Christmas Greetings

The Country Market would like to send Christmas and New Year greetings to all it customers and stall holders and thank them for for their support in 2008.

Christmas Competition Winners

Winners in the 3 shop window competitions received their prizes from the Mayor, Peter Williams.

From the best ever set of shop window displays, Clacy's garage tied with Street Video and share the trophy, G Dowling and Sons was a very close 3rd.

Winners in the 3 - 7 year old odd one out competitions were George Lloyd, Bryony and Guy Furlong and Joshua Hutchins.

All the entrants in the find the message (A Merry Whitchurch Christmas) got the right answer and the lucky winner drawn out of the hat was Katherine Woodman.

Many thanks to all who took part and especially to the shop keepers for their great displays.

Whitchurch Arts presented prizes to the winners of its Family Christmas Window Decoration Competition at the White Hart details are here.

Christmas Folk in Whitchurch

Whitchurch Folk Singers made their traditional carol singing trail through the Town and met up with the Overton Mummers at the Harvest Home.

The Harvest Home was once again full when the folk singers, fresh from successful appearances at the Bell and White Hart, began with very tuneful renditions of Christmas carols. These were followed by the immaculately rehearsed Overton Mummers piece, which included very up to date references as well as words and actions which obviously have been handed down from generation to generation.

Following a short break for delicious soup produced by Mark & Pauline, individual musical reditions rounded off a superb evening.

The Magic of Christmas Arrives in Whitchurch

Several hundred of the Town's folk and children turned out to take part in the first Magic of Christmas event. Starting at Seeviours Court with a children's fancy dress competition, Father Christmas and the Ice Queen (looking remarkably like the WADS Panto character!), with attendant elves, drove through a clear but cold Whitchurch led by the Mayor and Mayoress, the evening's Town Crier, several pirates and the Whitchurch Fire Brigade.

The sleigh was followed by over 200 and made its way to the Primary School where hot food and drink, candy floss, face painting and Santa's grotto awaited. The evening was rounded off by a display of Whitchurch's younger talent - after some of the Town's apparently more elderly "talent" showing off their terpsichorean skills, which would have put John Sergeant to shame.

Lucy Gaitskill and Richard Tozer, the Town's Community Wardens, with lots of help from their colleagues, produced another new event for Whitchurch which will hopefully be repeated.

Over £1,000 for Leukemia Research

The latest charity quiz in the Harvest Home raised over £1,000 for Leukemia research. The "magic of Christmas" continued on in the Harvest Home when those present raised over £500, which was matched by Barclays Bank to result in a magnificent figure for the charity.

Organiser, Christine Brown, would like to thank Barclays and all those who took part.

Learn How to Decorate your Christmas Cake

Jeanette Chappell of Festive Cakes will teach you how to decorate your own Christmas cake £20.00 for a 2 hour lesson. This Thursday 11th December 7.00 – 9.00. To reserve place call Jeanette 01256 895124. Visit Jeanette's website to see her work.

Meet the Town Centre Contractors

The promised (see Update) session with the Town Centre Improvements' contractor will be held in the Town Hall at 1pm on 11 December. The work is due to start in the week beginning 5 January and is expected to be complete within 12 weeks. The areas affected will be the Town Hall Forecourt, Bell Street Car Park and the roundabout in the Square.

Red House and Kings Arms Reopen

The Red House is open after its recent refurbishment. Following on from the very successful opening of the Shop Next Door last week the Red House is back in business as a pub and restaurant.

There's a warm welcome (thanks to the log fire) and good food waiting every day between 12noon and 2.30pm and 5.30 and 9.30pm!

The Kings Arms is now open every evening.

Free Christmas Competitions!

The Town's shop windows are now decorated and the 3 free competitions are open - full details and the entry forms are here.