Nottingham Pride 2013

Nottingham Pride normally takes place at the Forest Recreation ground but this year it was at the Arboretum in the centre of town.  There were advantages and disadvantages.  Advantage 1 - easier to get to.  Advantage 2.  Central location.  Disadvantage 1. smaller.  Disadvantage 2 central location.  But it was as busy as ever and the fact that it was smaller meant that we were on a main pathway through the Arboretum and it was heaving!  People everywhere!  The threatened rain didn't come but it was very humid.  We didn't have to go far from the stall to get a willing and enthusiastic audience for our campaign to recruit Arctic defenders.  People were falling over themselves to join up and we were falling over them as we tried to photograph everyone who was joining the campaign.  That's the advantage of a small space and a large crowd.  The disadvantage was that there was no rest.  We were so busy all day chatting to people, signing them up and taking their pictures.  But it was worth it.  We signed up over 200 people and took nearly 150 pictures.  One of the most common things we heard were expressions of sympathy for the person in the bear costume.  It was very hot in that suit but it is such a crowd pleaser.  When the bear wasn't around we were asked where it was.  The fact that we were at Pride last year with the bear didn't seem to matter.  They all loved the bear and wanted bear-hugs.  Most people were very clued up on the issues and it was coincidence that the day before the Government had announced that it couldn't be bothered (my words not theirs) to do anything about stopping UK firms for drilling for oil in the Arctic.  No one was happy about that and most were downright angry.  Next year Pride should be back at the Forest recreation ground again.  With a bit of luck we will be too.