Bede and Norwegian Day

300 80
Bede House
by Gwen Green

The Norwegian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCCUK), invited Bede to celebrate the annual Norwegian day on 17th May, with fellow citizens in Southwark Park in glorious sunshine.

For the first time in 3 years without restrictions, large numbers of Norwegians and other visitors experienced the warm weather in the park, on the day marking the signing of the Norwegian constitution in 1814.

The park buzzed with thousands of other Norwegians around the world. There was a carnival like atmosphere: the sounds of a live jazz band on stage and a brass band leading a parade of smiling people around the park. Primary schoolchildren singing and a choir performing the Norwegian National Anthem. The air smelled of waffles cooking. Strolling around were people wearing beautifully crafted ‘bunad’, the national costume of Norway made from natural fibres.

Clients from the Learning Disabilities project also joined in the celebrations, enthusiastically waving Norwegian flags.

We were delighted to meet, in person, Kyrre Haugen and his NBCCUK colleagues, the Norwegian Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Wegger Chr. Strømmen, and Richard Munyawera from NBCC’s other supported charity Give Opportunity Global, pictured left to right.

Our thanks to Kyrre and his colleagues for inviting and welcoming us to the event. Also to their supporters who donated £5,540 at their recent gala dinner, which will be shared between Bede and Give Opportunity Global.