Christmas Comes Once a Year

December comes but once a year, and with it, the largest event in Billericay, the Christmas market organised and run by our daughter club, the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower.  As usual, Rotary members were out in the weekends ahead of the event to spread the word and handout flyers to publicise the event, and we did our share with President Roger, Patrick, Brian and Bob all doing a stint on the “pitch” outside Waitrose.

"Weather" it is nobler …

As the week before progressed, the weather turned from rain to cold and the coldest days for months were upon us.

“I’m not looking forward to the day” said one member as he shivered in the High Street on the Friday and Saturday. But come Sunday and  .. overcast skies but not so cold.  At least until it was time for the parade when we got a few showers of very light snow, and then light rain set in.

There were usual plethora of stalls selling food of all types, Giggly Pig as always, Burgers, Hot Dogs, doughnuts, rolls and bread, cakes, and exotic options too.

But there did seem to be more than the usual amount of space between the stalls this year?

Well Behaved

Our early shift was bearable, and all stallholders were well behaved and flexible so we had no trouble, apart from one van with a noisy generator spilling out fumes.  The fumes did dissipate but the noise levels were right on the decibel borderline, much to the reasonable annoyance of the next stallholders.

Apart from that, there was no trouble, either with the stalls, or with the crowds.  And the crowds did come in droves as can be seen in the photos.

Time passed quickly, and all the stalls were soon installed, held down with weights against the wind, and ready for business.  

A Variety of Stalls

So, who was there?  There were all the usual food stands ready to do a roaring trade with the public as lunch approached, There were craft stalls in the library and its grounds, a fun fair in the car park, and many others stalls selling Toys, Christmas wreaths, log designs, and other publicising their work like the Dogs Trust, Essex Fire Museum etc.

And of course, that typical traditional harbinger of Christmas, the Hot Chestnut stand.

Two of our friends, the Rotary Clubs of Basildon, and the Rotary Club of Billericay Town also had stands selling “Grab a Bag” and “Find Santa”, and “Mulled wine” and refreshments  respectively.

Then 10 o’clock and attendees started arriving, a small spattering at first, but very soon a stream from both north and south ends of the high street, with a continuous crowd making their way over the Railway bridge into the High Street.  Our tour of duty was over, and apart from the odd job we were released to enjoy the atmosphere.

A very enjoyable display, a short but colourful Christmas parade including Santa, led by Town Crier Jim Shrubb, two turkeys, a snowman and the pipers!