobbies:

Love cycling, doing random art pieces at home, going cinemas.
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Interests:
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Keeping fit and healthy, keeping up to date with politics, enjoy reading murder mystery novels, keeping up to date with the latest fashion!
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Aspirations:
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To be a successful and independent lady and also somebody that others can look up to.
I give charity at the moment but one day I would like to set up my own charity.
I
What you believe gives you Star Quality:

I am charismatic
Have a bubbly personality
I am Considerate
I aAlways hit my target
I can handle pressure

Alexandra School Of Performing Arts

The Redbridge Carnival Committe would like to extend it's greatest thanks to the Alexandra School of Performing Arts.

They are one of the few committed community orientated groups in Redbridge who have served the carnival in an exemplary fashion. Last year they put on over 2 hours of varied performances at no cost and each time drew the biggest crowds.

I know haow good they are as after they attended carnival my 5 year old daughter has been attending the excellent classes and has already performed in two concerts. Of which ASPA try to keep cost down by sewing costumes and seeling them for cheaper than it would cost to hire them with some other dance organisations!

ASPA will be providing a "Thriller" Michael Jackson Tribute at Carnival this year and having already seen a rendition - I can confirm it will make any true Michael Jackson Fan proud.

Our thanks to Alex and her staff for encouraging two new Carnival Queen applicants from their fold. We wish these girls and all the others, a tremendous amount of success for tomorrow's event and towards their future aspirations!

Leelam Ramrachheya

Hobbies:
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I will give priority to swimming - I love water! I like following t.v programmes and reading magazines gives me pleasure.I love going out as well...to see a new day.
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Interest:
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I'm a bit of a natural girl; I like going to the forest as I love the green environment. My interests also include gardening. Iwouldn't say gardening is my hobby but it does interest me. Thirdly, my current job I do get to learn a lot of things which sometimes amaze me, however, I have no complaints as I simply love learning new things
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Aspirations:
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The first aspiration i get it's from the people themselves.It is true when we say its easy to do a mistake but difficult to a good deed;people collecting money,doing marathon etc. does give me aspiration and makes me believe I as an individual can help.
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What you believe gives you Star Quality:
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The fact that i am a free human being and i can speak for myself,the fact that I am daring makes me believe I have star quality. God has blessed all humans with beauty and wits all we need to do is to discover and use them. It's worth trying...

Monday 13 July 2009

Procession Meeting

We attended a meeting with The Met Police, Transport Police and the Highways Team although nothing outlandish was found in our procession route plan. It has been agreed that the MET and Transport Police will undertake a survey of the route on Thursday to finalise details of policing requirement and the safety of the route. This is the final step before we apply for a Traffic Managment order - this is a real milestone!

In the picture from left to right we have Syed Hussain (Highways) Paul Coombes (Traffic Police). Roland James (TFL), Wilson Chowdhry (Carnival Chairman), Unknown, Unknown.

In particular we would like to thank Sgt Stewart Brewster and PC Adrian Sagger who have dedicated so much time and effort into making this carnival a reality. We also thank Sgt Paul Coombes and of the very professional Syed Hussain whos local legislative and traffic mangement knowledge has been key to our progress!

Thursday 9 July 2009

Carnival Route - complications!

We completed a tour of the route for our procession today and reviewed the policing and event safety concerns for the route. The major problem identified is ensuring good policing of the Eastern roundabout along Winston Way. It is a major traffic intersection and two entrances to the roundabout will need closure for up to 10 minutes. The concern is reduced in significance as we are holding a Sunday Procession.

We will have meeting with Traffic Police and the Highways Team on Monday for final ratification and hope to share good news with all our potential Carnival revellers via our blog after this. The good news is that the management team from Skanska -working on the new right hand turn lane at the top of the High Road/beginning of Cranbrook Road will be ready for use by our procession for the 6th of September- should we obtain the requisite Traffic Management Order! Excellent news methinks!

