Nostalgia: Dancing in the streets

Apr 17 2011 by Zoe Chamberlain, Sunday Mercury

STREET parties are a British tradition.

As David Cameron encourages everyone to hold street parties to celebrate the Royal Wedding this month, we take a trip down memory lane to some memorable Midland parties.

It is thought street parties began in 1919 as ‘Peace Teas’ – a celebration of the signing of the peace treaty after the First World War.

By all accounts, they were fairly formal sit-down affairs and a chance to give children a special treat following those times of hardship.

Then there were street parties in 1935, held for the Silver Jubilee of King George V.

Since then, residents have come together to organise all sorts of parties in celebration of royal and national days.

Sometimes they are just a way of a community coming together in the face of adversity, as seen by residents in Kings Heath who recently celebrated their area in spite of a spate of arson attacks.

These days, street parties are more relaxed with everyone in the road bringing a plate or sharing a BBQ.

The great street parties of the last 100 years include: