Ash Parish Council

This years Ash Parish Council Christmas Fantasia was once again organised by the staff of Ash Parish Council. The Fantasia took place on Saturday 5th December 2009, at the Ash Centre. Surrey Heath MP Michael Gove and Councillor Nigel Manning, Chairman of the Parish Council officially opened the event at 2:15pm. The event was again supported by many local charities and organisations.

Inside the Ash Centre, visitors enjoyed even more stalls than previous years. The stalls and attractions included children’s games, tombolas, raffles and a design your own Christmas Card stall manned by members of Churches Together.

Ash & District Museum Society had a special display of old photographs of Ash in bygone days, and once again this proved to be a very popular attraction.

The staff of the Parish Council ran a tombola, whilst the Parish Councillors supplied and ran a cake stall. The event raised over £500 for local charities. Ash Parish Council would like to give a huge thank you to all the residents, local businesses and organisations who kindly donated the various prizes.

This year for the very first time a mobile farm, Millers Ark, was set up outside the Ash Centre. On show were ducks, geese rabbits, miniature pigs and a two week old donkey with its mother. Millers Ark was sponsored by Village Pets of Ash Wharf.

As the daylight wained, and with the rain abatting for a period, a large crowd gathered on Ash Wharf, where Councillor Nigel Manning, accompanied the choirs of St. Peter’s and St. Mary's Churches led carol singing around the Christmas tree. A snow machine added to the festive atmosphere.

Just before 5.00pm Father Christmas arrived by "Santa Express" to switch on the Christmas tree lights. During his journey from the sleigh to the tree he distributed sweets to the children that had gathered around the tree. He was accompanied a number of "Toy Box" characters and also by the Felix the Cat.

After the light switching on ceremony every one was invited to return to the the Ash Centre for mince pies and mulled wine, kindly supplied by Mike Duffy from Budgens. The Mothers Union of St. Peter's church provided tea, coffee and buscuits throughout the afternoon.

Once again the Ash Christmas Fantasia was an enormous success and the Staff and Councillors of Ash Parish Council would like to say a special thank you to Party Pants for once again generously supplying the fancy dress costumes free of charge.

Ash Parish Council would also like to thank the following:

Sponsors of Fantasia and the Christmans Tree:
Bo Wah Fish and Chip Shop
K & S Hair Studio
Mr Cuts
The Dover Garage

The Stall Holders in the Ash Centre:
1st Ash Vale Scout Group
Ash Grange Childrens Centre
Ash Hill WI
Ash Museum
Ann Hanson - Carol's Crafts
B Drew
Bells Piece Leonard Cheshire Homes
Budgens
Buzy B Crafts
Churches Together
Debbie McConnell - Silver & Sparkles
Margaret Day
Normandy Cricket Club
Penny Froud
Shawfield Primary School PTA
South West Thames Kidney Fund
The Forresters
Walsh Memorial C E Infants School