Wednesday 8 July 2009

Linda Robson - Could she be at Redbridge Carnival?

Our Chairman Wilson Chowdhry met with TV Actress Linda Robson (formerly with Birds of a Feather) at a public roadshow arranged by "News of the World" regarding the issue of street violence and crime. Linda spoke openly about her son's traumatic experience being the last person to cradle Ben Kinsella as he died, fatally injured in a youth crime incident that shocked the nation.
She has stated that if she is not booked, she would be willing to talk on the futility of knife crime - at our Redbridge Carnival event on the 5th and 6th September 2009. We have her agents number and will keep you informed of progress!

Grassroots funding means it's all go!

I have spent a day volunteering to join the judging panel for the East London Community Foundation "Grassroots" and Small grants scheme. I met many interesting and astute individuals from the community sector and believe I have encouraged many of them to join us by obtaining a free pitch which we offer to the 3rd sector (Community Groups and Charities). I have been told we have look favourable for a grant award towards our Carnival event. We submitted two applications, which together amount to around £10,000. This is very exciting as it means that if ratified by the ELCF Committee it will arrive well before school closure, ensuring we can advertise our event in schools before the start of the school holidays - for the first time ever! This year is proving to be a real success and hopefully the event will grow in stature in proceeding years as it has done from the outset. In the picture you will see Anja Beinroth and Rick Pataky from the ELCF with me sandwiched in the middle.

If you are a Redbridge group and want to secure funding for one of your projects - why not contact them via the details in the link above? The scheme is open to projects of all types so whether you work with young or old people, are sports or dance orientated, provide advice or networking opportunities...these guys can help you!

Tuesday 7 July 2009

Last call for Carnival Queen Selection Tickets!

Had a great meeting just know and a visit from David Kalloo from the World Carnival Commission (far left in photo). In the picture you will see the team displaying our Carnival Queen Selection Dance tickets which are priced at £4.00 for adults and £2.00 for children. The event will be packed with fun including performances from ASPA, Tribal Fusion Belly Dancing from Elektra and a Khatak dance performance. We will obviously be selecting our queen from the elegant applicants also. Don't miss out as we have already sold 30 tickets from a potential 100!

Saturday 4 July 2009

Our Thanks to the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian

We would like to thank the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian for their recent article on our Carnival Queen Competition: It is with the support of local organisations that we will be able to keep making Redbridge Carnival bigger and better! They were also last years Chief Sponsors!

MP Lee Scott to open the 2009 Redbridge Carnival.

It is with great pleasure we announce that MP Lee Scott has agreed to open the 2009 Redbridge Carnival at 12:00 on the 5th September. As you will be aware MP Scott was one of the few MP's to be unblemished by the recent parliamentary expenses sleaze scandal. He has served the people of Redbridge with due diligence, determination and dignity:

"In Parliament he has joined the "Cornerstone Group" of socially conservative MPs and has also voted consistently to ban smoking in public places.
Scott has a special interest in autism and created history when he presented a Private Members Bill to Parliament dealing with the care of autistic children once they reached adulthood. He was a member of the Select Committee on transport and is on the Select Committee on Health.
In 2008 Lee Scott was shortlisted for the ePolitix Disability Champion Award - for championing the cause of autism in the House of Commons. MP Scott who is Patron of the UK Autism Foundation was nominated by the autism charity for his tireless work supporting parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome across the United Kingdom.He initiated a landmark debate on autism in 2007 and met with Prime Minister Tony Blair with autism campaigner Ivan Corea after he raised the issue of autism in Prime Ministers Questions"


For us to receive him at our event, will be a true honour and privilege. MP Scott has agreed to give a 3 minute presentation on the importance of Carnival with respect to Community Cohesion.

Redbridge Carnival will be offering 5 golden tickets to our funfair for families that visit carnival during his presentation and the official opening ceremony. The winners will be selected by MP Scott himself - so don't dlay, your arrival, to what promises to be the best carnival ever by the existing Redbridge Carnival Association.