Stories of Kindness from Around the World

I live on a road called Megby Close and that really is the operative word - 'close'.

Everyone in the street looks out for one another, we pop into each others houses to share a cup of tea, or have a chat or even just to say hello and see if the day is going well. This closeness is rare in Britain today, which is a shame, and I should know, I have lived in several different houses and none of the streets have been like this one.

I heard on BBC Radio 2 that there was to be a Great British Street Party and I jumped at the chance to have one on this street. There are 6 houses in the main part of the street and all of us pretty much live in each others shoes. But I decided to post invites to everyone in the nieghbourhood to see if we could spread that closeness around.

On the morning of the party all the kids from our close helped me make bunting and blow up balloons to decorate the lamposts and street names with, I was shocked to see lots of children and their parents walking through the nieghbouring streets to join us.

Everyone brought food, drink, chairs and tables to share and the weather although forecast as rain and wind was the hottest day this year. All day the BBC was broadcasting party music from the big party being held in Trafalgar Square which we listened and danced to in gusto. All day cars were stopping and asking me'Whats going on? Who is having a birthday?'

I explained that it was a street party, to celebrate friendship and community, and invited everyone I saw to join us. Quite a few people parked their cars and came along to join in the fun!

I cannot describe the impact that it has had on the nieghbourhood, we now see people from almost five streets away popping over to say hello and a Close around the corner has organised a talent show for all the local children, which we are all rehearsing for now ;)

So, I wholeheartedly recommend this type of community event to anyone who would love to get to know their nieghbours and make new friends.