Christmas Tree Festival
9-12 December 2005

This year's festival was another great success. The church was filled with around 60 Christmas trees each decorated by a different group, society, business or individual. 

Visitors voted for their favourite tree with Epping Bookshop carrying off first prize for their Snowman Tree. 

The runners-up were THE BOX for their very unusual ultraviolet tree.

Other category winners were:

Local Organisation:
Fiddler's Hamlet WI with their wonderful handmade decorations - 'All Handmade By Us'.

Children in School:
Coopersale Hall School with a great array of decorated fir cones - 'Christmas Cones But Once a Year'.

Tree by individuals:
Andrew & Gina Carter for their Football Crazy Tree.

We were amazed at the numbers of people who came to see the Tree Festival and we were thrilled by their generosity and appreciation.  In the end we raised the enormous sum of £6728.00.  This is to be split between two causes:
The Box - a volunteer-run centre on the High Street which provides a place for young people to meet, socialise, do homework and use computers or see a counsellor. 
St John's Church Restoration Appeal which has been raising money to restore the fabric of the church and to fund projects such as a much needed new lighting system.

A
HUGE THANK YOU
to all who took part!

To the exhibitors for all the time, effort, care (and no doubt blood, sweat and tears) which went in to their wonderful tree decorations: the results were fantastically varied and imaginative.
To those who came along to perform music during the festival and who helped create a magical atmosphere (not least the school children who broke into a spontaneous rendition of Away in a Manger on Monday afternoon)...
To the organisers and all those who put in hours of their time to make everything run so smoothly...
To the stewards who made sure that everyone was warmly greeted and safely conducted round the show...
To the host of people who prepared and contributed food for the refreshment area and to those who helped serve, clear and wash up...
To all those who helped to prepare all sorts of wonderful goodies to sell on the various stalls.  And to those who came along to man the stalls...
To those who helped publicise and spread the word about the festival...
And of course, a big thank you to all those who came along to enjoy the festival and were so generous and appreciative...

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This website is designed and run by Piers Northam. 
This page last updated 09 January 2006.

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