To mark London Peace Week (19 – 26 September), Mayor of Merton Councillor Marsie Skeete and Leader of Merton Council Councillor Stephen Alambritis put on their walking shoes and joined around 70 people for a three mile walk through Mitcham, Morden and Colliers Wood. The peace walk called, ‘Merton Mighty Peace and Memory Walkathon’, brought the community together to celebrate diversity, equality and social harmony and raised over £300 for the Mayor’s charities.

Mayor of Merton Cllr Marsie Skeete with some fellow walkers including Deputy Mayor Cllr Judy Saunders (far left), Leader of the council Cllr Stephen Alambritis and Cllr Nick Draper.

One of the highlights from the afternoon was a peace circle where all of the participants joined hands and sang the chorus of John Lennon’s song ‘Give Peace a Chance’. Several messages of peace were left on the peace boards. Alongside Councillor Skeete and Councillor Alambritis, Mayor of Bromley Councillor Kathy Barnes OBE and representatives from faith and disability groups, the voluntary sector as well as the police joined in the walk.

Cllr Skeete said: “It was wonderful to see so many people from across our community coming together to walk through our beautiful borough and celebrate Merton’s diversity. It was also a pleasure to welcome the Mayor of Bromley to the walk. Merton is a great place to live especially for families and we want our children to grow up in a borough that is open and welcoming to all.”