Christmas Community Event

Wednesday 13 December 2006

The second annual Hanover and Princess Courts Community Christmas event kicked off at 6 p.m. with a spirited countdown ending with Councillor Sheila Stuart switching on the lights on the 30 foot Christmas tree.

The event was made possible by a grant from the South Area Committee of Cambridge City Council and organised by Caroline Fernandez, vice chair of Hanover and Princess Courts Residents Association with the help of Caroline Biggs of the City Council's Community Development team.

 Local residents, councillors, city council officers, children, friends and representatives of St Paul's School, St Paul's church and the Centre at St Paul's admired the tree, sang carols - led by a children's choir - tucked into mince pies and mulled wine and welcomed Father Christmas. Cindy Fiddy, Head of St Paul's School (centre in the left hand photograph) gave an animated reading of Clement Moore's classic poem "The Night Before Christmas" in the marquee hired for the occasion.  Right: Debbie Beckett, member of the Centre at Paul's Management Group and St Paul's church secretary with Julia Evans who teaches at St Paul's school.

 The programme included a visit  by Fathher Christmas. "The man with all the toys"as he's described in the immortal "Little Saint Nick"  on the very wonderful Beach Boys Christmas album managed to retain his cool despite the nylon suit and some challenging comments from a swarm of local children.  

 Among those enjoying the fun was local resident Terry with a man's best friend, Dingle. Terry attends the weekly Thursday lunch at the Centre at St Paul's.

 Event organiser Caroline Fernandez - a member of the Centre at St Paul's Management Group - pictured with Debbie Beckett, Michael Beckett, vicar of St Paul's, and Councillor Sheila Stuart who switched on the Christmas tree lights.  Michael Beckett gave a short address which struck exactly the right note for a community Christmas celebration.

 Left: Michael Beckett, Sheila Stuart and Martin Evans, Centre at St Paul's Management Group chair, who joined the celebrations shortly after Father Christmas had left.  Right: Michael Beckett with Rita, a Centre at St Paul's Lunch Club stalwart, whose washing up exploits can only be described as "legendary".

 Left: Assistant Housing Officer Katie Wood, Caroline Fernandez, Sheila Stuart and Lewis Wilbur, caretaker of the Hanover and Princess Court flats. Right: event organiser Caroline Fernandez with Caroline Biggs of Community Development who ran the "Reminiscence" sessions at the Centre at St Paul's in October and November when local residents were encouraged to share their memories and mementoes of life in Cambridge over the past 60 years.

Left: Caroline Biggs and Councillor Philippa Slatter. Right: local resident Angela Haynes with Katie Wood. Caroline Fernandez, Caroline Biggs, Sheila Stuart, Philippa Slatter, Michael Beckett, Martin Evans, Cindy Fiddy, Angela Haynes and Lewis Wilbur all take part in the Newtown Teatime Meetings helf every two months which discuss a variety of issues affecting members of the local community such as road safety, recreational facilities for young people and the impact of  projected developments in the Station Road area on this part of Cambridge.