A hundred people braved a windy and showery evening in Cross Flatts Park in Beeston yesterday (7 July 2015) to enjoy the sublime music of the Berakah Players.
The date of the concert was no accident as the event was a low key opportunity to for people in Beeston to come together a mark the tenth anniversary of the London bombings. The concert was organised by Faith Together in Leeds 11 and the Hamara Centre. There were some short speeches before the concert started.
The Venerable Paul Hooper, Archdeacon of Leeds spoke about how broken bones, once they have mended, are stronger than the original bone. He said this a was a good metaphor for what had happened to our communities in the wake of 7/7.
Other speakers echoed the themes that the way forward was for all sections of the community to talk together and work together. Speakers included Naz Maroof from Aspiring Communities, whilst Rev Lindsey Pearson read a message from Bishop Nick Baines and Cllr Adam Ogilvie read a message from Hilary Benn MP.
Berakah, who were performing on their tenth anniversary tour, are a group of musicians of Christian, Muslim and Jewish heritage. They blended aspects of traditional music and jazz to produce beautiful songs which took peace, harmony and inter-dependence as their themes.
The music was enjoyed by an enthusiastic crowd and provided a fitting end to a day of remembrance.
