Carols by the canal

HERE'S an invite for boaters and the public alike to join in the fun by the Shropshire Union Canal at Market Drayton in the annual Carols by the canal.

The event is this coming Saturday, 7th December at Talbot Wharf from 4.30pm, for carol singing by Trentham Bass together with hot food, roast chestnuts, mulled wine and free floating lanterns.

Arrive by narrowboat

Santa will arrive by narrowboat to join the many other illuminated narrowboats that will line the towpath, with the waterway coming alight with an enormous Christmas tree and the illuminated boats. The picture is of Santa arriving last year.

Lisa Machin tells us that the boatyard will be bustling with families enjoying hot food, games, carol singing and Christmas shopping opportunities, not forgetting a star appearance by Santa himself on his illuminated narrowboat. The Friends of the Grove School are organising the event in aid of The Birks Field Centre, and are confident that this year's Carols by the Canal will be as popular as ever with local families and children.

Highlight

The highlight of the evening will be the arrival of Father Christmas on his narrowboat, which his elves will be decorating with lights especially for the evening.

Admission is £2, and free for children under 11, and includes a free lantern. Parking is available at the Grove School, just across the canal.

Proceeds from the event will benefit The Birks Field Centre, located in the Lake District's Duddon Valley, and owned by the Friends of the Grove School. The Birks is a totally self-funding charity; the costs of running the building and improvement works all come from hire charges and fund raising events.

Carols by the Canal is made possible by the support of local volunteers, Talbot Wharf, Buttercross Farm Foods, Potteries Calor Centre, HFP Foods and Market Drayton Chamber of Trade.