Christmas celebrations on Fernleigh Green
Up Hatherley Parish Council
There was a great turn out for Carols on Fernleigh Green on Christmas Eve. Our permanent Christmas tree looked magnificent, with its lights and all the wonderful homemade baubles. This year for the first time, the Parish Council was able to connect the lights to a supply on the green - many thanks to Roger Whyborn and Steve Hambidge from Gloucestershire County Council for getting this job done.
Judging from the number of carol sheets printed, and the quantity of hot mulled wine and mince pies consumed, we estimate that there were 250 to 300 people attending. My thanks go to Lesley Wells who helped make the mince pies and to Helen Pollard who helped me make the mulled wine. Although we took a supply of cardboard cups to the green, the vast majority attending brought their own cups, mugs and glasses. This greatly reduced the clearing up time and eliminated non- recyclable waste.
Earlier in the afternoon, Roger Whyborn braved the elements and attended, along with his wife and Mayoress, the aptly named Carol, in his mayoral regalia to view the children's decorations on the tree. The prize winning decorations are pictured above and the children who made them received Hobbycraft vouchers. My thanks to Hayley who lives on the green for this brilliant initiative which involves so many local children in decoarating the tree and building up the excitement during December.
Next year we will have the Carol service at 6.30pm so that more children can take part in the service.
The Salvation Army band provided the music and were splendid as ever, Peter Worsley was our Master of Ceremonies, Janet Loveday did a reading and Father Mark Catherall offered a closing prayer. There was a bucket collection for the Salvation Army, who do so much in the community all the year round.
Contact Information
Sarah Bamford
Find Up Hatherley Parish Council
Up Hatherley, Fernleigh Green, Up Hatherley, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire