The carolling chorus of students.
Students from some schools in the north of the island brought the Christmas season alive the old fashioned way by going carolling in and around Holetown. The event, which was an initiative of the Sandy Crest Medical Centre in Sunset Crest, St. James, saw some northern primary school pupils spreading Christmas cheer in songs. The carolling began at approximately 4:45pm on Saturday evening with primarily pupils of the Boscobel Primary and Gordon Greenidge Primary schools.
These students were accompanied by the event organisers as well as some parents and teachers. They began by serenading the patients of the Sandy Crest Medical facility with some traditional Christmas carols such as “Joy to the World” and “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”.
The group then journeyed across to the Jus Grillin’ Restaurant where they were warmly received by patrons of the well-known eatery. The smiles etched on the faces of those dining were testament that the carolling ‘cheer’ was certainly infectious. The patrons, and employees alike, showed how much they enjoyed the beautiful singing with their animated and sustained thunderous applause.
From there, the carolling chorus trekked across to the West Coast Mall which houses the Massy Supermarket, Cave Shepherd, Little Switzerland , among other businesses. On route, many well-wishers and passer-bys expressed their approval and lauded the troupe with seasonal encouragement and in return were met with greetings of “Merry Christmas” from the excited pupils. On arrival at the mall, shoppers were treated to familiar Christmas carols such as “The Virgin Mary Had a Boy Child”, “Silent Night” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.
Even those customers who stopped to refuel at the neighbouring Rubis Service Station were not left out, as the group journeyed across to the adjoining lawn area and continued their melodious Yuletide renditions. It was evident from the looks of appreciation and verbal commendations that the customers’ Christmas cheer was refuelled as well.
Tenants and homeowners in the surrounding Sunset Crest district were the final audience of the carolling choir. The Christmas chorale rendered many contemporary Christmas choruses such as “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Jingle Bells” as they walked through the adjoining neighbourhood and made their way back to Sandy Crest Medical Clinic where the carolling came to an end. The jovial carollers were in turn treated to light refreshments there.
Organisers of the event highlighted that it was essentially a pilot initiative which they hoped to continue next year, with plans to make it even bigger and better! (ST)
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