A change in the weather, for the better, meant that the lantern parade was very well supported this year with around 40 lanterns being paraded around the village on a route taking in the first 14 Hartington Advent Windows 2019. The crowds congregated in the Church to view the spectacular Advent Window in the Church, and to sing a couple of verses of Whilst Shepherds Watched. The parade departed with over 60 villagers and locals alike, and attracted more people as the lanterns paraded through the village.
Stops were made to view the Advent windows with a special stop at Stanner Cottage where the throng sang “In the bleak midwinter”, the favourite carol of the hosts to welcome the newest arrival to the village, their son Daniel.
As well as the advent windows the other Christmas displays were taken in, particularly the very creative display at Hartdale Motors of Father Christmas on a motorbike with Rudolph in a sidecar. Rudolph’s antlers are made of spanners!
The finale of the parade was around the Christmas Tree where the Chairman of the Parish Council, Mr David Annat, thanked Andrew Barker of Pikehall for the donation of a tree, Richard Sherratt and Brian Broomhead for the transportation and positioning of the tree, and Sue and Roland Tacey at Corner House for powering the tree lights.
The crowd then descended on the Village Hall for Carols and warm drink and food. The event in the Village Hall raised a total of £640 to be donated equally to the School and St Giles Church.
Many thanks to those involved in helping to make this a success, from the original planning, to lantern making the weekend before and marshalling the parade and finally those cooking and leading the carols at the village hall event. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year.
