Location: Around the village, culminating at Snell's Hall
New Year's Eve 1999-2000
On New Year's Eve the village celebrated the coming of the New Millennium in fine style, despite the weather - a well attended Christingle service at St.Augustine's Church, followed by a children's party in the hall, an Eucumenical service in St.Mary's, followed by a not-to-be-forgotten torchlit procession, with musical accompaniment, starting from Hendred House through High Street, Chapel Square, Orchard Lane, Cat Street and into Snells.
For those of us at the rear of the procession the effect of watching the torches snaking down through Snells towards the Hall was quite spectacular and magical.
A cracking firework display followed, with John Dunsdon, Mark Beddows and Ian Chambers in charge of the pyrotechnics.
Earlier in the day , by kind permission of the Hendred Estate, a splendid beacon had been erected at the top of Snells and this was duly lit at the appropriate time to coincide with other beacons which were part of a national chain extending from Scotland to London. Villagers then went to their own parties or to Snells Hall to see the New Year in to the strains of Auld Lang Syne.
Definitely a night to remember for all who took part.