MY FRIEND JO COX AND HER LEGACY OF UNITY
COLUMNIST
WE’RE having a street party tomorrow – along with thousands of people across Britain holding events to remember and emulate the spirit of Jo Cox, the MP murdered a year ago.
It’s estimated almost 120,000 activities have been arranged over this weekend as part of The Great Get Together, a celebratory campaign of community engagement inspired by the words Jo Cox spoke in Parliament in her maiden speech: “We have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.”
The events range from simple neighbourhood gatherings, picnics and barbecues to more large-scale get-togethers organised by the Women’s Institute, Royal British Legion, RSPB and Scouts and Guides.
In the week leading up to the Great Get Together there have been symbolic acts of presenting a united front. The editors of The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph have published an opinion piece under a joint byline to support the concept, as have rival tabloids the Mirror and The Sun.
And even our own street in Canton is performing a significant gesture of neighbourly love as all residents agree to park their cars somewhere that leaves enough room for jollity and buffet provision to ensue in the middle of our road.
If you lived in our cul-de-sac you would appreciate this is the residential equivalent of the Versailles Peace Treaty. Parking wars are a daily feature of Cardiff suburban life but the battles are particularly fierce in our road.
Apart from failing to secure that precious spot in front of the house, nothing disturbs us more than visitors who do not observe the “parking on the wonk” rule that ensures not an inch of space is wasted, or the arrival of a new family with more than two cars.
Trumping all these scenarios, however, would be the new resident spied through the blinds and greeted with the devastating commentary of “Oh God, he’s got a van!”
But tomorrow we are putting all our petty parking issues aside and embracing the spirit of neighbourly community that previous generations enjoyed. The usual fleeting hellos on the doorstep as we dash off to work are being replaced by a whole afternoon of chat, fun and house-tohouse mingling.
The flyers have been pushed through every letterbox instructing us to “Put out your garden table and chairs. Bring some food, drink, a glass and a fork. Bring your pooch to the Dog Show (rosettes for all). Make a cake for the Bake Off. And bring prizes for the raffle.”
Catering has been divvied up between the houses and there will also be a quiz, games and musical entertainment. Singers have volunteered and I may even inflict my guitar and extensive repertoire of 70s folk rock on the neighbours. After all, if they’re outside, they won’t be able to bang the wall.