Carolfest takes place each year in St Mary’s Church on the second Sunday in December.
Carolfest has been a highlight in the Town Council’s free community event calendar since 2009 and this year more than 500 residents came to the hour-long singsong, which was hosted by Fr Doug Zimmerman and Dez Kay from Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio.
Families were greeted by a welcome choir from British Sign Language (BSL) learning group Hand Talking and enjoyed performances from Broughton Junior School Choir, Caduceus Brass Quintet and Aylesbury Music Centre’s Christmas Chorus.
Niamh Powell and Danielle Roberts from our adult choir performed a beautiful rendition of Breath of Heaven to launch the event, with piano accompaniment from Thomas Harrington. Broughton Junior School’s ‘Feliz Navidad’ received the biggest cheer of the night!
After 14 years of hosting Carolfest, Dez Kay revealed it would be his final year. The Mayor of Aylesbury, Cllr Steven Lambert, commended his “dedication, humour, enthusiasm and support of each and every Carolfest since 2009.” Together, more than 500 voices rounded off the evening with a spectacular version of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”, giving him a fantastic send off.
Donations were also collected for the Town Mayor’s two chosen charities, Youth Concern and Age UK Buckinghamshire. A fantastic total of £722.45 was raised. Carollers were challenged to wear best Christmas attire to be in with the chance of winning a £20 voucher for local restaurant, The Works. The winners were two young brothers dressed as Santa’s elves.
