Over the weekend (Saturday 18 June), Councillor Nan Walton, Mayor of Crewe, cut the rainbow ribbon and opened the town’s fourth annual Silver Pride, the celebration of LGBT+ life and culture, especially for the over 55s. 

 

Hosted by Belong, the leading dementia specialist’s Brookhouse Drive care village opened its doors and gardens and welcomed the community for a colourful afternoon of live entertainment, activities and dining. 

 

Highlights included a fashion parade (with prizes for the best dressed), music and dancing, face painting and LGBT+ inspired art and poetry created by Belong Crewe’s residents and apartment tenants. Attendees had the chance to mingle with the Crewe teams from Cheshire Constabulary, and Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service, who joined in the group dance to the famous tune of the Village People’s Y.M.C.A.

 

The aim of the yearly event is to bring local people and organisations together and provide a safe space for everyone to feel confident being themselves, no matter their age, or who they love. Celebrations also coincide with the reopening of Belong Crewe’s onsite Bistro to members of the public for the first time since the pandemic began over two years ago.  

 

Silver Pride has been made possible thanks to Cheshire East Council’s Connected Communities strategy, and supported by sexual health charity, Body Positive North Wales & Cheshire, Silver Rainbows LGBT+ social network, as well as donations of crafts materials from stationery retailer, Rymans. 

 

Leading this year’s ceremony, Jess Butler, experience coordinator at Belong Crewe, said: “We love Silver Pride; it brings out the best in everyone and we’re thrilled to host the party, once again. Our customers always get excited for the occasion and we had so much fun sharing with them and the community in the weekend’s festivities.”