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The Ryedale Aquarist Society Christmas Tree At The Pickering Parish
Church Christmas Tree Festival 2009
Text by David Marshall, Photographs by Sue, David Marshall,
(Editor, The Aquarium Gazette)
Click on images for bigger view
TINSEL AND FINS?
 This year, 2009, the Christmas Tree Festival at St. Peter
& St. Paul's Church, Pickering (North Yorkshire) was held against the
backdrop of the heaviest snowfalls Pickering had seen for many years. As you
will see this created a 'photographers paradise'.
This year the Festival ran from Friday 11th to Tuesday 29th December. I
decided to create a theme of 'tinsel and fins' for this years display. As the 25
fish disc ornaments from 2008 remained intact these would be used to form the
basis of the display. Master Paul Story (the Grandson of our Chairman - Mr.
Henry Hallsworth) used painted egg box segments to create 12 ornaments of his
own while Miss Amy Charters answered our request for ornaments from our
'twinned' Society, STAMPS, by creating disc ornaments showing a Silver Shark and
a Schubert's Golden Barb.
 Amy, proudly holding one of her Christmas Tree decorations, with her Mum
Wendy.
Wednesday 9th December marked Christmas Tree Festival decorating day! I
was on my own for the morning decorating session, 10.00a.m. to 12noon, and
chosen a very sturdy looking tree. I made a rough placement of the ornaments
during this time. Sue was able to join me for the full afternoon session,
2.15p.m. to 4.15p.m,and with ornaments and lights placed upon the tree the fins
part of the job was nearly complete. For the tinsel aspect we placed these
streamers around the tree base - along with information sheets about Ryedale A.S.
and a blown-up Betta photograph as a background feature. Committee Member Mrs.
Elizabeth Skellington came along to lend support. After school Paul was able to
come along, in the company of his Mum Tracy, and place his ornaments to complete
the fins section. By the time we left the tree was just as I had envisaged.
 Elizabeth with David at the Ryedale A.S. AGM
Paul and his Mum Tracy Sue and I returned for the final session,
6.00p.m. to 8.00p.m., and checked that everything was okay.
 David with the completed tree.
Our tree was one of 29 decorated by local
hobby groups, local educational providers, local service providers and Christian
groups. Spread out from the large entrance area, throughout the Church to the
altar they created a beautiful display that complimented the famous Mediaeval
wall paintings and formed a feeling of peace and humility. Well done for all the
work put into the tree decorating by all concerned. It was lovely to see people
of all age groups taking part during the different sessions. Now I know why Roy
Wood said 'I wish it could be Christmas everyday'.
Tree 10 The entrance to the Festival
  The British Legion Tree, to remember young men of the Pickering area lost in
recent conflicts, was placed close to the Quaker Church Peace Tree. The Festival
was officially opened, on Friday 11th December, with a selection of carols,
traditional seasonal songs, organ recitals and readings put together by that
wonderful choral group that go by the name of the Chanticleer Singers. Sue and I
represented the Society and thoroughly enjoyed this evening. As the singers took
their deserved applause the Church was darkened and the trees lit.Sue and I
returned on Tuesday 22nd December and this allowed us to take the Festival
photographs that follow.
 Although the Festival is all about friendship and community I have to
confess that I was 'chuffed to bits' with all the lovely comments made about our
tree by 'locals' who visited the Festival this year.
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