Mayor and Santa on the Christmas bus

The Mayor and Father Christmas are taken around Lambeth on the Christmas parade starting this year in Streatham then West Norwood, Herne Hill, Brixton, Clapham and finishing at the Oval. Each location has its own unique and locally driven taken on the event and it was fantastic to see so many people joining us around the borough.

This years parade was supported by Veolia, British Military Fitness, Lock n Load, The Metropolitan Police and the Fire Service. Conway also supported the event together with providing Christmas hampers for local charities at each stop on the parade.

Mayor with Santa and Cllr Steve Reed on top of the Christmas bus

In Streatham there was Christmas Carols, an ice queen, Stilt walkers and lots of screaming children delighted to see Santa. I met a representative from the Darby and Joan Club who accepted a hamper from Conway.

The Christmas parade float

Rev Mandy Hodgson gave a blessing before the parade had to move on to West Norwwod were the Choir was singing Christmas Carols at St Luke’s Church and lots more children clambered to see Santa. Here we presented a hamper donated by Conway to The British Home for the Incurables.

At Herne Hill in the Brockwell Lido Car Park they had already been entertained by the fantastic Whipper Snappers, the Ebony Horse Club accepted a hamper and everyone joined in the countdown to the switching on of the lights.

Food stall at Brockwell Parade for the turning on of the Christmas lights

In Brixton a steel drum band welcomed us as we arrived opposite Brixton Tube next to Morelys who were supporting the event. Kim Connell from Age Concern Lambeth accepted a hamper and the countdown to the lights turned the heads of commuters heading home after a busy day at work.

Mayor plays a steel drum in Brixton

As we turned from Clapham Park Road towards Clapham Common we could hear the screams of excitment from the children who waved wildly towards the Christmas parade. ‘You Tuba’  welcomed us with music and a hamper was presented to the Trinity Hospice, who are also one of the Mayors chairites this yeear. Children from Thomas Bishop Grant School choir were there to sing but sadly after the countdown and switching on of lights we were off again to St Mark’s Church Yard in Oval.

Children and parents brave the rain for the switch on in Clapham

At St Marks we were welcomed by a brass band and Christmas Carols, then the children joined me in thanking Santa for taking time out of his busy schedule to come and see them all.

Mayor meets some of the young people who have come to see Santa

Congratulations to inolved in organising this event, which was a whirlwind tour of the borough. And if you were one of the people we passed on our tour, now you know why the Mayor of Lambeth and Santa were travelling around on a bus waving at everyone.

Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor at St Marks

Councillor Mark Bennett captured the event on video as we travelled around Lambeth switching on the Christmas lights.

Mayor of Lambeth with one of the children visiting Herne Hill Expo

Herne Hill Expo was no different in being totally different from anything I had seen before as I joined them after what had clearly been an extremely busy day. Most noticeable was the transformation of the tunnel under the railway where local artists Gethan & Myles working with Herne Hill residents had created a wordscape street art along the floor with views of local children displayed on children’s t-shirts hung on the walls of the tunnel.

Mayor Lambeth with local councillor Jim Dickson

I’d been asked along to present prizes for the best suggestions on how the area could be improved and for the winner of the ‘The Hunt’ which encouraged people to see the local area in a different light. There was a great atmosphere with people not just wanting to hear who had won but eager to discover the suggestions and solutions.

The Deputy Mayoress and I were taken around the many stands of local societies and organisations from Brixton, Camberwell, Clapham, Crystal Palace  Herne Hill, Streatham and The Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. 

Clapham Potteries were running stands where local people were contributing to creating tiles featuring historical images to contribute to a map of the borough. The children were also producing figures that were made out of a type of clay that would set by itself enabling them to take their creations home.

We also visited the Lambeth Mobile Library where we were pleased to hear that there was a large number of new members who had signed up on the day.