Events - Discover Stortford
By Hollie Ryder
The annual Barringtons Jingle Bell Sleigh spread festive joy to families across Bishop's Stortford on Friday night and culminated in a dazzling Christmas finale at the town's rugby club.
The freezing temperatures made it "touch and go" whether the tour would even go ahead, but with a bit of route replanning, the team involved managed to ensure everyone's safety before setting off.
The event is organised by Barringtons partners Nikki Field and Lisa Aldridge Weeks, who run the privately-owned funeral business based in Hockerill Street. The pair dress up as Santa's elves and board the horse-drawn sleigh as it makes its way through the town's streets, collecting donations for Isabel Hospice.
The sleigh makes its way through the town centre (61438596)
The company also toured Harlow on Saturday evening, with money collected from that event going to St Clare Hospice.
They greeted well-wishers along the way, stopping off en route for photos with children, before finishing at Bishop's Stortford Rugby Football Club's home at Silver Leys, which for the first time hosted a festive extravaganza.
Crowds were greeted by live music, food and drink while children could queue to meet Santa in his grotto.
Renee Friend, of Isabel Hospice, which benefits as Barrington's chosen charity this year, gets a warm welcome from Santa and elves Lisa and Nikki (61438927)
Nikki and Lisa said: "Once again, the people of Bishop’s Stortford, Old Harlow and Harlow came out in their thousands to wave us by. The temperatures were freezing (and so were our hands and feet!), but to see all of those smiles and to hear all of the cheering made it so worthwhile.
"At times it was touch and go if we could go ahead. Parts of our planned route were dangerously still covered in ice and we had to reluctantly take the decision to make some small changes. We had to keep everyone safe and tried so hard to get the message out to as many people as we could.
"New Ground and BSRFC pulled out all the stops for a fantastic finale with amazing food, drink and live bands. Our 'Barringtons Helpers' team of friends and family were incredible, each giving up their whole weekend to help us, all with as much passion as us to make it a fantastic night. We couldn't have done it without you and we thank you so so much.
"For every single person that braved the cold, donated, gave us their time and wisdom, helped in any way, shape or form, we cannot possibly thank you enough."
Santa and his team of helpers (61438915)
The beautifully decorated Barringtons carriage (61439417)
Lisa and Nikki from Barringtons join Santa on the back of the sleigh (61438576)
Elf Lisa stops for a cuddle en route with her baby daughter, Ella, while her elder daughter Sienna looks on from the carriage.(61439420)
A beautiful Christmas scene as Santa and his 'reindeer' head off on their jingle bell tour (61438918)
The sleigh laden with festive gifts (61438583)
Santa poses for a selfie with his helpers (61439423)
Santa and his helpers (61438921)
Santa and his team of helpers gather in his grotto set up at Bishop's Storford rugby club at the end of the jingle bell tour (61438586)
A volunteer collector (61439426)
Santa heads out to greet families around the town (61438589)
The glowing carriage pulled by a pair of black horses was a stunning spectacle as it toured the town (61439429)
Nikki and Lisa head off on the jingle bell sleigh ride (61439432)
These festive three keep warm in the sleigh (61438933)
Keeping warm ahead of pulling Santa's sleigh (61438936)
The handsome pair of 'reindeer' horses who pulled the sleigh keep warm under their cosy blankets (61438592)
The sleigh makes its way into town from Barrington's Hockerill premises (61438930)
