Merton Float Gets Set For New Year Day Parade

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Local volunteers have enjoyed previous success

A team of Merton volunteers have been preparing their float for London New Year's Day Parade and Festival, which this year has the theme - 'Hats off to London – Celebration Capital of the World'.

At the heart of the London Parade there is a competition between the London boroughs called 'The Let's Help London Challenge'. Last year, Merton's entry Horsepower (right) won joint first place with The City of Westminster.

Merton also triumphed in 2009 and was second in 2010.

Merton's 2013 entry, called ‘My Fair Lady', is being coordinated by Councillor Geraldine Stanford, who also provides the costumes, and built by students from Wimbledon College of Art with project manager Peter Wallder from Merton Abbey Mills.

The Younger Generation Theatre group will be performing a dance routine to a song specially composed by Councillor Linda Kirby called 'London'.

Merton's float is supported by volunteers each year including Merton and Morden Guild, Wimbledon Guild and other groups and individuals, including local councillors and Merton Council officers.

This year's parade is the 27th and features 10,000 performers representing 20 countries, including Pearly Kings and Queens, cheerleaders, marching bands, dancers and representatives from West End shows.

An American-style extravaganza of musicians, dancers, acrobats, clowns and floats twirl, march and drum a 2.2-mile route beginning at the Ritz Hotel, taking in Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and Big Ben, with temporary grandstands erected for better viewing in some places.

More than half a million people are expected to line the streets for event, which runs from 11.45am-3pm.

December 23, 2012