Christmas Evening shines bright over Rickmansworth

Christmas in Rickmansworth began on November 29 this year when the town held its annual Christmas Evening. The evening saw a host of Christmas stalls selling  all manner of Christmas gifts, many of which were locally made. Before the event opened for business, The Pied Piper of Rickmansworth and the Chesham Girls Band led the annual Starlight Parade. Throughout the evening, there were also a host of performances from local groups including Razzamataz, the Phoenix Morris Dancers and the cast of Sleeping Beauty, this year’s pantomime at Watersmeet. Nina Hosking is chairman of the Rickmansworth Chamber of Commerce and is also on the Rickmansworth Town Team which is set up to run events for Rickmansworth and the surrounding area and organised the evening. She said: “It was brilliant. We had lots of feedback and it was good. The stallholders were happy, the paraders thought it was fabulous. The Chesham Girls Band, the Pied Piper of Rickmansworth and Jonathan Ansell were all fantastic. It all went past without a hitch. There was also a strong presence from police cadets and to have teenagers helping the community was brilliant. “I’m pleased also that a lot of charities made a bit of money. Sewell and Gardner were auctioning off households goods and raised about £400 for the Disasters Emergency Committee. It was a brilliant community event even if I was told off because it was not even advent yet. The museum had 150 visitors, the library opened for the first time and we’re doing it all again on November 28, 2014.” Les Mead, chairman of Three Rivers District Council, opened the evening. He said: “It was fantastic and went exceedingly well.  One of the things I look forward to is opening these events especially as this is in Ricky where I live. There’s an awful lot of effort that goes in and it was great to welcome everyone to the start of Christmas.”   Photos by Patricia Yayner, Image 2 Photography