6,000 joined salute to Israel

9:00am Friday 4th July 2008

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ABOUT 6,000 revellers descended on a very soggy Heaton Park on Sunday to join in the fun of Salute to Israel 60 day.

Those turning out were determined not to let some early rain dampen their spirits at an occasion held to mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of Israel.

It is the first time such an event has been held in Manchester, though previous Salute to Israel parades have taken place in New York.

Festivities got underway with a parade of floats, marching bands, stilt walkers and an open-top bus, which started at King David High School and passed down Bury Old Road before activities in the park began just after 1pm. About 2,000 people took part in the parade. There were performances from Israeli singer Avivit Kaspi and Prestwich vocalist Abi Finley, the star of hit BBC talent show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Youngsters also got the chance to sample Israeli food, and have a go at circus skills.

Joy Wolfe, a member of the event’s organisation committee, said: “I would compare organising this to having a baby — it’s taken nine months, but it was definitely worth it. The day was wonderful and we were delighted with how it went.”

She added: “We marched through the pouring rain but, in true British spirit, it didn’t hamper the day. In the whole three hours of shows, I didn’t hear one person complain about the weather.”