August Bank Holiday weekend was certainly a busy one across Tameside, but it seems to have given birth to a new annual event in the form of Hyde Mela! 

Our very own columnist and Hyde Past & Present’s Andrew Richardson was one of the team of volunteers that helped put the event together. “There was a Party in the Park in 2004 that came to an end, and everybody has missed it since. Some of the Asian community of Hyde – there is a big Bengali community – approached local councillors and said they wanted to start the event again, something to bring the whole community together as covid restrictions end. It’s not a council event but local councillors have supported it and local community leaders got involved to make it happen. I got involved in the promotion and sourced some of the fantastic acts we have had on stage. It was great the local businesses got behind the event and it’s something we hope will now take place every year in Hyde.”

Hundreds attended Hyde Mela at the park and if you would like to get involved with plans for next year drop Andrew a message on the Hyde Past & Present Facebook page.