Carol Singers at Christmas

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On Christmas Day morning a number of carol singers would visit the forestry area of Cropton parish. Alison Young (Feaster) kindly sent a photo from probably Christmas Day in 1982 or 1983 when the singers visited Sutherland Lodge in Cropton forest.

Alison said they visited Henn Flatts Farm, Ashworth’s Farm, Peat Rigg, Sutherland Lodge and the Forestry Bungalows on this Christmas morning. Requested carols were sung and a firm favourite was ‘Sweet Bells’. Alison particularly remembers visits to Miss Dorothy Berriman at Peat Rigg where the singers were accompanied on the piano by Miss Berriman. They often sang obscure carols they had never heard of, but the Ginger Wine provided helped!

The carol singers on this Christmas Day morning were Alison Feaster (not on photo), Arthur Smithson, Kath and Steve Morton, Gillian Feaster, John Allanson, Isobel Robinson and Dave Robinson

Cropton Carol Singers at Sutherland Lodge on Christmas Morning

It used to be a tradition for The Cropton Methodist Chapel carol singers to go around the village on Christmas Eve, the forestry area on Christmas Day morning and the other outlying areas on Boxing Day. Funds were raised for the chapel and for many people a visit from the singers was part of their Christmas celebrations.

Sadly the number of available singers declined and the Christmas carol singing stopped in the 1990’s.
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