The Panto Parade took place in London on the 30th September 2020. A collaborative Day of Action organised by ExcludedUK, Bectu and Equity. This photo reportage tells the story.
Pantomime dames, creative workers and businesses marched through London on the day. The London Panto Parade is normally an annual celebration. It was a peaceful protest this year instead. Many of the performing arts and small businesses have been excluded from meaningful government support during the pandemic. This was a day to come together and protest peacefully. A Covid Risk Assessment was provided by the organisers to the satisfaction of the Metropolitan Police. The event was well organised, that’s for sure!.
My Involvement
My involvement arose through my business being excluded from support too.
Wearing my other hat, as a London events photographer, made me determined to attend and help to get the story out there. Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Documentary photography is a powerful medium.
ExcludedUK
ExcludedUK campaigns for justice on behalf of the estimated 3 million small business taxpayers excluded from government support and provide essential support and advice for those affected.
Have you been excluded too? Please join us on Facebook. There are 19,000 members there to help and support you.
Published in The Guardian Newspaper
One of my images headed an article by Patrick Collinson in The Guardian Newspaper published on Friday 6th November 2020. The image features Tim Farron MP with ExcludedUK.
Here are the rest of my images from the day:
Click on the photos to view full size:
Related Topics
You can learn more about my work as an events photographer in London here. Alternatively, you might be interested in my units stills photography in London here.
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Brilliant work Ray, and it was a pleasure to meet you yesterday. For all the right reasons I really hope we don’t have to do it again but, if we do, I know your work will inspire even more people to support. Thank You.
Hi Roger, it was a pleasure to meet you too. Hopefully these images will help to spread the message!
Fantastic work there, Ray. Lots of details and still the message comes across loud and clear.
Cheers Greig, I try and tell the whole story photographically!
You have managed to report on the event through your words, and pictures, in a balanced and unbiased way despite your involvement with one of the organisers. It was a very interesting read and I enjoyed looking at the accompanying images. Great work!
Thanks David, if the story comes across well then I’ve done my job correctly!
Excellent snaps. It was such a great day yesterday and the spirit and unity was strong and uplifting.
Am I right in thinking that all the photos are black and white? We don’t need to click or do anything for colour.?
Again. Great pics. Great day!
Hi Helen, I decided from the outset that this work was going to be solely in black and white. I think it delivers a more powerful and hard hitting story than colour.
Great photos for a great cause. I will share on Facebook and a Twitter.
Thank you Sue, the more it’s shared the more the message is spread!
Great pictures , Ray. A powerful and atmospheric record of the day. Really like that they’re in black and white.
Thank you Sarah. I set out to make these images in black and white. I agree it’s a powerful medium!
Fantastically powerful images – love the black & white – think that packs more of a punch. Will definitely use on Twitter. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Jane. I wanted to get a powerful message across with these images!