Romany Day 2026 - Roots to Modern Day, Onward with Hope
Surrey - Freedom Matthews reports on Romany Day 2026, with photographs by Eszter Halasi
Romany Day 2026 wasn't my first experience of this amazing event, organised and hosted by the incomparable Dee Cooper. My dearly departed dad discovered the event sometime in the mid-2010s, and we attended several times before his passing in 2022.
Some of my fondest memories include watching rockabilly singers while seeing my dad relive his teenage years, and hearing stories from people he grew up with about the lives and experiences they all shared.
Because that's what Romany Day is: a celebration of our people and the truths we've all lived through, the good and the bad. It's a place where people from both within and beyond our community come together to celebrate our shared history, culture and future.
This year wasn't just Romany Day; it also marked the 30th anniversary of the Surrey Gypsy Traveller Community Forum.
As the SGTCF website explains:
The Forum was founded in 1996 to create opportunities for public agencies, charities, interested individuals/groups and Traveller communities to talk to each other. Our website is our online meeting place, where we organise our activities, share ideas and publicise our mission.
A wonderful and invaluable resource for our community, congratulations on 30 years. Here's to many more!
This year's theme was "Roots to Modern Day, Onward with Hope," and that spirit was evident throughout the day.
Held at Guildford's Hive, the venue was transformed into an inspiring space, with rooms, corridors and patios filled with history, culture and businesses from within our community. It perfectly demonstrated how we continue to move forward, guided by the experiences of those who came before us.
As you wandered through the Hive, echoes of the past and present reflected all around the room. Poems created by the ladies of Write into Culture stood proudly alongside fascinating historical displays from Surrey History Centre. Pretty, ornate vardos, a beautifully crafted miniature organ, cast-iron pots, pegs and delicate paper flowers created a striking connection between our heritage and the present day. Historic photographs, together with carefully framed family portraits from generations past and present, preserved precious memories for future generations, while accompanying poems brought those stories vividly to life. Visual art, history and the written word walked hand in hand, creating a space where it felt as though our ancestors were quietly watching as we carried their traditions forward in our own ways.
A striking six-foot-high art display by the fabulous Dolly Romany Arts was impossible to miss. Featuring a unique interpretation of the Romany flag alongside seasonal Romany scenes filled with wagons, horses and significant cultural symbols, her talent seemed to leap from every canvas.
It’s not Your Birthday But and Katy's Crafts were also on hand with a crafting station, keeping creative minds of all ages happily occupied.
Out on the courtyard patio, Who Love's Ya Baby showcased beautifully presented Spanish babywear, perfect for the youngest members of our community. Their tagline, "Adorable styles for every moment," certainly lived up to its promise.
Alongside them was Chic-Signs, displaying beautifully hand-painted narrowboat artwork on mugs, teapots and other decorative pieces. The vibrant colours were a feast for the eyes.
Adding to the celebration, a police car and fire engine were on display in the car park, proving popular with visitors of all ages. Decorations by the talented Katy's Crafts elevated the space even further, with bespoke balloon displays, oversized whimsical roses framing the stage and a fun photo booth that added a cheeky touch to the festivities.
Other Contributors included:
- SGTCF
- GRT Women’s health group
- Heritage Hubs
- Surrey Community Action
- Surrey Fire & Rescue Service
- Surrey Police
- Surrey History Centre
- Eszter Halasi – Official Photographer
- ...and yours truly, Freedom Matthews (Author).
Entertainment
The day's entertainment was undoubtedly the heart of the celebration.
With DJ Scott keeping the atmosphere alive, proceedings began with a warm welcome from SGTCF's Cheryl Wood, followed by Guildford's Mayor, Jane Tyson, whose eloquent opening speech reflected beautifully on this year's theme: "Onward with Hope."
The music began with the charismatic and sultry gypsy jazz performer Florence Joelle, accompanied by the exceptional guitarist Dave Wilson.
Opening with excerpts from the Romany anthem woven seamlessly into Florence's own composition, Gypsy Boy, they immediately captivated the audience. Dressed in sparkling attire with flowing skirts, Florence's smoky, rich vocals perfectly complemented Dave's outstanding guitar playing, while her harmonica added another layer of magic. A joy to watch, as always.
Next came Rosa Cisneros, whose electric stage presence held the audience completely spellbound.
Taking us through the history of the Romany people and the evolution of flamenco, her first dance was powerful, passionate and deeply emotional. Whether it was the music, the movement or the story itself, it moved me to tears.
Following an impressive costume change, Rosa demonstrated how flamenco evolved as our people journeyed from Asia, performing a more joyful dance that highlighted the early influences of the style we recognise today.
