Parade set to sparkle

Since being told on Christmas Eve that he was in charge of the procession to highlight the Queen's personal commitment to the Commonwealth, he has had to find the performers and make sure they all know where they will be, design floats and co-ordinate people and props from across the world.

On Tuesday they will move at a stately two miles an hour towards Buckingham Palace, where the Queen and Prince Philip will watch on a dais in front of the Queen Victoria Memorial.

But for five months, the pace has been rather faster for Keith and his team, who are also organising the opening of Manchester's Commonwealth Games in July.

The work started in January, planning what themes the parade should take, and how to gather ideas for it.

As part of the project, packs were sent to schools across the Commonwealth, asking pupils to send their wishes for the future, which will be displayed on four rainbows .

Two other designers, Indran Selvarajah and Ali Zaida, helped him to work out what kind of performances it should feature, and a team scoured London and the South-East's Commonwealth communities to find people to take part.

The search also reached overseas, with groups from South Africa, Australia, Canada and the Caribbean, with the farthest being four Maoris from New Zealand, who will perform the haka dance. Other finds include a group of Nigerian film stars and Indian artists who produce Bollywood billboards.

Despite the months of preparation, there will be a final frustration for Keith when the parade gets under way. "I will be in a control box," he said. "I'll only see it on video afterwards." The six parades each set off from Admiralty Arch.

1.45pm: Notting Hill Carnival parade with 1,500 musicians and dancers.

2.30pm: Children's Parade, with 1,000 young actors.

3pm: Gospel Choir, with 5,000 singers. Queen arrives from Guildhall to watch.

3.45pm: Service Parade, with members of 36 uniformed organisations from the Brownies to the Army.

4.15pm: 50 Years Parade, led by a Hells Angel motorcyclist and with floats showing how Britain has changed since 1952.

4.35pm: Commonwealth Parade sets off.

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