Lady Harrowby is one of a growing list of local personalities who are helping launch Stone’s giant Advent calendar.
In the build-up to Christmas 24 shops, businesses and organisations will each decorate their shop on the theme of a carol, which will be unveiled on a different day in December, and Lady Harrowby of Sandon Hall will open the window of Chantilly in the town’s High Street this Thursday (December 2) at 3.30pm. The shop, which is the second business in the giant calendar, have chosen Twinkle, Twinkle little star as their theme.
Stone’s Town Mayor, Councillor Rob Kenney, was due to launch the event on Wednesday (December 1) when he was set to open the first window at Tim Tofts Violins, 7-9 Station Road, Stone, at midday. They had picked Hark the Herald Angels Sing as their carol.
The community project involving businesses, schools and churches has been organised by Christ Church member Pam, who was inspired by similar projects in Welwyn Garden City and Brockley, London.
“It very exciting how all the shops, businesses and people in Stone have rallied round to support this project,” said Pam
A different shop will open another window each day until Friday, December 24. On Friday (December3) Oulton First School, who have decorated the window at Radford Art Gallery, will unveil it at midday while on Saturday former Town Mayor Philip Leason is the VIP guest at midday at Regent Travel whose theme is I saw Three Ships.
On Sunday at midday former councillor John Ferrie and his wife Vera will be at the Crown Hotel in the High Street to launch their window entitled I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus. On Monday Richard Soulsby, chief executive of Katharine House Hospice, will open at 1pm the Katharine House shop window in the High Street, which Manor Hillbillies Nursery have helped decorate, while Meaford Day Nursery will be the guests at The Bike Shack at midday on Tuesday (theme The First Nowell). Trinity Skills for Life, who have decorated the window at the Orange shop in the Arcade by the Co-op, will help open their window on Wednesday, December 8 at 10am.
Children and adults will also have the chance to win a prize. Maps will be on offer throughout the town and in each shop, there will be a stamp with a date on which their window was opened. Children who collect all 24 stamps will receive a small gift at Christ Church on Christmas Eve and the first adult with 24 stamps will receive a free cut and blow dry at Shear Genius Hairdressers.
For more details ring Pam and David Pott on 01785 286474 or email pam.pott@gmail.com
Press release issued by John Butterworth 01785 817465