On Sunday 23rd November, Farnborough Village welcomed Christmas by switching on festive lights throughout the village. In past years, the Farnborough Christmas lights have become famous throughout the area and this year will be no exception. Despite the wet weather, a large crowd provided a countdown to the switch on at half past five outside the pub, the Change of Horses. However the crowds were quickly disbanded once they were on as it started to turn colder. During the evening, there was live music, fresh food from the local Indian restaurant, Village Cuisine, hot roasted chestnuts, refreshment kiosks, charity fundraising stalls and children’s funfair entertainment such as the famous tea cup rides. This annual event helps to bring the community together, from the young to the older generation. Ron Sparrow from Orpington said the lights ‘helped to bring the Christmas spirit and is a good way to share the festive season with friends and family’. After the cold and damp evening, St Giles Church held its weekly evening service at quarter past six to carry on the community spirit.
Throughout advent, there are the usual weekly services held at the church as well as the ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’, Christmas Eve services especially for children and families, a chance to welcome in Christmas with Midnight Mass and a Christmas Day service for the whole family to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Unlike previous years, there will be no Sunday School Nativity, but a Sunday School Christingle service is being held at four o’clock on Christmas Eve instead.
Lucy-Ann Brown
Bromley High School
