Christmas Windows 2022

Judging day for our Christmas Windows competition arrived on Monday 19th December along with a lot of windy rain! However, the judging panel of the The Rt. Revd Dr. Jo Bailey Wells, Bishop of Dorking, Rector Chris Bessant, our Town Crier, Christian Ashdown and Julie Fox were not to be deterred.

After three hours of walking the length of the town from the Museum to Past and Present, all windows had been seen. Bishop Jo was particularly impressed with the windows dressed by our junior schools. “It’s all so wonderfully inclusive,” she said, “a real community feel.” In my opinion this summation is spot on. The inclusion of the schools to dress seven of the town’s windows and our very own Den doing another, for me, squared the circle of inclusiveness and community. As one art teacher said, when asked to dress a window, “We have cancelled all projects until the end of term, everything will be about our window and every child one way or another will be involved.”

Before the judges deliberated on their categories, it was revealed that the community vote winner was Oliver’s coffee shop, with second place going to the Haslemere library. The most festive prize went to Dylan’s which not only had a great window but a real life nativity scene, baby, Mary, Joseph & shepherds played by the children of the staff, and two goats! I have to say it was heart-

-warming seeing the real live nativity scene, no question they were going to be amongst the winners! But hats off too, to the Library that again had understood the community spirit and got all their junior members involved.

The most stylish window was awarded to Allen Avery, who said, “After 53 years of creating Christmas window displays it was the first time we have been acknowledged.” And the most complementary to the shop’s business went to Venturi Vision.

Runners up in each category were Little Locks dressed by Shottermill Infant School, Anya accessories and the Haslemere book shop. Highly Commended, Marley Flowers, The Hair Chair, Haslemere Information Hub, Curated Living, No.1 Charter Walk dressed by Grayswood School and George Rain.

What a success! I can’t thank all those that helped enough, not just the church team of Frances, Bryony, Victoria, Verity and Chris, but also the Chamber of Commerce and particularly social media guru Narn McMoo. Once again the community spirit of Haslemere is plain for all to see, everyone from our very youngest has pulled together to make Haslemere a festive centre and create new conversations, which are the strands that pull communities together. And all of this has been initiated and sponsored by the church. Thank you for all your support and taking part by talking to the retailers. We are justified in feeling a little proud.

Rev. Justin