A HARDY group of carol singers braved the wind and rain on the Sunday before Christmas to attend an end-of-year celebration of Farnham in Bloom.

Around 140 people gathered around the Christmas tree in Gostrey Meadow to sing carols with music provided by by Farnham Brass Band.

The event began with an introduction by the Mayor of Farnham, Pat Frost. She spoke about the highlights of Farnham in Bloom 2015, which included the involvement of even more volunteers and groups and ‘In Bloom’-related initiatives such as the ‘Blooming Art’ competition, the ‘Farnham Blooming’ dance project and gardening schemes at local schools.

Speaking after the event Mrs Frost said: “Despite the weather we still enjoyed a lovely end-of-year celebration.

“It is thanks to the collective efforts of the community that 2015 saw us achieving gold for the fifth consecutive year for our entry into the town centre category, gold for the fourth year running in the large town category and that we were crowned winner of the large town regional category for the third year running.

“This was a marvellous and impressive achievement that was certainly worthy of celebration. I would like to thank Farnham Brass Band for freely volunteering their time to play on Sunday and to Martin Billett who is the chairman of the Farnham in Bloom Community Group and who kindly compered the event.

“The crowd was in good voice and sang some lovely Christmas classics such as Silent Night, The Holly and the Ivy and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. The celebration concluded with a performance by children from The Dance Movement, which was themed around Christmas lights and was quite beautiful.”

It was thanks to donations of mince pies from Lidl Farnham and contributions of mulled wine and apple juice from Sainsbury’s at Water Lane and South Street that The Hale Chapels Trust was able to make nearly £300 from the sale of refreshments.

The trust is aiming to raise £150,000 to restore Hale Chapels into a space that can be used by the community and serve as a home for the Hale History Project.

For more information go to the website www.farnham.gov.uk/bloom, or for the Hale History Project www.farnham.gov.uk/halechapels.