There was another fantastic turn out this evening for the annual ceremony to light up the parish council’s Christmas tree on Chicken's Green in Blackhall Colliery. Despite the cold and damp weather Blackhall residents and families came along to play their part in what has become the customary start to the festive season in the village.
The parish council chair, Cllr Gaynor Crute, got the ceremony underway by welcoming the children and staff of Blackhall Colliery and St Joseph's primary schools who sang a selection of Christmas carols. Fr Kyle then blessed the tree before leading the children in a countdown to the tree light switch on.
As ever, thanks go to the clerk and members of Monk Hesleden Parish Council, alongside the parish staff who planned and prepared the event, and thanks also go to Fr Kyle for his seasonal message and blessing for the tree.
And of course a special acknowledgement goes to the main attraction of the night which was the children from both Blackhall Colliery and St Joseph's primary schools who come along with their teachers each year to get the Christmas period off to a fantastic start.7
