It snowed, and snowed, and snowed … but it still happened: the annual December market was well-attended despite the worst the weather could throw at it.
There even were some intrepid souls who carried on outside stalls although the snow lay at least ankle-deep in the churchyard; it was probably only the supplies of mulled wine that kept them going!
Inside the church the homebake stall was laden as usual with delicious offerings and, just
to confirm they’re a discerning lot here, there was not a single cake left at the end.
Books, prints and paintings, jewellery, wood carving, posh presents, cards and decorations …. those and more were all on sale and the Wivenhoe crowd knew where to come.
And then there were the Christmas lights, switched on by the mayor and watched by that crowd before they came into the church to listen to Angie Diggens, who had offered to sing for half an hour but just carried on – and on, for an hour and a half!
Thank you Angie; the Salvation Army Band had had to bow out because of the snow but you 
entertained us right royally!
The band was one casualty of the snow; another was the promised Santa Claus, usually organised by Colchester Rotarians. I believe Santa was stuck in Brightlingsea and the reserve Santa unfortunately couldn’t make it either, so no-one to receive the children’s letters written to Santa. Funny, that – lots of snow and wouldn’t you think a sleigh would have been just the thing …
So did that mean that children had written their letters to Santa in vain? Not a bit of it.
When Wivenhoe improvises it is at its best. At a few hours notice the mayor had organised a Santa costume throug
h the sailing club; the council made up a letter box; long-time local resident Lewis Footring said “yes” when asked, out of the blue, to play Santa (he’d never done it before!); the whole thing was re-jigged to take place inside St Mary’s instead and parents were prepared to queue patiently around the one-way system in the church to make it happen for the children.
Big hand for all concerned! Enjoy a few more pictures by clicking here.
