Freedom to speak in Hyde Park
By Rachel Albert

Andy Paterson led a heartfelt version of his specially written song 'Freedom to Speak' at the Sunday Socials/Friends of BSA picnic at Hyde Park in June 2005.

On 5th June 2005, more than 120 BSA members, family and friends came together for our very first big outdoor event - a picnic in Hyde Park.

People came from every part of the UK - Northern Ireland, Wales, Glasgow, Leicester, Sheffield, Brighton, Hampshire, Ipswich, Northampton, Leamington Spa and Bristol to share in this wonderful experience.

The event was organised by myself and the Sunday Socials team, with Vic Bowden's 'Friends of the BSA'. People wore BSA T-shirts "I'm Speaking Out for the British Stammering Association" designed by Vic. She says: "It was a good feeling to see so many of us in a very public place wearing our T-shirts. Because of our high visibility, lots of people came over to ask us about the BSA, so we did our bit for awareness-raising".

Andy Paterson, who had travelled from Glasgow, taught us the song which he had written for the 2004 Stirling Conference. Andy says "I was delighted to be asked to come to London and sing 'Freedom to Speak' in Hyde Park with you all. It's a song that means a lot to me and is truly from the heart. To have a group of fellow stammerers sing along (with a little encouragement from Rachel) was a great experience."

Vic and John Bowden entertained us with sea shanties and other folk songs and once the party got moving, people got up and started dancing.

After the Picnic, about 70 of us made our way to Nine Elms where we had dinner in a Portuguese restaurant followed by a Disco with our lovely DJ, Rob Day, who says "It was so nice to see all our members mingling, laughing, eating, drinking and dancing together. From where I was standing on the stage, some people were going for it with some very interesting dance moves!". Sunday Socials member and close friend, Max, celebrated his 80th birthday with us that evening and we all enjoyed his delicious birthday cake after dinner.

Here's what some of our members had to say:

"A lovely picnic. It was great to have two of our friends there, who enjoyed the chance to meet other people who stammer. We had some wonderful food, including my partner Christine's homity pie, which was well appreciated by those lucky enough to get a piece!"
Allan

"I was proud to be there - and proud to be a stammerer. It was a fun thing to do and I loved taking part in the singing led by Andy from Glasgow and Vic and John from Sheffield - who I thought were very good".
Sparrow

"The Picnic in Hyde Park was an excellent success and we were fortunate with the dry weather - not too hot. It was good to meet old friends and also many new members who joined us for their first Sunday Social - great to see the crowd joining in the singing and dancing. The evening meal at the Portuguese restaurant and Disco with Rob Day finished the day off very well".
John

"I came to the picnic with my daughter Alex and my grandchildren - it gave her a chance to meet the friends I've made. We enjoyed our packed lunches and later joined in with the singing. My granddaughter, Grace, was fascinated by the singing and although she is only six, she tried to join in."
Evelyn

Andy Paterson's song 'Freedom to Speak'
A farewell to the Sunday Socials
BSA T-shirts

Extended version of an article from the Autumn 2005 edition of Speaking Out