The 23rd Luton Annual Peace Walk coincided this year with the International Peace Day on 21st September 2019. Nearly 200 people from across different backgrounds joined in visiting St Luke’s Church, Hockwell Ring Mosque, High Street Methodist Church and Al-Hikmah Prayer Hall.
Dignitaries included:
Mayor of Luton - Cllr Tahir Malik
The High Sheriff of Bedfordshire - Meryl Dolling
Deputy Lord Lieutenant and Chair of the United Nations Association (UNA Luton) - Dr Nazia Khanum OBE
MP Luton North - Kelvin Hopkins
Bishop of Bedford - Rt Revd Dr Richard Atkinson, OBE
Prof. Zafar Khan Chair - Luton Council of Faiths
Seven schools also added to the vibrancy of the day, which included Chantry, Southfield, Whitefield, Sacred Heart, Ramridge, Hillborough Junior & Bushmead Primary Schools.
Sacred Heart Primary School Children led a Heart-focused meditation using HeartMath technique synchronising the brain and heart for well-being.
Southfield Primary School performed a Circle Dance expressing coherence between the breath and physical energy.
Ashcroft High School students shared their learning experiences from Guidelines for Dialogue run by The Feast programme, an agency working with young people.
This year’s International Peace Day theme was Climate Change. This was expressed in the Peace Artwork Competition in which eight schools’ entries were exhibited on the day. St Martin De Porres was the winner with Southfield Primary and Ramridge Primary schools runners-up. All the judges were highly impressed with the quality of the artwork and gave a Highly Commended award to Chantry Primary Academy too.
The panel of Judges included colleagues from Luton Council of Faiths, Luton Culture, Grassroots Programme, Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) and the Near Neighbours Programme Luton.
A very encouraging video message was produced by Chantry Primary Academy interviewing Carlos Islam of Luton, currently working as a Special Events Manager at United Nations in New York. He sent his best wishes for the Luton Peace Walk.
All the participating schools were presented with the Peace Builder School Mark which took into account their engagement with the whole year’s work with Luton Council of Faiths, preceding the Peace Walk. This was awarded in partnership with the United Nations Association branch in Luton.
A special award was given to the Chantry Primary Academy for their participation in the Peace Walk for 5 consecutive years.
Pauline Cutting, an active member of St Luke’s Church was recognised by the Mayor, for years of her voluntary contribution in the service of Luton’s communities.
The organiser Luton Council of Faiths would like to express its heartfelt thanks to all the partners and volunteers who helped on the day.