By the community,

for the community.

The first ever Tattenham Corner Christmas Tree in living memory arrived before dawn on the cold crisp winters morning of Saturday 28th November 2015. From the early hours, the team of volunteers including Ian Pattison (Manager of the local Cooperative) Rev. Des Williamson and Liz Townsend from St. Mark's Church, local scouts lead by Kelvin Freeman and local residents Jon and Kirsty Cranefield, were busy putting up and decorating the tree ready for the big launch night.......

The festive window of Cutting Edge Barbers

Buckleys Family Butchers BBQ offered hearty burgers

Sweet treats were on sale at Cloud Nine

Santa checking who has been good

Bits Bobs and Bunting selling crafty Christmas goods

Smiles all round with the success of the night

Masters of Epsom's window brought smiles of joy

A big thank you to special guest Tim Vine!

Many of the shops were open including our new little gem 'Cloud Nine' and some, such as Masters Toy shop, offered discounts on purchases during the evening. Many people enjoyed Paella from El Rincon Spanish Restaurant or burgers from Buckley Butchers BBQ, while others treated themselves to popcorn from St. Mark's Community Group or toasted chestnuts from the local Scouts, or a free mince pie handed out by Santa's helpers from the Co-operative (left). Before and after the light switch on, there was time for browsing the stalls which included: The Body Shop; Phoenix Trading Christmas Cards and Stationary; Kids Bee Happy Sand Art; Bits Bobs and Bunting Handmade Textile products; Bouncing Bunnies homemade cakes; and trying your luck on the table top games by Surrey Freemasons. Music from local choir ‘Sing! Epsom Downs’ and our DJ Paul Gosling, helped get everyone in the festive mood. The raffle, generously supported by Howard's Electrical, Lloyds Pharmacy, McColls Newsagent, Cloud Nine, First Place Hairdressers, Bliss Hairdressers and The Co-operative, raised funds for the Local Food Bank.

A huge 'thank you' must go out to the Co-operative for powering the lights on the tree for the whole of advent. As you can see (right) it looked magical!

Also, well done to all the children from Holly and Willow classes at Shawley Community Primary School, St. Mark's Under 5s, Rainbows and Little Jax Pre-school who decorated the wonderful baubles which made it a real community tree to be proud of.

Photos provided by Alan Sedgwick, Jon & Kirsty Cranefield

2015 Christmas Launch...

We just wanted to convey a formal appreciation to everyone who helped make Saturday 28th November 2015 such a wonderful evening and an event that our local community can be proud of. From the shops who sponsored the event, donated raffle prizes or traded in the festive spirit during the event; the local businesses who sponsored the event, Paul Gosling for doing the PA system for free, SING Choir for their vocal delights; the stall holders who stood and braved the cold winds; the children who decorated the wonderful Baubles from Little Jax Pre-School, St. Marks Rainbows/Brownies, Holly and Willow Classes at Shawley Community Primary School, St. Mark's Under 5s; Helena Masters for the eye catching publicity posters and leaflets which raised the profile of the event; Councillor Nick Harrison for permitting and backing the event; Steve Norris at SK Camping for the discounted gazeboes; Evergreen Wholesale Nursery for the discounted tree; St John’s Ambulance for allowing the children to explore the ambulance and providing first aid support; Kelvin Freeman and his Scouts who came and braved the cold winds to help decorate the tree and erect/dismantle the stall pitches (you were integral to the event being ready in time); Lesley Beard and the Tattenham Corner Library for equipment, water, volunteers and a warm welcome to the people who visited for the lavatories!!!; Manager Ian Pattison of the Co-operative for erecting and powering the tree; all the volunteers who distributed leaflets in the weeks leading up to the big night; Lesley Sedgewick for promoting the event in the Surrey Mirror Borderlines column; Roger Welch for his guidance, ideas, getting the electrician to check the electrics and moral support at 7am on Saturday morning when Ian and Kirsty were trying to get the tree to stand up straight!; Rev. Des for keeping us all smiling and getting the brilliant Tim Vine to make the night complete; and Liz Townsend for having the dream and giving us the inspiration to bring the community together in such a magical way.

For anyone we have missed we apologise most sincerely as we are grateful for every ounce of encouragement and support from everyone.

Much positive feedback has been received from the public (and a few suggestions for the future!) about what a lovely atmosphere there was and how nice it was to see so a wide variety of our community coming together for one thing. It was great to see so many people, far more than we ever could have hoped for in the first year. All the kiddies' faces were beaming at the beautiful tree, and seeing their baubles hanging on it made them really proud (many wanting their photos taken with ‘their’ tree as I heard a couple say).

Well done us – now here’s looking forward to planning all over again for xmas 2016!!!!

By the community,

for the community.

2015 Christmas Launch...

Acknowledgements 2015...