West Ham Park celebrates 150 years as a public park on 20th and 21st of July, writes Lyndsay Jones.

Guess who has a big birthday coming up? West Ham Park! Not 21, not even 100, but 150 years since the previously private park was opened to everyone.

The opening event on 21 July 1874 was a momentous occasion with great celebrations and a fanfare of trumpets.

To celebrate the anniversary, City of London Corporation (CoLC), which owns and manages the park, and the Friends of West Ham Park (FWHP) are hosting a weekend of FREE entertainment, music and sport, and possibly even another fanfare!

The event will be opened by Alderman Sir Andrew Parmley, for the Lord Mayor, with Caroline Haines, Chair of the WHP Management Committee, and Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz.

On the Saturday there will be music from up-and-coming artists and a Bollywood group, along with the best local talent, from 12 noon until 6pm.

On Sunday, there will be a variety of sporting opportunities, including the chance to play football with West Ham United, and cricket with Capital Kids Cricket. You can also try out FWHP’s novelty obstacle race for you and your child, dog or friend. This will take place close to our family picnic area where there will also be a soft play area for small children, face painting and a temporary tattoo artist.

All details for the events, including those which it is best to pre-book, can be found at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/westhampark150

And don’t forget – it’s all FREE, except the funfair and refreshments of course. Make sure you don’t miss out by putting 20th and 21st July in your diary

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