Her third performance brought yet another stunning costume, with elaborate arm movements, graceful hip sways and swirling skirts as she explained more of flamenco's roots.
She then invited everyone to clap, stamp and join in, teaching us rhythmic chants of "Olé!" and "Chocolate!" before asking for volunteers to learn a few dance steps. They did a fantastic job.
During the question-and-answer session afterwards, someone asked the very question I had been wondering myself: whether her captivating hand movements held any meaning.
Rosa explained they symbolised birds flying away and returning home—a beautiful image that perfectly captured the spirit of the day.
Next came the energetic Santosh Pawar, who took us even further back in history through Bollywood dance.
Brave volunteers, including a couple of police officers and firefighters—joined him on stage to learn the choreography. Santosh explained that many of the movements represented prayers to God, making it feel a privilege to witness people of all ages dancing together.
One participant laughed that they'd "never danced with a policeman before!" There's a first time for everything.
Refreshments included beautifully decorated lunch boxes featuring GRT logos alongside cakes depicting Romany scenes. Ice pops and fruit juice helped everyone stay cool on the warm summer's day, giving the afternoon the atmosphere of a theatre interval.
The Second Half
The second half opened with the crystal-clear voice of Romany West End performer Hope Lavelle, who premiered Vardo Dreams, written by Dee Cooper, with vocal arrangements by Hope Lavelle and music by Dan Austin.
The song beautifully wove together a nostalgic story of Gypsy life, and hearing Hope speak about reconnecting with the community was every bit as moving as hearing her sing.
Hope's performance led perfectly into Write into Culture.
I may be a little biased, as I'm part of the group, but as the words of Sisters in Solidarity echoed through the room, sharing our truths in our own unique voices, the audience listened in complete silence.
We opened with a short play written by Dee Cooper, “We Stand together” where three women declared we are "more than just wheels and judgement."
Another piece reminded us that we must tell our own stories, because for too long others have spoken on our behalf.
This naturally led into Shadows of the Sky, a collection of work exploring Roma experiences during the Holocaust, previously performed at the Beyond Bars event.
Four performers sat silently as though travelling on a train while a recording of Remember Us, written by Stacey Hodgkins, described the devastating realities our people faced during the Holocaust.
One by one, we shared stories from a time when persecution meant the loss of lives, language, horses, homes and identity.
Afterwards, several audience members commented that although the pieces were harrowing, they found themselves completely drawn in.
The final section of poetry reflected modern GRT life—its heartbreak, prejudice and resilience, while holding firmly onto hope for the future.
Chelsea opened with Disconnected, exploring how we recognise ourselves in both our ancestors and descendants, yet often still feel disconnected from our identity.
Dee's No Gypsies Served Here! confronted the racism that remains commonplace for many GRT people.
Dolly's One Less Gypsy moved many audience members to tears with its honest portrayal of school life as a battlefield.
BB's The Last Stopping Place was a deeply moving reflection on grief.
Finally, I performed my own piece inspired by this year's theme, Roots to Modern Day, reflecting on where we've come from and where we hope to go.
The poetry concluded with a call to action: that more people should pick up their pens, tell their truths and ensure our stories continue to be told. I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who can to do exactly that.
We were then honoured by Vice-Chair Surrey Poet Laureate Tori Monks, who shared a thoughtful reflection on the day's celebrations before reading lines from Surrey Poet Laureate Adam Gary, who beautifully compared GRT people to the hedgerows—reminding us how much poorer the world would be without either.
Hope Lavelle returned to close the performances, first singing Nanci Griffith's classic Love at the Five and Dime—an old favourite of mine, before performing her own composition, The Crowning of a Romany Queen, providing a fitting and uplifting finale.
The event concluded with heartfelt words from the wonderful Dee Cooper.
Having spent 35 years as an activist, Dee reminded us that the next generation must now carry the torch and continue telling our truths.
We're not there yet. Discrimination remains widespread.
But we continue onwards, with hope.
With heartfelt thanks to Katie and everyone at the Hive for hosting our gathering, along with the many volunteers whose hard work made the day such a success.
Our sponsors: Surrey Community Action and The National Lottery Community Fund.
With thanks for the generous food donations from Cheeseman's for the fruit, Christine for the cakes, and Leigh for the biscuits. We also extend our sincere thanks to an anonymous corporate donor for their generous £300 Sainsbury's food catering donation, which was greatly appreciated.
A massive thank you to Dee Cooper, whose hard work, dedication and vision made the day so spectacular, along with the entire Cooper family; Katy's Crafts for the wonderful decorations; all the stallholders, volunteers, performers, contributors; and every single person who attended Romany Day 2026.
Together, you made this year's celebration one to remember.