Bulwell lights up for Christmas

Bellringers at St Mary’s Church, Bulwell, joined in celebrations for the town’s Christmas Festival on Monday.
Bulwell Christmas lights switch on. Alexander Cox 3, Lily Cox 7, Aura Brown 7.Bulwell Christmas lights switch on. Alexander Cox 3, Lily Cox 7, Aura Brown 7.
Bulwell Christmas lights switch on. Alexander Cox 3, Lily Cox 7, Aura Brown 7.

The church bells were rung to coincide with festivities on the nearby Market Place and Main Street pedestrian zone.

“We thought this would be a good way for the church to get involved,” said spokesman Jillian Naylor.

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Two Bulwell girls won a competition in which the prize was having the honour of switching on the lights of the civic Christmas tree.

They were five-year-old Aleah Murphy, who goes to Crabtree Primary and Nursery School, and nine-year-old Natasha Bignall, a pupil at St Mary’s CofE Primary.

There was a large turnout of families for the festival, at which the attractions included fairground rides and a ‘Jump and Smile’ bouncy castle. Exercise bikes were laid on for keep-fit enthusiasts.

Schoolchildren entertained with songs and a Salvation Army band played carols. Young children queued up with their parents to see Santa Claus in his grotto at the Wilkinson’s store.

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Richard Dawson, of the Youth for Christ organisation, stressed that while people often soon got tired of gifts they received at Christmas, the joy of Jesus was much longer-lasting.

Earlier in the day, a programme of activities was held at Bulwell Riverside, including local community stalls, a Christmas wreath and candle centrepiece-making session and a Christmas quiz.

Jayne Harper, a mother-of-three, who lives at Snape Wood, said: “We really enjoyed the festival. It shows that Bulwell still has a strong community spirit.”