Community figures praised the display of unity between people of different backgrounds and faiths, as more than a 1,000 High Wycombe residents joined a religious parade through the town centre yesterday.

The annual procession to celebrate the birth of the prophet Muhammed was described as a “brilliant spectacle”, with members of the Muslim community greeting onlookers and inviting them to take part.

As well as giving out white rose to members of the public, others were invited to speak in front of the big crowds about the importance of community harmony.

Mayor of High Wycombe, Cllr Mohammed Hanif, was one of many people to give a speech during the event.

He said: “It is an important date in the Muslim community and I’m very pleased to have a leading role within the event this year.

“There was about 1,000 people involved and it was a brilliant spectacle.

“It is a very peaceful event and we are always glad that the Muslim community is allowed to display it through the town – bringing people together.

“High Wycombe is a great, diverse, place to live because of our strong communities, and Sunday’s parade really showed that.”

He added: “It was great to see so many people walking shoulder to shoulder and share this special event with the members of the community.”

Bucks Free Press:

The parade started at the Jubilee Road Mosque, with the large group of people walking across the town before congregating for a series of prayers and speeches in the High Street.

Other community figures, including Rev Hugh Ellis from All Saints Church and RAF High Wycombe station commander Philip Lester, spoke during the event.

The Council for Christian Muslim Relations (CCMR) chairman, Chaudry Shafique, hailed the event as an “excellent” show of “togetherness”.

He said: “It [the parade] is excellent. It’s an outstanding example of love, respect and inter-faith working. It shows how this community has built bonds and feelings of togetherness.

“It is something which has been happening for many years and has now built up quite a good reputation as a really well run event.

“The current climate at the moment is very challenging and to see that we can work together despite difficult times in the world is very important – I think we should be proud of that.”

He added: “One feature I’m particularly proud of from the perspective of CCMR is that when the parade reaches the High Street, All Saints Church colleagues come out and join the event and meet and greet all the people involved.”