A memorable celebration of connection, community and sign language.
On Friday 26 June and Saturday 27 June, I had a wonderful experience at the Norfolk Deaf Festival, held at the Norwich Forum. The event was full of laughter, warmth and community spirit, making it a truly memorable weekend.
British Sign Language Taster Session
On Friday 26 June, I hosted a British Sign Language (BSL) taster session in a cool, air-conditioned space — a welcome break from the heat outside. The session attracted an enthusiastic group of people keen to learn BSL, and we shared plenty of laughter while exploring the basics together.
International Connections
One highlight was meeting a family visiting from Australia. The mother, a retired Auslan interpreter from Sydney, joined the session with her son, a restaurant manager now living in Los Angeles, and his companion, who is based in Norwich.
They joined in naturally and confidently, and it was fascinating to see Auslan and BSL come together through shared communication and connection.
Reuniting with Friends and Former Students
The festival also gave me the chance to reconnect with old and new friends. A special highlight was meeting a childhood friend who has dedicated many years to supporting the Deaf community as an outstanding social worker.
It was also lovely to catch up with a former university friend involved with Deaf Rave, as well as former students who came over to say hello and chat in BSL. One former schoolteacher, who retired due to her deafness, was especially pleased to see us again after studying BSL Levels 2 and 3 with us.
Our Stall and Supporters
My partner, Eeva, shared a stall with me to sell her unique crochet designs. Her work was extremely popular and sold out by the end of Saturday, which genuinely touched her. She now has a new list of orders to work through.
Have a look at her IG Account : https://www.instagram.com/finnladydesigns/
A huge thank you goes to the volunteers, including Justin, David, Aaron and the students who helped throughout the event. I treated them all to an ice cream with a chocolate flake as a small thank-you. By the end, we were worn out, but still smiling proudly in our SHBSL tops.
Final Thoughts
Despite the intense heat, the Norfolk Deaf Festival was a fantastic celebration of Deaf culture and sign language. It was a privilege to meet such a diverse group of people, share knowledge and build new connections.
I look forward to many more events like this in the future. The next Norfolk Deaf Festival will take place in 2027 — watch this space.
Forgot to say a huge thank you to the wonderful BSL Interpreter (Becky) who was sweating so much and signing all the time.
Well done to the amazing organisers of the Norfolk Deaf Festival and see you in 2027.
