Festival will be a real Christmas tree-t

PLANS are now complete for the fifth bi-annual Christmas Tree Festival to be held at St Mary’s Church in Twyford from today.

The theme is A Host of Heavenly Angels and the church will be filled with a glittering array of lights, tinsel and handmade and personalised decorations on a multitude of Christmas trees.

These will be provided by Twyford’s many organisations, voluntary groups and businesses which have individually decorated trees to reflect their own image.

As well as the decorated trees there is plenty for visitors to enjoy throughout the festival.

On Friday evening this includes Reading Accordion Group, Twyford Handbell Ringers and the Work in Progress barbershop quartet.

At 2pm on Saturday Berkshire Recorder Consort will entertain, followed by the Avenue Acapella Group until 4pm.

By popular request Bonnie The Bubble Lady returns with a captivating display for young and old alike followed by Twyford Glee Club at 2 pm.

One of the highlights of the festival will be a concert titled A Taste of Christmas which takes place from 7.30pm on Saturday.

The concert will be a mix of seasonal and year-round favourites featuring a range of performers from classical singers, accompanied by Jo MillerShepherd, to soloists from the alumni of Berkshire College of Agriculture Performing Arts and the Thames Valley Chorus male barbershop choir.

Many of the performers have been brought together by Tara Chapman a soprano with a growing range of experience, both as a teacher and as a performer.

Tara runs specialist weekly singing groups titled ‘Singing for

Lung Health’ in Maidenhead and Bracknell. These are open to anyone with chronic lung disease.

The festival itself runs from Thursday, December 6 to Sunday, December 9 inclusive and the climax of the festival on Sunday is a carol service around the trees at 4.30pm. Doors close at 4.30pm each day apart from Friday when it will remain open until 9pm.

Tickets for Saturday’s concert are £10 for adults or £5 for children and students. They can be purchased from the Floor Store in Twyford’s High Street, or by calling: 0118 934 3328 or visiting www.thru-christ.eventbrite.co.uk.

And there’s more …

St Mary’s Church, in Shinfield will be holding its annual Christmas Tree Festival on Saturday, December 15 from 10am to 5pm followed by a Christingle service.

The Church Lane church will also be open on Sunday, December 16 from 11am to 6pm, followed by Carols by Candlelight at 6.30pm.

The church will be filled with Christmas trees decorated by groups and organisations from all over the Shinfield parish.

Refreshments will be available.