Old Town Christmas Festival

Crowds gathered to watch Father Christmas arrive in Bexhill Old Town pulled by reindeer in his sleigh.

There could hardly have been a more perfect start to the Christmas Festival run by the Old Town Preservation Society over the weekend which proved as ever to be a seasonal delight for young and old.

Father Christmas met no fewer than 500 children during his two day visit and gave everyone a chance to meet his reindeer helpers up close and personal as they rested in the comfort of the Manor Garden grotto.

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There was plenty to entertain visitors at the festival, from the carousel to the ski play area which constantly had a queue of children constantly waiting for their turn, to carol singing led by the Hooe Band and St Peter's church choir on Saturday afternoon.

There was also an outdoor nativity play on the mound in the Manor Gardens with the stable in the background which was "very effective" according to OTPS committee member Pauline Bullock.

She said: "King Offa school did the nativity play which was written by Colin King '“ it was the traditional nativity but he wrote a script for two of the children who narrated the story...it was very effective. It was so lovely to have it outdoors '“ it looked very authentic and was very much appreciated. Then we all had hot dogs, Christmas soup, and mince pies inside the Manor Barn."

On hand to provide constant entertainment for the children was Bosco the Clown, also known as and Andy Dinsdale who did great work according to Pauline.

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"He really got the kids screaming with laughter '“ he was really lovely.

"And we were very fortunate with the weather this year except for Saturday morning for one and a half hours '“ it was fine weather which was a great help this time. We had an enormous crowd at the Old Town junction for Father Christmas arriving in his sleigh, which did look wonderful.

"The Old Town Preservation Society would like to thank all the people who helped us and wish everybody a Happy Christmas."