Stone Life December 2013/January 2014 | Page 8

CHRISTMAS IN ECCLESHALL Christmas festivities get well underway in ECCLESHALL T he Christmas lights were officially switched on in the town centre on Monday 2nd December by Father Christmas at the lych gate of the Holy Trinity Church, signalling the official start of Eccleshall’s countdown to Christmas. Once again residents can take advantage of the Scouts Christmas Post to get all their seasons greetings delivered to family and friends on time. The traditional Christmas card delivery service by the local Scouts will start on Saturday 7th December when they will be collecting cards outside the library between 9am and 12 noon and again on Saturday 14th December. They will deliver cards within the 30mph boundary of the town. A great saving considering the price of postage stamps these days. The scouts would also like to see plenty of support from the public at their Christmas fair which is set to take place on Saturday 7th December between 11am and 3pm at the Scout‘s HQ. Of course Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the now hotly contended Christmas Window Display Competition. Most of Eccleshall’s businesses have been urged to take part in the annual seasonal window display competition which will be judged on Thursday 19th December. The arrangements for which are being dealt with by Peter Jones. Businesses in the town centre who wish to take part should already have their Christmas displays in place. 8 December 2013/ January 2014 And it is not just the shop windows getting festive but the shop keepers themselves will be welcoming shoppers to take advantage of a seasonal late night Christmas Shopping event in Eccleshall organised by the town’s Totally Locally Group. Why not take part in a Totally Locally Christmas with so many lovely individual shops selling such gorgeous things, shoppers will not only be spoilt for choice but will certainly be able to get much of their lists ticked off with a vast array of shops in Eccleshall staying open until 8pm on Thursday evening 5th December. So far signed up to this retail extravaganza are Lex & Co, Sean Hirst, Krug, Veuve, And Buttons, Earth Selection, Butterley Barn Interiors, The Wine Shop, BB’s Florist, La Maison, Bethan Ward, and Little Monsters with more joining all the time. For those looking forward to seeing santa out and about on his sleigh this December worry not. The Rotary Club of Eccleshall Mercia have arranged the dates for Santa's tour in the area and it looks like they are planning nine dates in total including Gnosall, Swynnerton and Tittensor, Woodseaves, Yarnfield, and concluding with two nights in Eccleshall on 23rd and 24th December. If there are any able bodied elves who find themselves available during the period 9th to 24th December they would be most welcome to come along and give Santa a much appreciated hand. The contact is Club President Steve Groom on 01785 818330 or email: [email protected].