Rotherhithe illuminated by residents and Tideway volunteers

The last Friday of November saw the streets of Rotherhithe aglow with lights thanks to the stellar efforts of local residents and Tideway volunteers.

The annual Illuminate Rotherhithe event is a free festival designed to showcase the history of the Thames and celebrate the fact that the river has played a vital role in the area’s development.

Now in its third year, the event aims to shine a spotlight on the area’s past and showcase how the river is still influencing the community to this day. Residents are encouraged to share stories – particularly those related to the Mayflower –, come to lantern-making workshops, and then take part in a procession which ends at St James's Church in Bermondsey.

This year’s lantern procession was bigger than ever and concluded with free pizza and hot chocolate handed out to all those involved. Next year’s event will mark 400 years since the Mayflower set sail for the New World.