St Leonard's church, Hythe
My last event before Christmas is the Hythe Civic Carol Concert at St Leonard’s church. The weather has been atrocious and the concert I was to have attended the previous evening at Sandgate was cancelled. When I arrive the row reserved for the visiting ‘chain gang’ is empty although the mayor of Swale does arrive later. (This is a great relief to me as he rang me before setting out for advice on the roads and for directions.)
I live barely five minutes walk from St Leonard’s so there is no way I would miss tonight’s event. District Council colleagues, Cllr William Richardson and Cllr Russel Tillson have also made it from the Marsh and there are many Hythe town councillors who are also District Councillors present – Cllrs Ewart-James, Owen and Lyons.
Cllr Susan Carey, chairman of Shepway Dostrict Council, Cllr Keren Belcourt, Mayor Of Hythe and Tony Windross, Vicar of Hythe
The carol service is the traditional nine lessons and carols led by Dr Berkeley Hill with the local vicar Tony Windross overseeing everything. Afterwards there is a delicious buffet prepared by the Mayor of Hythe Kerne Belcourt and her husband Reg. Keren and Reg are well known for their good food and seemingly effortless catering for large numbers but it’s clear that a great deal of work has gone into entertaining us.
It’s a lovely way to complete my civic duties for 2009 which start again in January 2010.