Last weekend, Tooting Bec Common played venue to the first annual Carnival of the local areas, Balham, Streatham and Tooting. The carnival was a complete charity fundraiser for 4 chosen charities - Re-Play Music (Merton Abbey Mills), Raw Material Music and Media (Brixton), and the Friends of the Neo Natal Unit at St. George’s Hospital (Tooting) - all with a focus on improving the lives of children in South London. The event certainly proved to be a family crowd puller. As Saturday’s sunshine rays scorched the grass beneath them, revelers bathed in the heat while listening to live acts, eating Carribbean jerk chicken, sipping rum punch and evidently enjoying the community vibe.

Two stages continuously hosted more than 40 live bands and DJs, both locally bred and from the international circuit. One group helping to give community support to up and coming talent were given the opportunity to showcase their members on the smaller of the two stages. What started as a few pre-positioned bystanders soon became a significant audience, giving welcomed appreciation to the young acts.

Despite the downpour on Sunday morning, the carnival did not fail in producing some phenomenal soul vocals, punk beats and, amongst others, the eagerly awaited acoustic wonder of Rodney Branigan – ‘a sensational instrumentalist and singer-songwriter who… [has a] show-stopping ability to play two guitars simultaneously to awe-inspiring standards’ (www.CroydonGuardian.co.uk)

Besides the kids’ area, fully equipped with fun fair, music and art workshops, and nearby face painting, a small collection of local businesses and charities offered their festival wares and services to the carnival punters. Bargain fashion sunglasses and Bikram Yoga were amongst some of the delights on offer. A great mix of organic, halal and exotic food stalls also added to the true communal representation of diversity within the locality.

The carnival sponsors should be commended for their breadth of thought in securing such a wealth of volunteer support, which helped recycling and waste reduction throughout the weekend. The bank of fluorescent bibbed rubbish collectors added to the sense of wellbeing and sustainability.

A thorough success from the eyes of a debutant punter - the Balham and Tooting Carnival should be the start of something special, a South London special!

Chichi Umunna