In Pictures: Celebrations as People of the Road get moving

DAMIAN LE BAS

Editor

Ride on to the future: People of the Road are getting young Travellers equipped with good skills for life. Photograph © Cindy McDonagh

TRAVELLING PEOPLE may be best known for the wagons, horses and country lanes of days gone by, but a new organisation based in London is aiming to give a voice to the 21st century Traveller and Roma people who live in the busy West side of the country's capital.

People of the Road is  "essentially an organisation run by Travellers for Travellers", says the group, which kickstarted its work with family celebrations in Ealing this month.

Hat's the way to do it. Photograph © Cindy McDonagh

PotR currently run classes in dance, music, beauty and cookery - and they'll shortly be offering vocational training and training towards qualifications in boxing and football coaching.

"People of the Road is essentially an organisation be run by Travellers for Travellers," says Sean Risdale of PotR.

"This is reflected not only in the makeup of Trustees but also among paid staff. We are hoping that a local experienced Traveller will shortly become a senior manager within the organisation," says Sean.

They also have an active Women's Forum - and September sees the inauguration of a new Ealing Inter Agency Forum.

The 15th August was a celebration of the new organisation, and an opportunity for families to come together and enjoy each other's company in a small and friendly space - with pony rides, facepainting, bouncy castles and a talent show.

Other visitors on the day included PotR's patron, Gypsy and Traveller rights champion Lord Avebury, as well as the local MP and the Mayor of Ealing.

Lords, lads and ladies: long-time defender of Traveller rights Lord Avebury joins members and supporters of People of the Road. Photograph © Cindy McDonagh

A good mayor day for the People of the Road. Photograph © Cindy McDonagh

The day started with a Mass organised by Margaret Doran - a senior trustee and hardworking advocate for PotR. Margaret and other Traveller women supporters of People of the Road were around from early in the morning cooking and organising food and drink for the event - including delicious hot dinners.

A group of teenage girls ran a stall selling objects made with 'bling' - and all the proceeds of this and the dinners and the drinks were contributed to Great Ormond Street Childrens' Hospital.

Slide on, fellas! Photograph © Cindy McDonagh

Sean Risdale added that "Our biggest thanks should go to Cindy Macdonagh - the PotR manager who has the links and connections to the local Traveller community, who worked and organised tirelessly for months to make the 15th the great success it was."

Take your pic: the day was well attended by supporters and onlookers. Photograph © Cindy McDonagh