This weekend has been an absolute whirlwind of excitement and new experiences as the youngest member of Voice of Wales. Our journey began on Friday afternoon as we arrived at the prestigious Union Jack Club.
Despite the luxurious surroundings, there was no time to relax as our first event was just a few hours away. After a hectic, unpredictable commute on the underground, we eventually made it to the Polish Social and Cultural Association where Stan was scheduled to speak at the David Vance evening event. I was quickly introduced to notable figures like Laurence Fox, and, of course, David himself.
The discussion at the event centered around the changing face of Britain and the challenges posed by the ongoing issues, particularly the overwhelming impact on our NHS, housing, schools, and other essential services due to the invasion on our south coast. The event was full of interesting discussion and although tensions ran high through some debatable topics the evening went smoothly. Afterwards we whisked off to the best curry house in the country to join Mr and Mrs Kapoor in their beautiful restaurant. It was a blessing to enjoy their company, and amazing cuisine. Dan was very happy to finally eat the lamp chops he had been craving since our last visit, and Stan enjoyed tasting lots of new delicious foods.
The atmosphere was lively, especially with Great Britain Harman and his wife entertaining us well into the late evening. We all felt honored to have dined with them and it was the perfect precursor to the main event scheduled for the next day.
Saturday arrived, and it was an early start for us. Dan was straight up and busy checking and rechecking equipment, while Stan exuded his usual calm demeanor, taking everything in his stride. This was the first time I proudly wore my VoW polo shirt, feeling like a true member of the team.
We reached Trafalgar Square around 9 am. after walking most of the route that the freedom lovers would later take that day. The sun was shining and the square was already filling up, with workers and engineers diligently setting up the three massive screens, stage, and speaker systems. The level of organization was truly impressive, resembling a military operation. I was amazed by the sheer number of bloggers and alternative media present, with my good friend Danny Roscoe congratulating me on being part of Team VoW.
It was lovely to see familiar faces and the excitement for the day ahead was building. Silla and Stan chose a position in the press area, while Dan and I followed Tommy, one of the main media teams, to the starting position outside the Royal Courts of Justice.
Tommy and his team turned the corner near the Royal Air Force Church of St. Clement Dane, the sight that greeted us was awe-inspiring. The crowd far exceeded any expectations, with estimates ranging from 50,000 to 70,000 people, all waving flags, and cheering at the mere sight of Tommy.
We proceeded to march back to the square, Dan found a good spot to spectate from the side and film people passing, after a few minutes I realized it was impossible to see how far back it ended.
The atmosphere was so uplifting, and you could really feel the sense of pride in such a mass of patriotic individuals. It was a first time experience for many, and I witnessed lots of people building positive friendships from far and wide.
The energy and passion in the air were palpable, and I felt honored to be a part of such a significant moment. The inspiring speakers and musicians all fueled a spark of unity in everybody, the cheers from the crowd were astonishing and it really was a beautiful sight. The intentions of this event were to bring British people together, standing side by side to engage in a positive movement.
The whole day from beginning to end was full of laughter and genuine care for one another which speaks volumes when the opposing label for this type of presence has been ‘Far Right Hooligans’’. As the day unfolded, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for this incredible opportunity to be part of Voice of Wales and contribute to a cause that means so much to me. Silla did some great interviews throughout and was great at helping me feel comfortable talking to the crowds.
Also, witnessing Stan and Dan speaking on the stage in front of thousands of people was epic, it was awesome to see them receive the recognition they deserve. After the event came to and end, we decided to head back to the Union Jack for some well deserved downtime, it was a tiresome walk after such a long day but once we reached the bar, we all appreciated a relaxing sit down. Many drinks were flowing, interesting and funny conversations were nattering and just a real positive vibe to end a perfect day.
I felt incredibly blessed to have experienced what I would say is a part of history in the making. These kinds of gatherings really do give us hope that we can all achieve great things when we all band together and inspire each other to fight for the values we believe in.
Until next time,
Steph
