A STREET party brought community spirit back to life in west Hull. Neighbours in Hymers Avenue and surrounding streets gathered together for a day in the sunshine, good food and music.
Held as part of the national Big Lunch, which saw street parties being held across the country, the Hymers Avenue bash was the only event of its kind in Hull.
The road was closed to traffic for three hours.Organised by Janice Summers, it was a chance for neighbours to catch up and, in many cases, get to know each other.
Mrs Summers, a community musician, said: "This is all about getting to know our neighbours.
"Community spirit has always been OK but not necessarily outstanding. It is such a lovely place to live, all it needed was one event, like this, to get people talking more than they were."
The Big Lunch has been organised by the Eden Project to get neighbours talking to each other in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
The street party attracted about 100 people, from Hymers Avenue, Sunny Bank, Spring Grove and Spring Bank West, where there were also stalls, summer games and an open mic stage.
Now, Mrs Summers hopes it will the first of many.
"We are so pleased to see so many people," she said. "There are people we have never seen before and faces we have seen but don't know the names of.
"I hope this will be the start of lasting friendships so when adversity does arise, we have a strong base there, with strong friendships between people you can count on."
Newly elected ward councillor Marjorie Brabazon was among the guests, and even got up on stage to sing The Carpenters' On Top Of The World to acoustic guitar.
Dorothy Clark, 57, has been a resident of Hymers Avenue for 25 years. She said: "It is lovely. When we first moved here, everyone knew each other but it hasn't been like that recently. It is great to see so many people here."
She was joined by Sandie Crane, 46, of Spring Grove. She said: "I have only been living here for two years. I have seen familiar faces but I have never chatted to them.
"I recognised Dorothy from years ago and it turns out our children went to the same school. I didn't know that until today."
Jean Collingwood, 55, a Hymers Avenue resident for 20 years, hopes the party will become an annual event and will grow bigger every year.
She said: "This is a great way to bring the community together and I think Hull should have joined in a long time ago.
"We are hoping each year, it will get bigger and bigger."
Even Arsenal fan and "adopted Yorkshireman" Mally Cuthbert was welcomed, despite cheering on the rival team in Hull City's FA cup final game against the Gunners.
He said: "I have met people who have lived here more than 20 years for the first time and I have been here donkey's years. It is great."
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