In 2014, Spitalfields Music is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Learning & Participation programme.  Since 1989, this programme has brought music experiences to over 105,000 people. To celebrate its achievements and raise funds to ensure its future, on 10 May a group of Spitalfields Music team members, trustees, advisors, friends and supporters walked 25km around Spitalfields Music's home borough of Tower Hamlets (as well as a bit of Hackney and Newham).

After a warm-up (see photo 2) the 36 walkers started at 10 am from Shoreditch Church, went thorough Spitafields, passing Hawksmoor's Christ Church to Whitechapel and on to Wapping (via another Hawksmoor at St George's in the East).  From there we crossed Wapping Wood and Shadwell Basin, then along the Thames past King Edward VII Park and Limehouse.  Next came Canary Wharf and the river path down to Mudcute Park and Island Gardens around midday where we had some music and a break for coffee looking over towards Greenwich (see photo 3).  Up until this point the weather had been sunny and delightful but as we made our way up the east side of the Island the showers began.

After the Island came Poplar and onto the Limehouse Cut (London's oldest canal), then the River Lea Navigation passing Three Mills and reaching the Olympic Park viewing point around 2 where we stopped briefly for lunch with piano accompaniment (see photo 4).  This was when the rain started in earnest on the exposed path up to Victoria Park.  Luckily the wind and sun soon dried us as we followed the Regent's Canal as far as Broadway Market.  After that we passed through Haggerston Park, Bethnal Green and back down to Spitafields Market around 4 o'clock for a couple of beers and some serenading to finish off.

So far (12 May) we have raised £13,438 with some promises yet to come.

Thank you for all your support - don't forget to check out what's happening during the Spitalfields Music Summer Festival if your generosity has sparked an interest in the kinds of things we do  (http://www.spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk/whats-on/summer-festival-2014/).

Happy walking and music making

Michaelx