16/12/2025
WOW!! Where do I start? What a Parade - we smashed it! 🚜🎅🧝🎁🦃🐷 I am in total awe of each and every one of you that has been there for me and helped make this a huge success. The list of thank you’s is endless…..
Vic and Ash my dearest friends and our amazing hosts at the Compass Inn, you have a special place in my heart and I love you both so much for everything you have done and continue to do for me.
Chris, James, Lou and my team of Marshall’s and First Aiders - you absolutely pulled it out of the bag and made sure everything ran stress free, you are all amazing!
My elves, who ran their feet off yet again. I don’t know how you do it, but there was just no stopping you!
My beautiful daughter and boyfriend Luke, my Christmas gifts. I couldn’t do it without you. You are my world🌍.
Our runaway turkey and pig in blanket. You really are something else and so funny to watch. My belly ached watching you both strut your stuff walking down that road.
Christmas dinner, it’s safe to say dinner was absolutely freezing by the time we got home. But every single one of you sat on an open trailer and braved the elements to give everyone a show. I am so grateful to you all! Kerri, you really are a great sport for being our stuffing 😂😂
And of course, my Nutrcracker, Gingerbread Man, Olaf, Grinch, Christmas Angel, Christmas Star, Christmas Tree, my bottles of beer and all my little snowflakes - you were absolutely amazing!
Special thanks also to Matt, Harry, Reg, Ash and Flops for towing our trailers. Mark Francis, Archie, The Vincent family, Gary and Sam for lending us trailers and the haywain for our characters. Vic, Laura and Beth for all you help in preparation for the day and again to Laura for helping with the big clear up afterwards. The Le Mieux team for entering the nativity trailer and of course our fantastic parade of tractor drivers with their Christmas decorated tractors - none of this would happen without you. We really do appreciate your help in making this a truly spectacular event!
Finally, who could forget our very own Father Christmas, Di**le! You went above and beyond anything I could have asked for jumping on and off the trailer to greet the little ones and giving them fist bumps. You made a lot of kids evening and it was so touching sat beside you watching their little faces light up seeing you.
This year we handed out over 900 mini candy canes and almost 300 balloons along with other treats from our participators and we still ran out!
I appreciate we didn’t manage to reach everybody in advertising the parade, even though the Lymington Times helped to promote the event and it was advertised on the Totton page, Copythorne Cadnam page, our very own Charity page and all the local schools. Bearing in mind this is only our second year running, we had a spectacular turn out of spectators. I would like to thank all of you that stood out in the cold to wait for us. We truly hope you enjoyed the parade. Our live google map location link was incredibly helpful this year for those wishing to see the parade.
Now for the big announcement - WE RAISED A WHOPPING £980.09 🎉
That’s a huge amount of money and considering it is so close to Christmas which is so expensive, we can’t thank you all enough for your very generous donations to our fundraising efforts and keeping George’s memory alive. This parade is about spreading a little Christmas Magic to the children of our community and I think I can definitely say we achieved that.
Wishing you all A Very Merry Christmas & A Healthy, Happy 2026!
FABULOUS UPDATE FOR YOU ALL - WE HAVE NOW REACHED A TOTAL OF £1,090.09!! 😘😘
