St Paul’s Church 'Panto' Christmas Tree Festival celebrates community successes

Bedford WI (adult choice) and the 13th Bedford Brownies (Junior choice) win The Best Tree Trophies, chosen by 100s of visitors to the annual Christmas Tree Festival at St Paul's. These awards were sponsored by Lane & Holmes Estate Agents.

It is no surprise that these two trees were firm favourites; the delightful Panto mice were knitted by just three people from the WI, while the Brownies had great fun with homemade decorations for Cinderella and other invented Panto themes. There were wonderful decorations on so many other trees to give pleasure to this community event.

Children and their families enjoyed spotting Panto characters in the trees. The winners in the lucky draws for the four age groups, each receiving an attractive book, were William Bryant (0-4 years), Amber (5-7), Thea Gammon (8-`10), Isabella Pool (11 +). The Books for Children competition was sponsored by Times Tables Rockstars.

The 25 choirs and musicians provided much additional entertainment while the Rock Choir and Music4Memory-Tibbs Dementia had visitors dancing in the nave. A highlight of the performances was the Minerva Trio Concert, which was sponsored by Jayne Beard Associates and others.

Thanks to the generosity of all the visitors and sponsors, the Christmas Tree Festival raised some £12,000 to be shared by the two beneficiaries, the church and the Bedford Hospital Charity and Friends.

Margaret Oakley said:

"If ever we needed to know why we were raising funds for St Paul's, this week said it all. I hope in future this magnificent Church can afford a bit more heat!".

Margaret continued:" We are closer to purchasing a new CT Scanner and other much needed equipment for the hospital's expanded paediatric A & E department".

For more info: www.stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk