Christmas Tree Lighting

We always look forward to the annual Tree Lighting in the village hall, and this year did not disappoint!

Warren was the MC (again) and the evening contained performances by some trusty regulars as well as some newcomers. Danehill school performed several songs, as did the Danehill Handbell Ringers (see video below). We also sang some carols as a group and heard a new trio perform an excruciating 5-song set, which was about 4.5 songs too long! The finale was a poem and comedy sketch performed by Mr Fish and his friends, this year expanded to include his little brother (Diddy Fish), and elderly lady on piano, and of course Charlie Chuckles who was part of the act last year as well.

What I love most about this event is the small village Britishness of it all - the MC leading the audience in a carol that isn't on the program and most people don't know the words (skipping the one that is on the program with all the words printed), the actual turning on of the Christmas Tree lights witnessed through the window rather than gathering round the tree, the moment when the music sheet for the Handbell Ringers fell off the stand and everyone's head tilted to the left simultaneously, the sweet and eccentric Fish teenagers with their funny and heartwarming act, the general chaos of the scene with all the kids aged 2-5 apparently allowed to be free roaming up and down the hall, the older kids escaping to the outside playing tag in the dark and getting muddy in their nice clothes, and finally the mince pies and warm cider at the end of it all. I always come away from the evening with tears in my eyes at the funny, wholesome, loveliness of it all.