Revellers brave wind, rain and grey skies to watch New Year’s Day Parade
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A loud bang, a burst of red, white and blue confetti and lots of cheering marked the start of the rain-soaked and delayed London New Year’s Day Parade. Hundreds of umbrellas went up at the time the parade, which was delayed by 30 minutes, was due to begin as a heavy downpour drenched revellers. They were greeted by strong gusts, grey skies, rain and a chill in the air plus bagpipers who powered through their playlists despite the bad weather.
Brass bands and bagpipers kicked off the festivities, soon followed by a guitar band who sang the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. DJs, who were dressed in plastic hooded raincoats, blasted the sunny party sounds of calypso from an open-top bus and a cheerleading troupe put on a show.
More than 10,000 performers from across the globe took part, parade spokesman Dan Kirkby said. He said: “It is windy and rainy. I am sure people understand we have had to start later due to the conditions but safety is paramount and we have had to wait until the experts tell us it is safe to go.
“It means that the inflatable cartoon characters will not be seen passing London’s landmarks on the route. “We have to think of the performers taking part and the people who have come out to watch as we kick off the new year in style.”. London, like much of England and Wales, was covered by a yellow wind warning until 3pm from the Met Office, which forecast the squally cold front and a band of heavy rain that hit the event.
