SOUTH BRISTOL

THE PARADE

00:50

TREVOR

In episode 1 Trevor and his silent disco bring some positivity to a lockdown world.

01:29

CAROL & THE KIDS

In episode 2, it's the 5th of November, the official day the UK went into a second national lockdown. I spoke to Carol and her grandkids about what they thought of it all.

01:31

MARGARET

In episode 3, Margaret tells us what she thinks about the pandemic, Sunshine Cafe and about Bedminster.

01:20

BRIAN

In episode 4, Brian tells us what he thinks about the future, Boris Johnson and gives us some words on love and hate.

01:50

THE GANG

In the final episode Jane, Julie and Marilyn tell us what they think about the current state of their high street, rising coffee prices and the place they call the meet up.

Run down and neglected, The Parade is a place I walked through with my headphones engulfed in a world of my own. Embarrassingly it took a pandemic for me to open my eyes, take my headphones out and see this as a space of community, a place where time has stood still for many and has remained a central part of their social lives for decades. Speaking to the locals and immersing myself in the culture of the street, has made The Parade a special place for me. Facing a drastic regeneration project, I worry unaffordable housing and cafes will price the locals out so I want to use my skills as a storyteller to give a voice to the community and challenge how we modernise areas of social deprivation.

The Parade is a mini series I started during November's lockdown. It involves 1 - 2 minute videos of the people i met on my walks down my neighbourhood high street, East Street and The Parade. It aims to use humour and a light hearted tone to highlight the underlying struggles of Britains working class.

MELANIE VAXEVANAKIS