Christmas in Canterbury has officially begun, and the Chamber Choir yesterday braved the freezing weather to sing to the good citizens in the town, still shopping at 5pm, with a selection of seasonal music.

A well-lit stage in the pedestrian precinct adjacent to Fenwick’s hosted the Cathedral Choristers, pupils from King’s School, and the University Chamber Choir, who gave rousing performances of popular carols under the exuberant direction of the Deputy Director of Music, whilst fourth-year Drama student (and a former Chamber Choir conductor herself) Amy Clarke also stepped out of the soprano section to conduct the not-so-seasonal but lively piece, Words by Anders Edenroth.

The Choir then adjourned to the street market in Whitefriars for some much-deserved mulled wine, where they showed their appreciation to the ladies on the market-stall by bursting into a spontaneous rendition of Ding, Dong, Merrily on High, to the delight of late shoppers who came out of the surrounding shops to listen.

Celebrities from this year’s Marlowe Theatre pantomime (including The Fast Show’s John Thompson) then entertained the crowds and the town’s Christmas lights were turned on. Christmas has officially begun here!

The Chamber Choir are in action next week, in hopefully warmer circumstances, in their ‘Advent by Candlelight‘ concert at St. Mildred’s, Stour Street on Friday evening: catch them if you can!

Photos: Susan Wanless.