Christmas joy lights up Saddleworth's villages

Braveheart Saddleworth villagers beat off snow and bitter weather to support Saturday Christmas light switch-ons  across their communities. 

In Diggle, the Village Association, the Diggle Hotel and Kilngreen Church organised an uplifting Light Switch On and Christingle Service which began with Diggle Community Band playing carols at the church followed by mulled wine and soup. 

Reverend Hilary Edgerton led the service, where people were able to hear the significance of the Christingle before moving to the Diggle Hotel where the band played more carols and Rev Hilary welcomed everyone.

After carols the Christmas tree lights were switched on outside the Diggle Hotel.

Special thanks went to Billy Buckley and Sue at the Hotel, Gary Tarbuck from the DVA for help planning the event, and Lynda Barlow and her ladies team who provided the soup and mulled wine, and Rev Hilary for the Christingle Service and leading the event.

Janet Iles, Gary Tarbuck and Gill Pearce were thanked for painting and decorating stained glass windows at the church.

The Angel and the illuminated Christmas star have made another appearance this year and a net cascade, decorated with stars, many made by the Brownies.

A fall of snow added to the festivities.

And on the main A62 Huddersfield Road at Scouthead, more than 40 people of all ages enjoyed the carol singing with festive music provided by Oldham Band, Lees and traditional carols at the Scouthead and Austerlands Community group Christmas lights switch-on.

They enjoyed mince pies, provided by Ami and her staff at the Three Crowns, and the Mayor of Austerlands, Stuart  Cook, officiated the switching on of the lights.

Meantime, Royal British Legion Lees and District Branch were privileged and honoured to welcome Paul Bell to draw the Christmas Raffle 2022. 

On February 4, 1974, British Army veteran Paul was travelling along the M62, with other serving personnel and their families, when a bomb exploded in the luggage compartment of their coach, close to the Hartshead Moor services.

Paul survived, but 12 others, including two children, sadly lost their lives.

The raffle raised a staggering £1,800 for the Poppy Appeal and all prize winners will be contacted over the next few days.

The branch said special thank you to all the businesses who made the raffle possible with their generous donations.

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