December in Pembroke with Santa and Christmas Trees

Receiving their presents from Santa's Grotto at St Mary's Church's Breakfast with Santa

December began with Breakfast with Santa in Pembroke Town Hall - a big fundraising event organised by St Mary's Church and well supported by the community.  The Churches work hard to raise funds and an event we like to take part in is the Christmas Tree Festival in Monkton Priory Church. 

 “It gets better and better” was the verdict on Monkton Priory Church’s third Christmas Tree Festival which ended on Friday 12th December.  This ancient Church was the lovely setting for the Festival, which again proved be a great success.  Each year there has been a theme to consider: the first year entrants had to make a Christmas Tree and decorations entirely out of recycled materials; last year the theme was St Nicholas and this time participants had to choose a carol to illustrate.  Organisers Ken, Pauline and Mike Davies were delighted with the response: in total 23 trees were entered from local schools and community groups making a beautiful and colourful display throughout the Church.   

     

Monkton Priory Church

Our entry - we didn't win but thanks to Jacky for organising it

We also entered the Christmas Tree shop window competition.  I chose the theme of the Christmas Panto, making a display of photographs taken during the '60s of the St Michael's Pantos which were then hugely popular.  Such a shame this Christmas tradition has died out. 

Thanks to Steve James for the photos (Steve wrote the story of the Panto in our book and DVD),  to Rose for the loan of the tree and Sandi at the Tabernacle Kindergarten for the props.

Unfortunately, once again, we didn't win.

Our shop window display, courtesy of  the Brown family for letting us use it.