While Harlow has been celebrating its 60th birthday, the President's Sporting Club is celebrating its 21st children's sporting lunch.
Over 600 disabled children and their helpers from special schools are gathered at the Sportcentre for this annual event, organised by the indefatigable Mike Jackson and his wife Helen. It's an incredible sight - not just so many children and carers seated at tables groaning with food and drink, but balloons, clowns, large animal characters and everything else a child could want. There's popcorn, and a candy floss machine; the army is here to lend a hand with the logistics; and Paradise Wildlife Park is here too, with some of its smaller animals and an owl for the children to meet and stroke.
Celebrities including dedicated club president Frank Bruno are here to present awards to children who have been nominated for their sporting achievements at school. Many of them have overcome tremendous obstacles to take part in swimming, football, gymnastics or other sports - and are proud and delighted to meet, and be photographed with, their celebrity heroes. I find myself talking with Eamonn Martin, 1993 London marathon winner, who tells me he's been involved with the sporting lunch since the early 1990s.
After the award presentations, there's a cabaret show, with the entertainer juggling, and his assistant escaping from a padlocked box, and appearing to float in thin air. The show ends with the entertainer spinning fifteen plates simultaneously, including three balanced on sticks held in his mouth. The children are entranced, and it's a brilliant climax to their great day out.
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