ExCo
This year the 70 year-old tradition of singing carols in Leighton Buzzard High St on Christmas Eve was given a couple of new twists by Rotary with access to the carols via your phone and the introduction of a Lantern Parade to a kick off proceedings and to light the way for Santa to leave on his worldwide travels.
Town Mayor David Bligh carried a lantern in the inaugural procession and was accompanied by Rotarians, Friends Within and many members of the public who had spent December making their lanterns both at home and at Rotary organised workshops at All Saints Church.
A Rotary spokesperson said: ”Our innovative Youth, Community & International committee led by Rotarian Pascale Searle came up with the idea of supporting the traditional Carol singing and Santa appearance with a Lantern Parade and we are delighted that it has been well received and will look to see how it can be developed further.
"We would like to thank everyone who took part on Christmas Eve, particularly the Salvation Army Band who led the Carol singing but perhaps most of all the whole Leighton Linslade Community who turned out in their hundreds to take part and to wave Santa on his way.”